You may remember the story of “The Darlerites”, Roger, Ole and Jens, who decided to follow the U’s and support the fundraising of Ian Darler. They had their first visit (and so far only!) to the Abbey when we beat Pish a couple of seasons ago. (Reminder: The Vikings are coming).
They decided to go for a walk in the area where they live! Here’s what they said:
“Ian Darler walks a million miles, so we wanted to walk a million miles upwards (at least it felt like it) for the NUMERO UNO groundsman, club and people around who we love!
To go places that the Cambridge flag has never been before and re-create the photo from the battle of Iwo Jima (the Victory we feel is near). I think we made it 100% authentic.
We look up to the mountain Rørnestinden (the same as the U’s look up the table), and we climb up (the same as the U’s, hopefully). We feel something positive is happening, if we forget the terrible result against Peterboring.
So Ole and Jens with some family members took our Cambridge gear and climbed, climbed and climbed for several hours, Roger had an itch so he did not want to sacrifice his life for the club that day. We even found some reindeers that wanted to enlist as Cambridge supporters.“
The Raising of the Flag on Iwo Jima is an iconic picture from the end of the Second World War, here Jens and Ole are recreating it in the mountains of Norway:
Historically wherever you place your flag you own, so thanks to the Darlerites CUFC own a mountain in Norway!
Rørnestinden is in the far north of Norway, as shown on the maps below. The route started at sea level and climbed 1041m (3415 feet) which is higher than the tallest peak (Scafell Pike) in England! It took them around 8 hours. To go walking up a mountain in shorts seems to me to be madness!
In the group picture Ole is at the back with his wife Astrid, their children at the front: 9 years old Tiril in the Brewboard shirt and 6 years old Selma in the striped shirt. In the midlle holding the flag is Jens alongside his girlfriend Natalie.
Semi naked man walking with CUFC flag!
Many thanks to you all for claiming a mountian for CUFC, and we hope to see you back at the Abbey soon.
Below are further pictures taken during the walk:
