Fishing For Trophies

Glenn Thomas Madsen, Norway

Fisherman Glenn Thomas Madsen is 47 and lives in Bleik, a small village on the island of Andoy in northern Norway. He has been supporting Everton since 1989.

Fishing and football are my passion! I am a professional fisherman and I have my own boat with a crew of six. In the summer vacation I go further north to sportfish salmon. When summer is over and football season starts, it is all about the Premier League and Everton.

Sports in general are very popular in Norway, maybe because we are competitive people? During winter, it is all about skiing. Then when winter is over, the football season begins. English football is really huge in all of Scandinavia and almost everyone who has an interest in football has an English team they support.

Being a fisherman was something I always wanted to be, so when I finished junior high school in 1990 at the age of 16, I got a job onboard a local boat. I have been fishing for 31 years now. I bought my current boat from a good friend, who sadly supports the other team from Liverpool...which is why my boat is currently red. It will soon be royal blue!

During my childhood, I watched and played a lot of football, but it was not until the FA Cup Final in 1989 between Everton and Liverpool that I became an Evertonian.

I watched the game on TV at home with my father, who fell asleep in his chair. When Stuart McCall scored to make it 1-1 and take the game into extra time, I cheered so loudly that I woke my dad and almost gave him a heart attack! He was furious.

Everton lost the game after extra time, but that day I knew I was "chosen" and became an Evertonian.

Everton means everything to me. Being an Evertonian is kind of bumpy sometimes. When the Blues play on Saturdays and lose, it ruins my whole weekend, but if they win, wow! It makes my whole week.

We watch every match, most often at my house. Me, my wife, grandchildren, brother, his children, and other friends. And my dog, Blue, the best dog in the world.

Being an Evertonian in the 90s had its challenges. I tried to keep updated, using Text-TV and newspapers from Oslo. Thankfully now we have the internet and much better TV so I can subscribe to every football channel and watch my team.

I became a member of ESCNB (Everton Supporters Club Norwegian Branch) in the 90s and started receiving a member magazine called the Goodison Roar. There are around 700 members of ESCNB.

Once a season, ESCNB arranges a trip to Liverpool for Norwegian members, where we watch an Everton match and arrange great entertainment.

My hometown Bleik is a small village with a population of around 450. Bleik lies in between the sea and mountains, which makes it a very beautiful and stunning place, both in good and stormy weather.

Our local football club Hoken (“The Hawks”) was founded in 1933. It is very important to our community and has always been a big part of my life. The team is in the lowest division here in northern Norway.

Hoken is a jewel and the pride of the whole community. When Hoken plays, there are about 200 supporters of all ages and always lots of excitement.

This part of Norway has many small towns spread along fairly long distances, so playing games has its challenges. The furthest away game in 2021 was 300km away! Before Hoken saved money and bought a bus, we travelled by car. The bus and driver were a huge upgrade for the club!

I retired from playing football two years ago after playing for Hoken for 25 years. My wife Hilde and I have been board members for almost 20 years.

Our pitch was built by volunteers from Bleik and I honestly think that almost everyone helped. To fund the team, we paint and sell billboards around the field.

My brother and I have a billboard with the Everton logo and it is the best billboard on the field!