This essay addresses the rise and fall of the Swedish women's club Umea IK. The question is how a team from a city almost devoid of any football culture suddenly could become one of the most successful clubs in the world during the early 2000s? The theoretical basis consists of the concepts of local identity, glocalization and Manuel Castell's analysis of the network society. The source material is a study of Umea's largest daily newspaper and eleven interviews. Umea IK worked energetically to create a strong local network for a women's club (consisting of good contacts with the municipality, high income from sponsors, good media coverage and high attendances). The university city of Umea was dynamic and progressive, with a strong middle-class character. The population could identify with the team. However, the city's volatility meant that the team did not get long-lasting significance in terms of the city's identity.