Odd Grenland is a Norwegianfootball club from the town of Skien. It was founded in 1894 and is the club which has won the Norwegian Cup the most times, last in 2000. After struggling in the lower divisions for many years, the club finally made it back to the Norwegian Premier League (Tippeligaen) in 1999 and stayed there until they were relegated in 2007. After a dreadful start to the 2005 campaign, Odd managed to crawl up from the relegation zone. However, the team conceded more goals than any other in the league. In 2006 the team only survived relegation by beating Bryne F.K. in the relegation playoffs. In 2007 however, their luck ran out, and they were relegated to the Adeccoligaen after being beaten by Bodø/Glimt in the relegation playoffs. In 2008, with three games still to play, Odd secured the promotion back to the Norwegian Premier League after winning 4-0 against Hødd at Skagerak Arena.
Odd (Falkum) Stadium (13,500). Largest crowd: Approx 12,500 people in 1984 cup semi final against Viking. The stadium is rebuilt to hold a capacity of between 13,000 and 14,000, and will be finished in 2008. It is named Skagerak Arena after a local sponsor.
History
Idrætsforeningen Odd was founded in 1885 and is thus one of the oldest, still in existentce, athletic associations in Norway. The name derives from Viktor Rydbergs book Seierssverdet (Victory Sword), where one of the main characters was a Norwegian athlete called Orvar Odd. From the start Odd was mainly concentrated towards gymnastics, but when some English workers at Skotfoss brought the game of football to Skien, the city decided to buy a football, and that is how a football team by Odd management arose. However this was not an immediate success. The club made another effort, and in 31. March 1894 Odds Ballklubb was founded. Odd Grenland is a direct inheritance of Odds Ballklubb, and therefore is Norway's oldest still in existence football teams.
Tom Helge Rønning
Per Skou (1911-1923)
Christian Flindt Bjerg (2000-2006)
Edwin Van Ankeren (2001-2003)
Sebastian Henriksson (2003-2005)
Olivier Occean (2004-2005)
Heinz Müller (2004-2005)
Patrick Suffo (2005)
Fernando de Ornelas (2005-2008)
Nat Borchers (2006-2008)
