A football that travelled over 1,100 miles from an Aberdeen football pitch to Norway is to be returned in person by a man who was given it as a gift.
Johnny Mikalsen has promised to take the ball back to city side Banks o’ Dee when he visits Scotland later this year.
The ball landed in the River Dee after being kicked over the fence at the junior side’s home, Spain Park.
It washed up on the island of Vanna in the north of Norway, where it was found by Nils Hugo Andersen who gave it to Mr Mikalsen as a birthday present.
Mr Mikalsen had initially planned to display the ball in his shop on the island alongside scarves and memorabilia of clubs such as Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.
But he intends to bring it back to the Granite City when he flies to Scotland for a whisky tasting tour.
He said: “The ball was found on my 60th birthday and Nils gave it to me as a present, but I’m happy to return it.
“Another friend, who I go salmon fishing with, also gave me a great present, which is to go with to Scotland for some whisky tasting.
“When we go over I will bring the ball back to the football club.”
The club found out where the ball had ended up when their club secretary Tommy Ewan received an email from Nils which said: “You properly have one of the best long-distance kickers in the world because of a friend of mine found a football with your club name on by the seaside.”
