FC Pohjois-Haagan Urheilijat

FC Pohjois-Haagan Urheilijat
Full name FC Pohjois-Haagan Urheilijat
Nickname(s) POHU
Founded 1957
Ground Lassila and Pirkkola, Helsinki, Finland
Chairman Esko Manninen
Manager Jukka Virtanen
Coach Jani Kurvinen
Matti Honkala
League Kolmonen
Home colours

FC Pohjois-Haagan Urheilijat (abbreviated FC POHU) is a football club from Pohjois-Haaga in Helsinki, Finland. The club was formed in 1957 and has developed into a very large organisation with a large number of teams competing in various leagues. In terms of adult teams there is already eleven and many more at the junior level.

Contents

History

The construction of the Pohjois-Haaga (North Haaga) district of Helsinki began in the early 1950s and at that time there were about a thousand inhabitants. By 1957 the population had grown to nearly ten thousand, including a substantial number of children. This created pressure on the establishment of a sports club.

On 15 November 1957 a number of proactive residents held a meeting and founded the Pohjois-Haagan Urheilijat club (North Haaga Sportsmen's club). The club soon offered multi-sports opportunities and a focus for young people who were interested in sport.

By 1960 the club had representative sides competing at football, handball, volleyball and bandy. By the late 1970s POHU specialised at club football and women's football activity increased. Success in the late 1960s saw the club men's team progress to Division IV and then to Division III and almost gain promotion to the old Division II in 1971. They eventually succeeded in 1976. The year 1977 proved to be the club's pinacle with one season in the Kakkonen, the third tier of Finnish football. In the subsequent years the team has played in Division III (Kolmonen) and Division IV (Nelonen).

The late 1980s and the 1990s saw the rapid expansion of the junior section with the formation of numerous boys and girls teams.

Season to season

Season Level Division Section Administration Position Movements
2000 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 9th
2001 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa) 11th Relegated
2002 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Section 2 Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) 1st Promoted
2003 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 3 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 7th
2004 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 3 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 6th
2005 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 3 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 7th
2006 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 3 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 8th
2007 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 4th
2008 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa) 11th Relegated
2009 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Section 1 Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) 1st Promoted
2010 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa) 4th

Structure

The club runs a large number of teams including 7 men's teams, 3 veteran's teams, 1 ladies team and a very wide range of boys and girls junior teams.

2010 season

FC POHU are competing in Section 2 (Lohko 2) of the Kolmonen administered by the Helsinki SPL and Uusimaa SPL. This is the fourth highest tier in the Finnish football system. In 2009 FC POHU were promoted from the Nelonen.

FC POHU/2 are competing in Section 1 (Lohko 1) of the Nelonen administered by the Helsinki SPL.

FC POHU/Playboys are competing in Section 1 (Lohko 1) of the Vitonen administered by the Helsinki SPL. In 2009 they were promoted from the Kutonen.

FC POHU/Swigu are competing in Section 2 (Lohko 2) of the Vitonen administered by the Helsinki SPL. In 2009 they were promoted from the Kutonen.

FC POHU/Simpsons are competing in Section 3 (Lohko 3) of the Vitonen administered by the Helsinki SPL.

FC POHU/Susijengi are competing in Section 1 (Lohko 1) of the Kutonen administered by the Helsinki SPL. In 2009 they were promoted from the Seiska.

FC POHU/Shrimps are competing in Section 2 (Lohko 2) of the Kutonen administered by the Helsinki SPL.

Current First Team Squad for the 2010 Season

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Antero Kaavi
2 Antti Ennekari
3 Esko Ryyppö
4 Henri Nackström
5 Jaakko Hokkanen
6 Jan Langenskiöld
7 Janne Oksanen
8 Janne Sera
9 Jouni Virtanen
10 Juha Ojala
11 Jukka Peltoniemi
12 Jussi Virtanen
13 Karras Orestis
14 Kristian Träskelin
15 Lasse Loimukoski
16 Lauri Hervonen
No. Position Player
17 Lauri Mäkelä
18 Lauri Valtakari
20 Mikko Ora
21 Mikko Tuominen
22 Nikita Minkenen
23 Nikolas Hiltunen
24 Oso Syväoja
25 Pekka Loponen (C
26 Raoul Söderlund
27 Tero Hokkanen
28 Tommi Hintikka
29 Toni Viljanen
30 Tuukka Hämäläinen
31 Ville Helminen
32 Ville Räsänen
77 Matti Seilonen

Notable Former Players

References and sources