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Post by mattisweden on May 15, 2017 9:08:58 GMT
Hi everybody. My name is Mathias and I’m from Malmo, Sweden. I’ll try to make this story as short as possible. In 1959, a couple of young car mechanics from Malmo, Sweden watched a game between Nottingham Panthers and an all-star team from south Sweden in Malmo. The young guys had just started a hockey team of their own, but had no name for it. But after seeing the professionals in Nottingham they decided to call their team IK Pantern (Panthers in swedish). They still exist today and plays in the second highest league in Sweden, Hockeyallsvenskan. I played in the club from 1977-1987. I’m a coach for the 8 year olds now and my son is a goalie. IK Pantern homepage: www.panternhockey.se/That story told, I always had a dream to go to New York and watch an NHL game. After a couple of minutes on internet that dream died quickly. Insanely expensive. Then I got an idea. Why not go to Nottingham for a weekend in october/november and catch a home game with the team that gave my team it’s name? Would’nt cost me an arm and a leg and the beer is better. And it’s a 2 hour flight. Right? I would love to get som tips and pointers from you guys. Flying to East Midlands from Copenhagen is expensive. However, flying to Luton or Manchester with Ryan Air is really cheap. Could we take a train to Nottingham from those locations or is that a hassle? In what part of Nottingham should I try to find a nice hotel or B&B? Is there a fan pub where you guys meet before games? Can I bring an 8 year old? I promise to bring a IK Pantern jersey for the owner! In what section of the arena should I try to get seats that is good for an 8-year old? When do the season start? Anything fun to do in Nottingham for an 8 year old? Robin Hood museum? Anything else that is a must-see? Regards, Mathias |
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Post by panthersdave on May 15, 2017 10:17:46 GMT
Hi everybody. My name is Mathias and I’m from Malmo, Sweden. I’ll try to make this story as short as possible. In 1959, a couple of young car mechanics from Malmo, Sweden watched a game between Nottingham Panthers and an all-star team from south Sweden in Malmo. The young guys had just started a hockey team of their own, but had no name for it. But after seeing the professionals in Nottingham they decided to call their team IK Pantern (Panthers in swedish). They still exist today and plays in the second highest league in Sweden, Hockeyallsvenskan. I played in the club from 1977-1987. I’m a coach for the 8 year olds now and my son is a goalie. IK Pantern homepage: www.panternhockey.se/That story told, I always had a dream to go to New York and watch an NHL game. After a couple of minutes on internet that dream died quickly. Insanely expensive. Then I got an idea. Why not go to Nottingham for a weekend in october/november and catch a home game with the team that gave my team it’s name? Would’nt cost me an arm and a leg and the beer is better. And it’s a 2 hour flight. Right? I would love to get som tips and pointers from you guys. Flying to East Midlands from Copenhagen is expensive. However, flying to Luton or Manchester with Ryan Air is really cheap. Could we take a train to Nottingham from those locations or is that a hassle? In what part of Nottingham should I try to find a nice hotel or B&B? Is there a fan pub where you guys meet before games? Can I bring an 8 year old? I promise to bring a IK Pantern jersey for the owner! In what section of the arena should I try to get seats that is good for an 8-year old? When do the season start? Anything fun to do in Nottingham for an 8 year old? Robin Hood museum? Anything else that is a must-see? Regards, Mathias Hi Mathias, welcome First of all that is a great piece of history and I would be surprised if anybody here knew that a Swedish team used our name after seeing a match against us. We usually play our home games on a weekend, we have a couple of nice pubs where the Panthers fans hang out before and after the games, they are The Bunkers Hill and Nottingham Legend. They are both located next to the arena. Also the arena is in a city centre location so there are lots of good hotels nearby to choose from. As for travel, there are good train services from Luton and Manchester into Nottingham station so you will have no problems there, I don't know the cost but it shouldn't be too expensive if you book in advance. Also, keep an eye on the Nottingham Panthers Twitter and Facebook for the new fixture list, our season starts in September and some of our games sell out so it may be worth booking match tickets in advance via the arena website, you can find links on the Nottingham Panthers website or search Motorpoint arena Nottingham. The arena itself has 7000 seats and is all seater and any location is good for children. Away fans sit in blocks 1,2 and 3. Nottingham fans sit in blocks 4 - 19 There is plenty to do for an 8 year old too, there is some Robin Hood stuff, a Castle, museums. Also there are plenty of places to eat. Hope this helps |
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Post by mattisweden on May 15, 2017 10:49:46 GMT
Thanks!
I'm probably going to ask a lot more questions as I start to book the trip. But I'll need tickets for the game first so that'll have to wait.
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Post by Kovalchuk17 on May 15, 2017 11:00:13 GMT
When the fixtures come out, perhaps try and look for games against Sheffield, Coventry or Cardiff who are our biggest rivals and crowd numbers will be higher (don't think ticket prices change though).
Saturday evening games are the best attended games with the best atmosphere.
I'm sure if you contact the club and explain, they will be able accommodate you on the match night. Email info@panthers.co.uk or Callum who runs the official Twitter/Facebook accounts is very good.
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Post by PantherB on May 15, 2017 11:05:43 GMT
Sounds like an awesome trip you're planning for the team! Also really cool to learn about the way Panthers influenced the name of the team! The train from Luton and Nottingham is quite easy, got to get a shuttle bus from the airport to the train station which takes about 10 minutes but is usually free. The train often terminates in Nottingham and has 7 stops before, taking 1 hour 30 minutes usually. Booking train tickets (Trainline.co.uk) might be something worth leaving quite late, at the moment if you was to book just 1 adult ticket Luton to Nottingham return in October it would cost £140 (1600 SEK). But if booking a ticket for tomorrow then it drops down to around £60 return (685 SEK). So it would be best to keep checking the prices as they seem to change a lot unfortunately. There is a coach between Luton Airport and Nottingham as well, this is £40 (456 SEK) return for 1 adult. This takes around 3 hours though.
If you was to come for a weekend in October, Friday to Monday (3 nights) for 1 adult and 1 child a hotel with breakfast included would be around £200 (2,280 SEK)in the city centre. But as with train prices, this is likely to change a bit!
There are 3 pubs around our arena but 1 is dedicated to Panthers, and Nottingham Sport, it's called the Nottingham Legend and is about 1 minute walk from the arena itself! Usually get lots of fans in before and after the game, from both teams too.
 That's the arena layout and prices. Benches are in front of block 15 and penalty boxes in front of block 5.
The season starts properly in September but Pre-Season and Champions Hockey League takes place in August.
Nottingham Castle is a nice place to go to, statue of Robin Hood outside to take photos with. Quite often in the city centre, the Market Square, there will be food markets and events taking place to have a look around at. There's a nice 36 hole adventure golf place in the city also; www.lostcityadventuregolf.com/adventure-golf/ October specifically, there are a lot of Beer and Cider festivals on, with Nottingham having its own Oktoberfest too. Between the 4th and 8th October is Goose Fair, one of the biggest travelling fairs in Europe which attracts people from far and wide!. Not so much happening in November as there is in October, the main attractions, museums etc.. will be open still of course but there aren't many festivals or events on. The main event for November is usually Bonfire Night on the 5th, big bonfire with a big fireworks display! There could also be football games on if that interests you, both Nottingham Forest and Notts County play within walking distance from the city centre.
Hope this helps a little bit! If you're on Facebook, there is a fan group called 'GMB Nottingham Panthers' www.facebook.com/groups/2211964766/ .Although a lot of what is posted in that group is pointless and stupid, there's over 5,000 members and most will be more than happy to help as best they can, make it a great weekend for you all! |
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Post by mattisweden on May 15, 2017 11:21:21 GMT
Thanks everybody!
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Shorty
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Post by Shorty on May 15, 2017 11:32:47 GMT
That's a great story!
There is also the link with Nottingham Forest, who played Malmo FF in the 1979 European Cup Final.That
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Post by mattisweden on May 15, 2017 11:35:24 GMT
I know!
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Post by mattisweden on May 15, 2017 12:12:30 GMT
Here's from the swedish wiki-page translated in Googletranslate:
IK Pantern is an ice hockey club in Malmö, founded in 1959. Their supporters club is called Black Panter. The club's name is inspired by the Nottingham Panthers.
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Post by mattisweden on May 15, 2017 12:17:45 GMT
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EMB
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Post by EMB on May 15, 2017 14:38:26 GMT
Lets hope GM doesn't want royalties, you know what he's like if he thinks there's a quick buck to be made.
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Post by messier1851 on May 15, 2017 16:19:41 GMT
Flying to East Midlands from Copenhagen is expensive. However, flying to Luton or Manchester with Ryan Air is really cheap. Could we take a train to Nottingham from those locations or is that a hassle? The train from Manchester to Nottingham takes 2 hours and costs around £30 on the day, you can get it cheaper than this if you book in advance too, if you find that it is easier to fly to Manchester than it is to fly to Luton. If you go to Manchester Airport there is a train station at the airport which will take you into the main city centre train station (Manchester Piccadlly) where you can then catch a train to Nottingham. |
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Post by spik on May 15, 2017 18:03:02 GMT
In early November? we have the countrys largest fair with adult/young rides,stalls and attractions. It's called 'Goose Fair'and in these early monthes a night lit parade from Nottingham Castle through the streets happens.A night time 'Nottingham in Light' happens also but I can't remember the actual weeks of all these.
If you were to come in August pre season with regard to CHL etc type games (again dates to consider)there is a 2 day 'Riverside Festival' first or second weekend in,with attrations and dragon boat races,food/drink, stalls/entertainment, music (no entry fee as its on open ground) on the river embankment. Found easily as its by Trent Bridge on that River Trent...ie) area where the Nottingham Forest and Cricket grounds are.
Nottingham Marathon in that same area in September.
The actual Sherwood Forest where there is a Robin Hood theme attraction/woods is some miles North of the city (Edwinstowe on your map) is your here on a decent day and dependant on the time your here.
I'll have to check upon your history too as if I write another book on the team it would be good to add this bit of history.
Hope all goes well with your adventure. Consider that we also have a tram system in the town area that 'may' be useful.
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Post by ted logan on May 15, 2017 18:13:51 GMT
In early November? we have the countrys largest fair with adult/young rides,stalls and attractions. It's called 'Goose Fair'and in these early monthes a night lit parade from Nottingham Castle through the streets happens.A night time 'Nottingham in Light' happens also but I can't remember the actual weeks of all these. Goose Fair is in early October mate. |
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Post by mattisweden on May 15, 2017 19:44:26 GMT
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Post by kievthegreat on May 15, 2017 20:02:43 GMT
If you're lucky, Panthers will draw Malmo Redhawks in the CHL and you can watch them home and away.
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Post by mattisweden on May 15, 2017 20:02:44 GMT
I worked at a newspaper called Sydsvenskan (sydsvenskan.se) for a long time and my boss was Krister Kristensson. The one holding the cup in this picture. He also played in Swedens national team. I think he just retired before the game against Nottingham but they called him in cause of injuries. if I remember it correctly...  |
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Post by mattisweden on May 15, 2017 20:03:56 GMT
If you're lucky, Panthers will draw Malmo Redhawks in the CHL and you can watch them home and away. Ha! That would be great! Beer is on me if you guys come to Malmö! |
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Post by mattisweden on May 15, 2017 20:24:09 GMT
I'm probably boring now but.... here's a piece of an interview with Kjell Olofsson, one of the guys that started IK Pantern. He still watch every home game at the age of 81. Google translated.... so a bit weird. "Then the guys went and watched a match when the Malmö alliance met the Nottingham Panthers. They had never seen a better team than Nottingham. They were several classes better than Malmö, says Kjell, saying that it was the English club that made the idea of what is today the IK Pantern fired. - In the autumn of 1959 the club was formed and that's when I got into the picture. They were just young boys and they needed help with paperwork. The name Pantern seemed a bit ridiculous first, it did not belong in Hockey, but it does not sound so stupid now." ![]()  |
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iginla
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Post by iginla on May 15, 2017 20:27:06 GMT
If you're lucky, Panthers will draw Malmo Redhawks in the CHL and you can watch them home and away. Ha! That would be great! Beer is on me if you guys come to Malmö! Ha ! Careful,there could be about 200 of our guys in Malmo if we draw the RedHawks. 😂 |
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Post by mattisweden on May 15, 2017 20:34:43 GMT
My wallet got nervous now.... Anyway, if that happens, you're welcome. I'm gonna root for Nottingham Panthers!
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BigLad
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Post by BigLad on May 16, 2017 12:35:37 GMT
Don't worry about coming across as boring. Stuff like this is really good.
I wonder if Matt Davies at the Post would be interested in doing an article about the link of the clubs. Be nice if the club acknowledged it too.
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Yotes
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Post by Yotes on May 16, 2017 13:15:29 GMT
Would've thought this was a ready made friendly game.
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iginla
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Post by iginla on May 16, 2017 13:17:50 GMT
Come on Spik.
With your encyclopedic knowledge of all things Panthers history, i thought you'd have known about these Swedish Panthers ! 😉 Lol
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Post by wgray on May 16, 2017 13:32:39 GMT
This is a very interesting fact and one that I am surprised not to have known about, it would be great if our clubs could acknowledge this connection and arrange a match.
A game against Sheffield would be the best for you to watch, we are big rivals and the games are always fierce. I hope you make it over!
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