Sparta Sarpsborg
Norwegian ice hockey team with a history of bankruptcy and revival.
Sparta Sarpsborg is an ice hockey club from Sarpsborg, Norway, competing in the EliteHockey Ligaen. The team plays its home games at Sparta Amfi, the oldest indoor ice hockey rink in the country, and wears blue and white.
The ice hockey section of IL Sparta was founded in 1958. A major early milestone came in 1963 with the opening of Sparta Amfi, Norway’s first indoor rink. Just three years later, the team became the first from outside Oslo to earn promotion to the top-flight Eliteserien. That stay was brief, and for most of the late 1960s and 1970s, the club moved between the second division and brief top-flight appearances.
The 1980s proved to be the club’s golden era. Under coach Lasse Bäckman and boosted by key signings from other Norwegian clubs and a few Swedish players, Sparta won the Norwegian Championship in 1984. They repeated the feat in 1989, sneaking into the final playoff spot before defeating heavily favored Trondheim.
Financial troubles followed. In 1995, Sparta filed for bankruptcy—though several other Norwegian sports clubs have also done so—and had to restart in the third division, losing its best players. Many of those players later returned, and by 1997 the team was back in the Eliteserien, where it has remained ever since.
The team was rebranded as Sparta Warriors in 2004. In the 2008–09 season, they won the league title but took silver in the championship after losing to Vålerenga in the final. In 2013, the club was rebranded again as Sparta Sarpsborg. The club’s anthem is the song “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles.”
- founded
- 1958 (ice hockey department of IL Sparta)
- home arena
- Sparta Amfi (Norway's oldest ice hockey rink, opened 1963)
- team colors
- blue and white
- championships
- Norwegian Championships in 1984 and 1989
- league titles
- 2008–09 season
- bankruptcy
- 1995 (not the only Norwegian sports club to do so)
Lore & Background
The ice hockey department of IL Sparta was founded in 1958, and got off to a fantastic start when Norway's first indoor hockey arena, Sparta Amfi, was opened in 1963. Within three years, they earned promotion to the Eliteserien as the first team outside Oslo to do so. It was only to be a short stint, and through most part of the late 1960s and 1970s, Sparta spent their time in the second division, with occasional visits to the top flight. The 1980s was to be Sparta's greatest decade. Under the leadership of coach Lasse Bäckman and strengthened by several strong signings from other Norwegian clubs and a couple of Swedish stars, they claimed the Norwegian Championships in 1984. The feat was repeated in 1989, when the club beat heavily favoured Trondheim in the final after claiming the last playoff spot.
Reader's Guide
Sparta Sarpsborg's significance lies in its dramatic history of success, financial collapse, and resurgence. As the first team outside Oslo to reach the top division, they broke a geographic monopoly. Their two Norwegian Championships in the 1980s marked a high point, but the 1995 bankruptcy—unique among Norwegian sports clubs—forced a restart from the third division. The club's ability to rebuild and return to the Eliteserien by 1997, where they have remained, demonstrates resilience. The team was rebranded as Sparta Warriors in 2004 and later as Sparta Sarpsborg in 2020. Their home arena, Sparta Amfi, is Norway's oldest ice hockey rink, adding historical value. The club anthem, 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles,' further distinguishes them. Their legacy includes notable players such as Per-Åge Skrøder, Jonas Holøs, and Martin Røymark.
Did You Know?
- Sparta Amfi, opened in 1963, is Norway's oldest ice hockey rink.
- Sparta Sarpsborg filed for bankruptcy in 1995, but several other Norwegian sports clubs have done so as well.
- The club anthem is 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles'.
- The team was rebranded as Sparta Warriors in 2004 and as Sparta Sarpsborg in 2013.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sparta Sarpsborg?
Sparta Sarpsborg is a Norwegian ice hockey club based in Sarpsborg, with its ice hockey section established in 1958 as part of the broader IL Sparta sports organization. The team competes in the EliteHockey Ligaen and is recognized for its blue-and-white kit.
What is Sparta Amfi?
Sparta Amfi is the home venue for Sparta Sarpsborg and holds the distinction of being Norway's oldest dedicated indoor ice hockey rink, having opened its doors in 1963. It has served as the club's home ground ever since.
What major titles has Sparta Sarpsborg won?
The club captured the Norwegian Championship in both 1984 and 1989, and added a league title during the 2008–09 season. These achievements mark the high points of a long and storied history.
What happened with Sparta Sarpsborg's bankruptcy?
In 1995 the club went through a bankruptcy, a painful chapter that was not unique among Norwegian sports organizations. The team ultimately rebuilt itself and returned to competitive play, cementing its reputation as a club defined by resilience.
What makes Sparta Sarpsborg historically significant in Norwegian ice hockey?
In 1966 the club became the first team from outside Oslo to earn promotion to the top-flight Eliteserien, breaking the capital's long monopoly on the highest level. Combined with its pioneering indoor rink and multiple national titles, Sparta Sarpsborg is widely regarded as one of the sport's foundational clubs in Norway.
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