Joel Stevens (Wellington Olympic | NZ)

Congratulations to Joel Stevens, who has signed with Husqvarna FF in Sweden!

Division 1 Sodra (3rd tier)

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/...

Stevens has only been involved in preseason but felt the level of competition was comparable to the ISPS Handa Premiership, the major difference being the gap between the top and bottom clubs.

"It's a weird one because I think this league is a lot closer than the New Zealand league is. Auckland City could probably compete in any league here, but other teams probably couldn't," he said.

Great start for him.  Totally forgot about his recurring shoulder injuries a few years ago (when playing for the Nix) which certainly hindered his career.  Very skillful player - always looked a bit too skinny for my liking - but hope he can hit the gym, work hard and stay injury free.

Swedish 3rd tear isn't great - but a nice start.  Were he to go a level up, he'd definitely be in contention for AW selection!

I like what he said about it being all about being over there in the environment, starting somewhere and working at it. Great attitude. I like him as a player, really hope he does well.

Husqvarana started season with 0-0 draw last weekend. No Bevan or Stevens. 

I note this third tier of Swedish football (Division 1), is further split North & South (meaning overall 32 teams at that level!), which must dilute overall quality week in week out.

Which seems to make it even stranger that Bevan has agreed to go there - long way off MLS level.

https://au.soccerway.com/teams/sweden/husqvarna-ff...

Husqvarana lose 1-2 away to Oddevold. Stevens scores Husqvarana's goal and gets 90 mins.

His fella Kiwi Bevan gets to play the 2nd half.

Crowd 255 persons.

It's barely NZFC standard. Hope it's a stepping stone for them into real football.

Scroll down in link for highlights of Stevens goal.

A cracker, whatever league!

http://theniche-cache.com/football/2018/4/17/flyin...

Stevens scores in a 1-2 loss. 

That's Husquarvna's 6th loss in a row, to lie firmly bottom of the league. After 7 games they have a solitary point.

Not sure Vancouver will be best pleased Bevan, is playing in such a shark team, in an already pretty average league.

Big turn around for Husquarvna with a 5-0 win, which takes them off bottom of the table. No Bevan (presume enroute to India), but 90 mins for Stevens.

Did he get a goal - you'd hope so as a forward with that scoreline.

no

Husqvarana lose 0-1 at home to Torns. Stevens, gets 63 minutes before being subbed.

Crowd 165.

Husqvarna dead last and will be relegated to Division 2. (Swedish 4th tier).

Stevens has'nt played for them since late Sept. He managed to score 3 goals for the season.

Injured? Back in Wellington?

Trialling or visiting Jesse Edge in Slovakia according to instagram...

Oh well if anyone is a role model for perserving & not giving up on your Euro pro football dream as a young Kiwi, it's Jesse Edge. 

Esp when your current team gets relegated, as happened for Edge with Achilles in Holland.

Back in #TeeDuds colours today watching  #TWvWN

From this week's Flying Kiwis.

Hopefully Sweden goes better for him 2nd time around.

Mods please update his club. Cheers

Quick off the mark were Värnamo, who grabbed a 1-0 win at home against Motala in their season opener in the Swedish third tier. A first half goal from Charlie Vindehall was all it took. What’s more is that both Joel Stevens and Francis De Vries both got starts, lovely to see. 

FDV picked up a yellow card for his efforts. Interesting to see they also had two Brazilians in the team, as well as a Belarusian goalie and a forward from Sierra Leone. Only five Swedes in the eleven. The word from the coach was that they were pretty dominant despite only getting the one goal so all in all a quality start to the season.

Värnamo have commenced the season in Ettan (Swedish 3rd tier - South) with 3 wins, are yet to concede a goal, and top the table. Stevens & De Vries have started all 3 games.

So could be promotion contenders. Note 3rd tier is in North and South divisions.

https://us.soccerway.com/teams/sweden/ildrottsforeningen-kamraterna-varnamo/3333/

De Vries got the assist on the first goal in this match. Him and Stevens occupy the left hand side with De Vries at LB and Stevens at LW 

De Vries and Stevens (subbed at 75 mins) both start in another win, this time 4-1 over Landskrona.

Värnamo are top of the table, 4 wins from 4, and only 1 goal conceded.

First dropped points of the season, a 0-1 loss to Utsikten.
Full game and a yellow for Stevens. De Vries replaced at 64 mins.

Bubble has burst for Värnamo (slip to 3rd). 2nd loss in a row this time 2-0 at Assyriska Turabdin (6th).

When 1 goal down at HT, two changes were made including De Vries taken off, and Stevens brought on.

Värnamo (up to 2nd) return to winning ways with a 3-0 win over Eskilsminne.

Full games for Stevens and De Vries.

Full both for Stevens and De Vries, as Värnamo beat former league leaders Lund 4-0, to jump into top spot.

No goals yet for Stevens.

Had 2 assists in this game though! But yes itching for a goal. 

Värnamo go 3 points clear at the top with a 2-1 win at Oskarshamns AIK (9th).

Starts for both Stevens and De Vries. No update yet on what subs were made. 

.

League on a short summer break until 8th August.

Note regular season is scheduled to finish 28th November for Värnamo. Could be a little chilly by then in the south of Sweden.

Joel finally gets his first goal in Värnamo's first game back after summer break. 

A 5-0 rout to go 5 points clear at the top of the league 

Francis De Vries picked up a Yellow

https://www.flashscore.com/match/2wnGjtFj/#match-summary

Stevens subbed at 56 mins. A roughie for the "Euro AWs" squad verus Belgium B?

Full game De Vries.

From this week's Flying Kiwis.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1292688457333006336

Roll continues for top of the table Värnamo with a 3-0 win at Skövde (13th).

6 points clear now in top spot.

Full games for Stevens & De Vries. 

Värnamo keep trucking on with a 4-0 win at Linköping City (7th).

7 points clear now in top spot.

Stevens subbed at 78 mins (when 3-0 up) & full game Francis De Vries. 

84 mins in a 1-1 draw verus Torns (4th). Same score when Stevens came off.

Full game De Vries.

Varnamo stay top of the league clear by 5 points.

Scores 3rd goal as Värnamo continue their winning ways with a 4-1 win over Karlskrona (16th & last).

Full games for both him and De Vries.

Värnamo are now 11 points ahead of Utsikten in 2nd spot.

14 games left so looking strong for automatic promotion to the Swedish 2nd tier.

From Flying Kiwis. Video of his goal plus an assist.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1302870829529624576

Subbed at 80 mins in a 2-0 win at Tvååker (12th). 

Värnamo up 1-0 when he came off. Full game for De Vries.

Värnamo still a very comfortable 11 points in front as league leaders. Won 11 of their last 12 games.

Värnamo unbeaten run ends with a 5-3 loss away at Motala (2nd last).

Always chasing the game, being 2-0 and then 3-1 down. Came back to 3-3 at one point.

Stevens subbed after 62 mins (score 3-3)

Full game & yellow for De Vries.

Värnamo still with a 10 point lead, and 11 games left. 

78 mins and the first goal in a 2-0 win over Trollhättan (10th). 3rd of the season.

Full game de Vries

Värnamo 13 points clear in top spot, 10 games left.