Martin Kolsrud and Trond Fuhre present Emile Heskey with the Norwegian Blue Supporters' Club 2004/05 Player of the Year Award before Blues' final tour game against SK Brann.

Blues fan Tony Dickinson travelled over to Norway for the Club's recent tour.

While he was there Tony had the pleasure of meeting up with what must surely be some of the most knowledgeable and passionate bunch of Blues fans around - namely members of the Norwegian Blues Supporters' Club.

Here Tony explains a little bit about our friends from across The North Sea.

From a fan's perspective, one of the highlights of Blues' tour to Norway was the friendships established with Blues' remarkable band of Norwegian supporters.

With around 90 members, the Birmingham City FC Supporters Club of Norway contains some of the most passionate and knowledgeable Blues fans around.
 
This was amply demonstrated when the Supporters' Club Chairman, Martin Kolsrud, informed a somewhat surprised Stan Lazaridis that he had just overtaken Malcolm Page as Blues' most capped international, and Kenny Cunningham that he had drawn level with Page's previous record of 28 caps!

Kolsrud has been supporting Blues since 1974 when he saw them beat Manchester City 4-0 on Norwegian TV.

"Bob Hatton scored twice that day against Man City, who were then top of the league", Kolsrud recalls.

"The next day the Norwegian papers ran a large article under the headline 'Hats Off To Hatton!'"

The Norwegian Supporters Club was founded in 1981, and is one of around 46 British supporters clubs in a country passionately interested in British football.

Kolsrud, fellow committee member Trond Fuhre and other Norwegian Bluenoses are regular visitors to St. Andrew's and work tirelessly to promote Birmingham City in Norway.

The sad end to the tour, with the horrific injury to SK Brann triallist Fabian Cipot, the resulting heavy defeat and the missed opportunity to sign Norwegian international defender Andre Bergdolmo due to a technicality over insurance was a disappointment after all the good things that had gone before.

Nevertheless, I know that they deeply appreciated seeing Blues play in their own country and the access afforded by management and players.

It was nothing less than they deserve. They are great ambassadors for the club.

* You can access the website for the Birmingham City Norwegian Supporters' Club by clicking here. They will shortly be introducing a forum for English speakers.