Norway preserved their traditional league format and the season perhaps was significant largely for one reason: Viking (Stavanger) played their best season. Arguably, their best ever. The rest was mostly a matter of record. The three best of the Second Division were old clubs, normally playing top league football and now returning from ‘exile’.
Lyn (Oslo)
FK Molde, and
Fredrikstads FK.
Fredrikstads coming on field to face Rade IL. They won 3-2 and proceeded to win until reaching promotion.
In top division the battle for survival involved more or less 8 of the 12 participants. Brann sunk early and never put a fight – they finished last with 10 points. Mjondalen IF struggled too – with 17 points they ended 11th and above them were Hamarkameratene with 18. The three were going down – Skeid Fotball clinched 19 points and survived. Of the last 4 clubs only 2 really competed for the title – Bryne FK and IK Start had their own battle for third place, which IK Start won with 27 points. On top Viking and unlikely favourite, Moss FK raced ahead of the pack, Moss having the best attack, and Viking the best defense. Viking won a match more than their rivals and that settled it: Moss finished with 30 points, Viking with 32.
Viking continued their best decade with one more title.
Standing from left: Tony Knap – coach, Torbjorn Svendsen, Tons Haugvalland (?), Erik Johannessen, Tor Reidar Brekke, Per Henriksen, Trond Ekholdt, Magnus Flatestol, Svein Kvia, Reidar Goa – manager.
Sitting: Bjarne Berntsen, Trygve Johannessen, Inge Valen, Rolf Bjornsen (?), Tonning Hammer, Finn Einar Krogh, Isak Arne Refvik, Cand Andersen (?), Svein Fjelberg.
Viking were the best Norwegian club of the 1970s, no doubt about it – they won their 6th title, and almost all were won in this decade. But they were still hungry.
The Cup final was reached by Viking and Sportsklubben Haugar (Haugesund).
For the lowly Haugar, not playing first division football, the final was huge success – and may be they were able to win it? They had two English players in their team – at times when very few foreigners appeared in Norway and the best clubs did not use any. Haugar tried hard and came close, but lost 1-2. Too bad the modest boys were not able to make a sensation. On the other hand, great for Viking.
Viking’s captain Svein Kvia with the Cup. The third Cup victory for the club from Stavanger. Well done and true vikings – a double. It was their first ever, and although Viking were not overwhelming, they still won everything.
Viking were not famous in Europe, but by 1979 they had a few players becoming legendary in Norway – Svein Kvia, Tor Reidar Brekke, Isak Arne Refvik. Championships, the Cup, they won everything and more than ones.