Football Season Guide

October 24th last year was a historic day for Sirius as they were promoted back to the Allsvenskan for the first time in 42 years. That was back in the 1972/73 season and a lot of football has been played since then. Now that Sirius have achieved the impossible the next task is an even greater one - survival in the Swedish top flight. That would be a first for them, having only lasted the sole season in the seventies. That fall from grace resulted in some pretty dismal times in the decade that followed, with Sirius scraping the barrel of the Swedish fourth division. But they have long since stabilised themselves, and fully deserve to be at the top table again having finished seven points clear of third place in Superettan last season. But whether the club are ready for the challenges of Allsvenskan football remains to be seen. Head coach Kim Bergstrand probably has the challenge of the coaching career on his hands, but having been in charge for the last five years no one will know the club better than him. It also shows that there probably won't be any rash decisions made if it starts to unravel this season. This will be a learning curve for the whole football club, and they should relish the tag as major underdogs in the Allsvenskan this season. There is absolutely no pressure, and they can play freely and pick up valuable lessons along the way. One of the things working in Sirius's favour is the stability around the club. These players are no strangers to each other, and will know the system they are expected to play in and what will work and what won't. Key players will be experienced defender Jesper Arvidsson at the back with Philip Haglund pulling the strings in the midfield. Midfielder Stefano Vecchia Holmquist and forward Kingsley Sarfo are young hungry players whose enthusiasm and talent might inspire others in one of the thinnest Allsvenskan squads. The pre-season injury list has not helped them at all, and there is very little backup when key players are out to injuries and suspensions. Sirius have struggled to get a substitutes bench together in recent weeks with all the absentees at the moment, so it will be a real shame if this will prove the major factor in spoiling the club's historic return to the top flight.