Helsingin Ponnistus Explained

Clubname:	Helsingin Ponnistus
Fullname:	Helsingin Ponnistus
Nickname:	Ponnistus, Ponnarit, Telakka(the dock), Ponteva(vigorous)
Ground:	Haapaniemen Kenttä, Helsinki, Finland
Chairman:	Jukka Haapaniemi
Coach:	Sami Koskinen Saku Härkönen
Season:	2021
League:	Nelonen
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Pattern Ra1:	_black_stripes
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Helsingin Ponnistus (abbreviated Ponnistus) is a football club from Helsinki, Finland. The club was formed in 1887 making it the oldest football club in Finland. The men's first team currently plays in the Nelonen (Fourth Division) and their home ground is at the Haapaniemen Kenttä.

Background

The sports club was founded on 6 September 1887 by Viktor Damm (1864–1944) supported by 5 other young men. In its early days the club specialised in gymnastics and athletics.^[1] Nowadays football is the main sport.

The club has also been playing bandy. It was the runner-up for the bandy championship of the Finnish Workers' Sports Federation in 1948.

Ponnistus have had a variable degree of success in the Finnish football league and have participated in all four top tiers of Finnish football since the war years. The club have played in the Mestaruussarja, which was then the top tier of Finnish football on 4 separate occasions in 1948, 1968, 1973 and as recently as 1995 in the Veikkausliiga. Each time their stay was short-lived and they were relegated back to the second tier at the end of the season.^[2]

Ponnistus have played 28 seasons covering seven periods in the Ykkönen or Suomensarja (First Division), the second tier of Finnish football in the years 1949–55, 1958–63, 1965–67, 1969–72, 1974–77, 1993–94 and 1996–97. They also have had four spells covering 21 seasons in the third tier, the Kakkonen (Second Division), in 1978–83, 1985–92, 1998–2002 and 2005–06.^[3]

In 1995, Ponnistus won the final of Työväen Urheiluliiton Cup (Workers' Sports Federation Cup) for the first time in their history.^[4]

The highest ever attendance for a Ponnistus match was in 1968 when 6,281 people attended the home game with Lahden Reipas.^[5]

The Ladies Team gained promotion to the Women's Premier Division (Naisten SM-sarja) in 1976 but in 1977 they finished bottom of their group and were relegated.^[6] The team currently play in the Nelonen (Fourth Division).

Season to season

Season Level Division Section Administration Position Movements 1948 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 16th Relegated 1949 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1950 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 1951 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 1952 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1953 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 1954 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 1955 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th Relegated 1956 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) South Group 2 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promotion Playoff 1957 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) South Group 1 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1958 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 1959 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th 1960 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 1961 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1962 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 1963 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 11th Relegated 1964 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Group 1 – Helsinki & Uusimaa Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1965 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th Relegation Playoff 1966 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 1967 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promotion Group 2nd – Promoted 1968 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 11th Relegated 1969 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promotion Group 3rd 1970 Tier 2 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd Promotion Group 2nd 1971 Tier 2 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promotion Group 3rd 1972 Tier 2 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1973 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 11th Relegated 1974 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 1975 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 1976 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 1977 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 12th Relegated 1978 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 1979 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 1980 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1981 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promotion Playoff 1982 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 1983 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 12th Relegated 1984 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 1 – Helsinki & Uusimaa Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd Promotion Playoff – Promoted 1985 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 1986 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 1987 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 1988 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1989 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 1990 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 1991 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1992 Tier 3 II Divisioona (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1993 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th Relegation series 1st 1994 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1995 Tier 1 Veikkausliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 14th Relegated 1996 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 1997 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10th Relegation Group South – Relegated 1998 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 1999 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th 2000 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 2001 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 2002 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 11th Relegated 2003 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 3 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 3rd 2004 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa) 1st Promotion Playoffs – Promoted 2005 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10th Relegation Playoffs 2006 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 14th Relegated 2007 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 3 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa) 6th 2008 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa) 3rd 2009 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 1 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa) 4th 2010 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Helsinki) 11th Relegated 2011 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Section 1 Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) 1st Promoted 2012 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Section 2 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa) 12th Relegated 2013 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Section 2 Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) 7th 2014 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Section 1 Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) 5th 2015 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Group 2 Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) 4th 2016 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Group 1 Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) 8th 2017 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Group 1 Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) 12th Relegated 2018 Tier 6 Vitonen (Fifth Division) Group 1 Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) 6th 2019 Tier 6 Vitonen (Fifth Division) Group 4 Helsinki District (SPL Helsinki) 3rd 2020 Tier 6 Vitonen (Fifth Division) Group 4 South (SPL Etelä) 1st Promoted 2021 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Group 3 South (SPL Etelä) 5th 4 season in Veikkausliiga 28 seasons in Ykkönen 24 seasons in Kakkonen 8 seasons in Kolmonen 7 seasons in Nelonen 3 seasons in Vitonen

2010 season

Ponnistus Men's Team are competing in Section 2 (Lohko 2) of the Kolmonen (Third Division) administered by the Helsinki SPL. This is the fourth highest tier in the Finnish football system. In 2009 Ponnistus finished in 4th place in Section 1 (Lohko 1) of the Kolmonen.

Ponnistus / 2 are competing in Section 2 (Lohko 2) of the Vitonen (Fifth Division) administered by the Helsinki SPL.

References and Sources

• Official Website
• Finnish Wikipedia
• Suomen Cup
• Helsingin Ponnistus Facebook

Notes and References

1. Web site: FUTIS-sanomat Numero 1 2004 . 2010-07-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050224125144/http://www2.palloliitto.fi/helsinki/Futissanomat/FS_401_23.pdf . 2005-02-24.
2. News: Finland – Divisional Movements 1930–2009 . Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Archives . 2010 . 2010-07-20.
3. News: Finland – Divisional Movements 1930–2009 . Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Archives . 2010 . 2010-07-20.
4. Book: Jalkapallokirja 1995 . 1995 . Suomen Palloliitto . 0787-7188.
5. Book: Jalkapallokirja 1996 . 1996 . Suomen Palloliitto . 0787-7188.
6. News: Finland – List of Women League First Level Tables. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Archives . 2010 . 2010-07-20.