IF Gnistan

IF Gnistan
Full name Idrottsföreningen Gnistan
Nickname(s) Kipinä
Founded 1924
Ground Fair Pay Arena,
Helsinki
Finland
(Capacity: 2000)
Chairman Tero Korhonen
Head Coach Aavo Sarap
Coach Jon Poulsen
League Kakkonen (Group A)
2009 2nd – Kakkonen (Group A)
Home colours
Away colours

IF Gnistan (The Spark) is a Finnish football club from the city of Helsinki founded in 1924. The club is currently playing in the Kakkonen, the third tier of the Finnish league system. IF Gnistan play their home matches at Fair Pay Arena.

Contents

Background

Gnistan has played six seasons in the Ykkönen (First Division), the second tier of Finnish football in 1995–98 and 2001–02. The club has played twelve seasons in the Kakkonen (Second Division), the third tier of Finnish football in 1990, 1994, 1999–2000 and 2003 to the present day.[1]

In 2002, the club nearly made it to the semifinals of the Finnish Cup, by leading FC Lahti 2–0 till the 90th minute. A FC Lahti fan, ran naked to the field, which caused 5 minutes of added time. Lahti scored twice in injury time and in extra time they made the final score 2–3.

Season to season

Season Level Division Section Administration Position Movements
2000 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted
2001 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th Relegation Play-Offs
2002 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th Relegation Group (South) – 9th – Relegated
2003 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th
2004 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th
2005 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd
2006 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th
2007 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th
2008 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th
2009 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd
2010 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd

Club Structure

Gnistan run a number of teams including 4 men's teams, 1 veteran's team, 1 ladies team, 11 boys team and 6 girls teams. The club also runs a Football School for youngsters.

2010 season

IF Gnistan are competing in Group A (Lohko A) of the Kakkonen administered by the Football Association of Finland (Suomen Palloliitto) . This is the third highest tier in the Finnish football system. In 2009 Gnistan finished in second position in their Kakkonen section.

Gnistan / 2 are participating in Section 1 (Lohko 1) of the Nelonen (Fourth Division) administered by the Helsinki SPL.

Gnistan / Ogeli are participating in Section 2 (Lohko 2) of the Nelonen (Fourth Division) administered by the Helsinki SPL.

Gnistan / Roots are participating in Section 2 (Lohko 2) of the Kutonen (Sixth Division) administered by the Helsinki SPL. In 2009 Roots finished in second position in Section 2 Seiska (Seventh Division).

Current squad 2010

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
2 FW Teemu Pyhämäki
3 FW Tuomas Mustonen
4 DF Ossi Martikainen
5 DF Teemu Seppä
6 DF Niko Simpanen
7 DF Kimmo Sivula
8 MF Antti Uusitalo
9 FW Jon Poulsen
10 FW Samuel Woodward
12 GK Eemeli Ihalainen
13 GK Ylber Jashari
14 DF Mikko Huupponen
15 FW Simo Miettinen
No. Position Player
16 FW Julius Rikberg
17 FW Teemu Enberg
18 DF Esa Vironen
19 FW Erno Kaplas
20 MF Marko Selin
21 MF Kim Louhisto
22 DF Tero Heikkilä
23 MF Timo Salo
24 MF Anton Louhisto
26 FW Ikenna Ikegwuonu
28 MF Jouni Liesirova
30 DF Rami Murto
37 GK Jan Vesterinen

Notable former players

  • John Feodoroff
  • John Gymer (1996–00)
  • Jeff Wood (1987)
  • Tero Heikkilä (2008–10)

References and sources

Footnotes