Porin Palloilijat

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Porin Palloilijat
Porin Palloilijat logo.png
Founded1925
Ground Porin Stadion,
Pori
Finland
Capacity12,000
ChairmanEero Laurila
Head CoachPertti Lundell
CoachRisto Puustinen
League Vitonen
Porin Stadion Porin Jalkapallostadion.jpg
Porin Stadion

Porin Palloilijat or formerly FC PoPa is a Finnish football club, based in the city of Pori in Finland. The club currently plays in the Vitonen, the seventh highest level of Finnish football. The club was established in 1925 but did not operate between 1960 and 1981.

Contents

History

Porin Palloilijat is the oldest team sports club in Pori being over 85 years old. Bror Weckström had the original idea of forming a new team in Pori and on 16 April 1925 the first meeting of PoPa was held in the café at Pori Theatre. [1]

It was decided to form a team called Porin Palloilijat and to make football and bandy their main focus. The first Committee members were Erkki Laitinen, J. Kari, Bror Weckström, O. Huhtanen, A. Forsberg and H. Lingvist. In May 1925 the constitution and rules for the club were prepared and the team was registered on 13 May 1925. They also included ice-hockey, women's basketball and ice-skating within the club's featured programme. The first chairman was Erkki Laitinen and he was later followed by Veikko Laitinen. [2]

PoPa played their first games at Liisantori and then later at Tiilimäki before moving in 1929 to the football and ice-hockey field at Juhannuslehto. The club later moved to the Herralahti football ground. [3]

PoPa had a rich early history playing 10 seasons in the Suomisarja (Finland League) which at that time was the second tier of Finnish football in 1937–39 and 1945–51. [4]

They have had three periods covering 7 seasons in the Kakkonen (Second Division), the third tier of Finnish football in 1989, 2002–03 and 2005–08. [5]

FC PoPa Oy took over the responsibility for the sport and financial operation of the principal team in 2007. [6] In season 2007 PoPa played in the Kakkonen (Second Division) in the Western Group, reaching second place just one point short of promotion to the Ykkönen (First Division). In 2008 the team went one better winning the Western Group of Second Division in a crushing manner and were promoted to the Ykkönen for 2009.

The club maintained their rapid progress in 2009 by finishing 4th in the Ykkönen and are well on target of bringing Veikkausliiga football back to Pori. The key people behind the initiative are Antti Sumiala (sport and managing director), Rami Nieminen (manager / marketing executive), Pertti Lundell (coach) and Risto Puustinen (coach). [7]

From the beginning, the focal point of new executive board has been raising the football in Pori and Satakunta back to the top level in Finland. The strategy of FC PoPa is to play attacking and entertaining football, to develop young, talented players for the use of FC PoPa and to sell the most talented players to the foreign professional clubs. [8]

FC PoPa changed their name back to Porin Palloilijat in 2012.

Season to season

Season to season of PoPa
SeasonLevelDivisionSectionAdministrationPositionMovements
1935Tier 2 B-Sarja(Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)7thRelegated
1936Tier 3Maakuntasarja(Regional League)WestFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)Promoted
1937Tier 2 Itä-Länsi-Sarja(East-West Series)West LeagueFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)7th
1938Tier 2 Itä-Länsi-Sarja(East-West Series)West League Northern GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)7th
1939Tier 2 Itä-Länsi-Sarja(East-West Series)West League Group 3Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)4th
1940-41Tier 3C-Sarja(Third Division)Group 2Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromotion Playoff
1943-44Tier 3Maakuntasarja(Regional League)Cup-formatFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2nd roundCompetition cancelled due to WWII
1945Tier 2 Suomisarja(Finland Series)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2nd
1945-46Tier 2 Suomisarja(Finland Series)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)4th
1946-47Tier 2 Suomisarja(Finland Series)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)6th
1947-48Tier 2 Suomisarja(Finland Series)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromotion Group 4th
1948Tier 2 Suomisarja(Finland Series)North GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)7th
1949Tier 2 Suomisarja(Finland Series)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)6th
1950Tier 2 Suomisarja(Finland Series)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)6th
1951Tier 2 Suomisarja(Finland Series)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)10thRelegated
1952Tier 3Maakuntasarja(Regional League)West Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromotion Playoff
1953Tier 3Maakuntasarja(Regional League)West Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2nd
1954Tier 3Maakuntasarja(Regional League)West Group IFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromotion Playoff
1955Tier 3Maakuntasarja(Regional League)North Group IIFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd
1956Tier 3Maakuntasarja(Regional League)West Group IFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd
1957Tier 3Maakuntasarja(Regional League)West Group IIFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)7th
1958Tier 3Maakuntasarja(Regional League)Group 4Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)5th
1959Tier 3Maakuntasarja(Regional League)Group 5Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromoted
1960Merged with Porin Kärpät to form Porin Karhut
1982Tier 43. Divisioona(Third Division)Group 4Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)6th
1983Tier 43. Divisioona(Third Division)Group 4Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)11thRelegated
1984Tier 54. Divisioona(Fourth Division)Group 6Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromotion Playoff
1985Tier 54. Divisioona(Fourth Division)Group 6Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromoted
1986Tier 43. Divisioona(Third Division)Group 4Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)4th
1987Tier 43. Divisioona(Third Division)Group 4Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)5th
1988Tier 43. Divisioona(Third Division)Group 4Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromoted
1989Tier 32. Divisioona(Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)10thRelegation Playoff - Relegated
1990Tier 43. Divisioona(Third Division)Group 4Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)10thRelegated
1991Tier 54. Divisioona(Fourth Division)Satakunta District (SPL Satakunta)Promoted
1992Tier 43. Divisioona(Third Division)Group 4Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)5th
1993Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Group 4Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)9th
1994Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Group 4Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)9th
1995Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Group 4Satakunta District (SPL Satakunta)4th
1996Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Group 4Satakunta District (SPL Satakunta)6th
1997Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Group 4Satakunta District (SPL Satakunta)8th
1998Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Group 4Satakunta District (SPL Satakunta)5th
1999Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Group 4Satakunta District (SPL Satakunta)4th
2000Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Satakunta District (SPL Satakunta)3rd
2001Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Satakunta District (SPL Satakunta)1stPromoted
2002Tier 3Kakkonen(Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)5th
2003Tier 3Kakkonen(Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)12thRelegated
2004Tier 4Kolmonen(Third Division)Satakunta District (SPL Satakunta)1stPromoted
2005Tier 3Kakkonen(Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2nd
2006Tier 3Kakkonen(Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd
2007Tier 3Kakkonen(Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2nd
2008Tier 3Kakkonen(Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromoted
2009Tier 2 Ykkönen(First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)4th
2010Tier 2 Ykkönen(First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd
2011Tier 2 Ykkönen(First Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)11thRelegated - Bankruptcy
2012Tier 6Vitonen(Fifth Division)Satakunta District (SPL Satakunta)10th
2013Tier 7Kutonen(Sixth Division)Satakunta District (SPL Satakunta)6thPreliminary qualifications for 2013 Vitonen 7th
2014Tier 7Kutonen(Sixth Division)Satakunta District (SPL Satakunta)2ndPromoted
2015Tier 6Vitonen(Fifth Division)Satakunta District (SPL Satakunta)2ndPromoted
2016Tier 5Nelonen(Fourth Division)Satakunta District (SPL Satakunta)7th
2017Tier 5Nelonen(Fourth Division)Group 1Western District (SPL Länsi-Suomi)6th
2018Tier 5Nelonen(Fourth Division)Group 2Western District (SPL Länsi-Suomi)10thRelegated
2019Tier 6Vitonen(Fifth Division)Group 3Western District (SPL Länsi-Suomi)6th
2020Tier 6Vitonen(Fifth Division)Group A3Western District (SPL Läntinen)6th
2021Tier 6Vitonen(Fifth Division)Group A3Western District (SPL Läntinen)6th
2022Tier 6Vitonen(Fifth Division)Group A3Western District (SPL Läntinen)4th
2023Tier 6Vitonen(Fifth Division)Group A3Western District (SPL Läntinen)6th
2024Tier 7Vitonen(Fifth Division)Group A3Western District (SPL Läntinen)8thRelegated
2025Tier 8Kutonen(Sixth Division)Group A4Western District (SPL Läntinen)

[9] [10]

  • 15 seasons in 2nd Tier
  • 18 seasons in 3rd Tier
  • 17 seasons in 4th Tier
  • 6 seasons in 5th Tier
  • 7 seasons in 6th Tier
  • 3 seasons in 7th Tier
  • 1 season in 8th Tier

Club Structure

PoPa currently has 1 men's team. There is also a futsal team that plays in the Second Division. The club runs one junior football team. [11]

2024 season

PoPa are competing in the Vitonen administered by the Football Association of Finland (Suomen Palloliitto). This is the seventh tier of the Finnish football system.

References and sources

Footnotes

  1. "A Short History of PoPa". Archived from the original on 1 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  2. "A Short History of PoPa". Archived from the original on 1 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  3. "A Short History of PoPa". Archived from the original on 1 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  4. "Finland – Divisional Movements 1930–2009". RSSSF . 2010. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  5. "Finland – Divisional Movements 1930–2009". RSSSF . 2010. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  6. "FC PoPa". Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  7. "FC PoPa". Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  8. "FC PoPa". Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  9. https://tulospalvelu.palloliitto.fi/team/61260/info
  10. http://www.finlandfootball.net/
  11. "Seura – Porin Palloilijat". Archived from the original on 8 July 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2010.