FC POHU

FC POHU

Full name	FC Pohjois-Haagan Urheilijat
Nickname(s)	POHU
Founded	1957
Ground	Tali, Helsinki, Finland
Chairman	Esko Manninen
Manager	Esko Manninen
Coach	Valtteri Honkanen
League	Kolmonen
Home colours

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. There are currently around eleven teams competing at senior level, and many more at junior level.

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 pinnacle 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

• 2 seasons in Kakkonen
• 11 seasons in Kolmonen
• 2 seasons in Nelonen

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 2013 Season

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

No. Position Player 1 Olavi Hetemäki 2 Matti Puranen 3 Sami Laatikainen 4 Valtteri Honkanen 5 Tommi Hintikka 6 Eero Kaappo-Koivisto 7 Abnor Ibisi 8 Jukka Peltonen 9 Pekka Loponen 10 Lauri Mäkelä 11 Totti Oja 14 Petri Partanen

No. Position Player 15 Antti Ennekari 16 Jori Rautalin 17 Tero Hokkanen 19 Philip Nduka 20 Jani Kuikka 21 Dimitri Kovalenko 22 Anssi Laakkonen 23 Janne Bruun (C" 25 Liridon Islami 26 Henri Harjama 30 Toni Kneip

References and sources

• Official Website
• Suomen Cup