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EB/Streymur banish memories of 2006

Members

EB/Streymur are in dreamland after claiming their first title in the Faroe Islands with agame to spare on Tuesday night, with 34-year-old team captain Egil á Bøsaying: "To win it this year is just incredible."

EB/Streymur celebrate winning their first Faroese title
EB/Streymur celebrate winning their first Faroese title ©Sofus Debes Johannesen

Shrinking lead
Runners-up in 2006 and 2007, EB/Streymur led the title race pretty much from start to finish but their lead at the top of the table shrunk from ten points to six towards the end of the season, bringing back bad memories of the 2006 campaign when they let a seven-point cushion slip in the final four matches. "We so narrowly missed out in 2006, and last year we were also runners-up, although we weren't that close to winning the title so to win it this year is just incredible," said Á Bø, who remarkably made his international debut for the Faroes at 34 a few weeks ago.

'Incredible relief'
Arnbjørn Hansen scored all three of his side's goals as they beat Skála 3-1 on Tuesday in a game which had been postponed from Sunday because of high winds in the Faroes, and having not scored in his previous five games, the 22-year-old forward conceded that he – like the club's fans – was haunted by memories of 2006, especially after Skála levelled the scores at 1-1. "It was a bit reminiscent of 2006," the Faroese international admitted. "We hit the post and had near misses on several occasions, but then the ball finally went in and it was an incredible relief."

Ups and downs
Winning their first Faroese title represents the successful conclusion of a 15-year project for the club. Formed in 1993 with the merger of two clubs, EB (founded in 1913) and Streymur (founded in 1976), the new club was eager to compete at a higher level than the second and third divisions, where its two predecessors had spent most of their time. They were promoted to the top division after their first season, but found life tough in the big time in 1994 and were immediately relgated and did not return until 2001.

'Absolutely unbelievable'
Polish coach Piotr Krakowski helped the club step up their ambitions following his appointment in 2003, but it was his successor Sigfrídur Clementsen – who took over last winter – that finally had the honour of leading the club to the title. "In November [last year] we made our goal to win the title, and when you reach that goal, then it is enormously satisfying," he said. "It's absolutely unbelievable."