Villa open the tour on July 21 when they face a side a
combination of lower league sides
Kungshams IF and Smögens IF.
Kungshamn and Smögen are neighbouring villages on the Swedish west coast.
Tourist hotspots in the summer, the villages are likely to be extremely busy in
July.
Kungshamns IF began life as Gravarne IF in 1919, adopting their current name ten
years later. They play home games at Kungshamnsvallen. This small picturesque
stadium, opened in 1922, is the venue for Villa’s tour opener.
Currently playing in Division Four, Kungshamns IF’s heyday came in the 1960s and
70s when they played in the Second Division.
Smögens IF were founded in 1913 and between 1927-30 the club merged with
Kungshamn. They play home games at Havsvallen - a stadium which was inaugurated
in 1935 by the Swedish Crown Prince Gustav Adolf.
The club’s most famous player Örjan Persson played his club football in Scotland
in the 1960s and 1970s. Smögen currently play in Division Five.
Last summer Celtic opened their Swedish tour against Kungshamn IF and Smögen IF,
running out comfortable 7-0 winners.
David O’Leary’s men will be based in Kungsbacka and on July 22
face hosts Kungsbacka BI.
Formed in 1967, when IFK Kungsbacka and Kungsbacka IF joined forces, Kungsbacka
BI currently play in Division Three.
The game will be played at Tingbergsvallen, a stadium built 1936 and rebuilt
1987. This ground will also be Villa’s training camp for the tour.
Villa step up a grade for the third game of the tour, as they travel to
Jönköping Södra IF on July 24.
Managed by former Swedish national coach Olle Nordin, Second Division Jönköping
Södra are seen as a rising side with realistic chances of promotion to the
top-flight.
Formed in 1922, Nordin’s side play at the 9,000 capacity Stadsparksvallen.
The tour comes to a close with Villa’s biggest test, as O’Leary’s men face
top-flight outfit Örgryte IS on July 27.
The game promises to be an emotional homecoming for striker Marcus Allback. The
Swedish international has been an Örgryte member since the day he was born.
Playing in Allsvenskan, Sweden’s equivalent to the Premiership, Örgryte are by
far the most experienced team Villa will play against during their week in
Sweden and should provide the perfect pre-season test.
The match will be played at Gamla Ullevi, or "Old Ullevi" in English – a 17,000
capacity stadium that is the home of both Örgryte and IFK Gothenburg. Built in
1916, the stadium is situated in central Gothenburg.