Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/11/12/helmarit-match-reports-montenegro-finland-huuhkajat-nations-league-preview/ IN THIS EPISODE... Mark W and Keke make up a threadbare looking FFS team for this epsidoe, too review the recent, back-to-back wins for the women's national team. The Helmarit beat Montenegro to go through the Euro 2025 second playoff round against Scotland, with the winner earning a place in the finals in Switzerland next July. On Tuesday 12.11....

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/10/16/huuhkajat-match-reports-finland-ireland-finland-england-helmarit-squad-announced/ IN THIS EPISODE... Mark W, Ally and Keke get together to look back at two more defetats for Finland, as the Huuhkajat went down to a late winner against Ireland, and were generally outcalssed by England. However, what they thought was going to be a pessimistic show, somehow took an upbeat turn – much to their surprise too!  Hear them discuss...

BLOG: SHOW NOTES & LINK https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/10/11/veikkausliiga-and-kups-wins-suomen-cup-again/ IN THIS EPISODE... Mark W, Rasmus and Mark H take centre stage to focus on the domestic game. They discuss the recent Suomen Cup final won by KuPS Kuopio (again) and then turn their attention to the closing stages of the Veikkausliiga season – where five of the top six places will be decided on the final game of the season. Several friends of the show also send in updates on...

Blog: show notes and links IN THIS EPISODE... Olympia Stadion, Helsinki, Thu 10th Sept. and Sun 13the Sept. It's a home double for the Huuhkajat as both Ireland and England visit Stadi! Mark W, Ally, Keke, Rasmus and Mark H look forward to Finland's upcoming fixtures, as they look to secure their first points in this Nations League competiton. They discuss the previous two games a little more, then preview the upcoming games, including a cameo from Ally who will be our man in the stand at...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/09/20/ffs-awaydays-england-vs-finland/ IN THIS EPISODE... Producer Mark makes his first away trip supporting Finland and ends up back in his hometown on London. In this episode, you’ll hear Mark, Satu and Keke preview the game, long-time listener Kevin on why he is a ‘friend of the show’, plus an immediate post-match reaction from Mark & Satu. Recorded: 10.9.2024 Host: Mark W Guests: Keke, Lady Satu, Kevin 00:00:00...

IN THIS EPISODE... The FFS team are all over Europe at the moment, reeling from Finland's opening two games of the Nations League. In this episode we check in with the guys and Lady Satu to get their post-match views. With many Finnish fans licking the wounds, the lads seem to have independently found their own rays of hope for the remainder of the campaign, but let us know what you think, are the Huuhkajat on their way out of League B? 00:00:00 Intro00:01:10 Mark W & Lady Satu00:08:00...

"Is racism a problem in Finnish football?" Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/09/10/in-conversation-with-abdirahman-sugulle/ IN THIS EPISODE... In this episode, the FFS team talk with Finnish referee, Abdirahman Sugulle. This episode was prompted by Abdi's LinkedIn post in the summer of 2024, a powerful post in which he lashed out at racist abuse aimed at him by a supporter. We invited Abdi on to discuss this situation, but also his rise through the Finnish...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/09/02/huuhkajat-preview-nations-league-2024-greece-vs-finland-england-vs-finland/ IN THIS EPISODE... Stadio Georgios Karaiskaki, Pireaeus, 7th SeptWembley Stadium, London, 10th Sept Mark W, Ally, Keke and Mark H look forward to Finland's upcoiming Nations League fixtures, as the Huuhkajat start their campaign with two away games. Firstly, taking on Greece in Pireaeus, before heading to London to play England at Wembley. They...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/08/21/guest-host-pyry-hannola-veikkausliiga-update/ IN THIS EPISODE... In this episode, Mark W and Keke are joined by a guest host, SJK Seinäjoki playmaker, Pyry Hannola. Firstly, they discuss some recent news events from the world of Finnish football. Then they interview Pyry about his career to date, from his transfer to Denmark age 16 to his current role, starring for SJK near the top of the Veikkausliiga. They are then joined...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/08/14/in-conversation-with-ashley-coffey/ IN THIS EPISODE... In this episode, Mark W is joined by AC Oulu hitman, Ashley Coffey, who talks through his unconventional route to the top of the Veikkausliiga scoring charts – kickstarting his professional career, by EMAIL(!), then working as a teacher while playing in the Swedish league, turning pro at Eskilstuna before moving to AC Oulu in Finland, and developing an unusual love/hate...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/07/25/in-conversation-with-ilmari-niskanen/ IN THIS EPISODE... In this episode, Keke logs in for a one-on-one chat with Ilmari Niskanen a Finland international player who has been a regular in Markku Kanerva’s squads since 2020 and a Veikkausliiga champion back in 2019, with KuPS Kuopio. "Immi" talks Keke through his career that started at PK-37 before flourishing at KuPS Kuopio. A challenging move to Germany conicided with his...

IF GNISTAN APPEAL https://gnistan.fi/2024/07/miten-voit-auttaa-meita/ Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/07/20/gnistamn-stadium-fire-veikkausliiga-june-july-review-kansallinenliiga-update-suomen-cup/ IN THIS EPISODE... In this episode, Mark W and Keke are joined by once again by Rasmus Junila, who is becoming a regular recurring guest. They start this episode with a sad topic, the fire last weekend that destroyed the main stand at IF Gnistan's Mustapekka Areena....

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/07/18/match-reports-euro-2025-qualifiers-finland-norway-and-italy-finland/ IN THIS EPISODE... The FFS team are back today to review last week's games for the women's national team, the Helmarit. Mark W and Keke discuss two Euro 2025 qualifiers for the Helmarit, well-deserved draw with Norway, followed by a disappointing collapse against Italy. Far from ending Finland's qualification dreams, however, the Helmarit now have a...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/06/20/in-conversation-with-stevie-grieve/ IN THIS EPISODE... Mark W sits down for a one-on-one chat with Stevie Grieve, just recently confirmed officially as the head coach at SJK Seinäjoki. Stevie talks through his career that started with a job coaching badminton, took in a variety of technical and coaching roles around the world, included hosting his own TV show in India before arrivinga at SJK in early-2023.  We then get into...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/06/13/match-reports-euro-2025-qualifiers-finland-netherlands-huuhkajat-friendlies/ IN THIS EPISODE... The FFS team are back today to review last week's games for both the women's national team, the Helmarit, and the men's national team, the Huuhkajat. Mark W, Keke, Mark H and Rasmus discuss two Euro 2025 qualifiers for the Helmarit, both close-fought games against the Netherlands.  The Huuhkajat, however, provided pre-Euro 2024...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/06/06/veikkausliiga-may-review-kansallinenliiga-update-suomen-cup/ IN THIS EPISODE... In this episode, Mark W and Ally are joined by Rasmus Junila who works in sports media around the Tampere area. He  is also an Ilves fans, so this is the perfect episode for him to join the pod.  The team discuss the past month of action in the Veikkausliiga, as Ilves & KuPS rise to the top of the table and Mark & Ally share their recent...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/05/29/preview-euro-2025-qualifiers-finland-vs-netherlands-double-header-plus-huuhkajat-friendlies/ IN THIS EPISODE... Summer has finally arrived in Finland and so has the pollen and the allergies. So while Mark W sniffs and sneezes through this episode, the Finnish women's national team, the Helmarit, are traveling to Netherlands for the first game in a Euro 2025 double-header. They do have to come straight back for the return...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/05/01/veikkausliiga-april-review-kansallinenliiga-kicks-off-suomen-cup-euro-2025-finns-overseas/  IN THIS EPISODE... In this episode, Mark W, Keke & Ally are joined by Max from the No Niin It's Jalkapallo blog. The team discuss the first month of action in the Veikkausliiga, as SJK make a strong start and HJK makes heavy work of their opening schedule. Max then talks us through the start of the women's Kansallinenliiga,...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/04/13/ffs-awaydays-vps-sjk/ IN THIS EPISODE... SJK fans Mark W and Julian take us on the bus to watch VPS  take on SJK, on the way explaining why SJK's Klopit supporter group is singing about 'spinach pancakes and minced meat sauce'. Yep, really! The Spinach Pancake song "Ehkä ei oo perinteitä, mut meil on rakkautta. Meillä on pinaattilättyjä, jauhelihakastikkeella" "Maybe we've no traditions, but we've got love. We've got...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/04/05/veikkausliiga-2024-preview/ IN THIS EPISODE... We cut it fine, but we got this out just in time for the big kick-off on Saturday 6.4.2024. In this episode, Mark W and Keke get things started, before handing over to some FFS listeners who present their team's chances in the league this year. Huge thanks to Farid, Max, Ally (you know him), Julian and Jamie – we literally couldn't have done this without you all! 🙌🏼 00:00:00...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/04/03/match-report-finland-2-1-estonia-euro-2025-qualifiers-preview/ IN THIS EPISODE... Following the disappointment of the defeat to Wales. The Huuhkajat took on Estonia and delivered up a lukewarm performance, played on a terrrble pitch, in front of not that many supporters. Mark W and Keke talk through the 'action', while Mark H shares his experiences from the stadium. They the look forward to the upcoming Euro 2025 qualifiers...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/03/24/huuhkajat-match-report-wales-4-1-finland/ IN THIS EPISODE... UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifiers, Nations League, Path A A demoralising 4-1 defeat for Finland, away to Wales in the Euro 2024 playoff, was not going to put off the FFS team – even Mark H made an appearance 😮 They discussed Mark W's pre-match prediction live on BBC Radio 5Live, which was undermined by the Huuhkajat defence only three minutes into the game. They also...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/03/18/huuhkajat-preview-euro2024-play-off-wales-vs-finland/ IN THIS EPISODE... Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, 21st Mar 2024 A pod of two halves as Mark W & Rich kick things off with updates on the Liigacup and news from Veikkausliiga teams. The main event is, naturally, the Euro 2024 playoffs via teh Nations League pathways. Rich talks through the Huuhkajat squad who's in and why did Robert Taylor not join up with the...

Blog: show notes and links https://finnishfootballshow.com/2024/02/19/helmarit-squad-for-pinatar-cup-liigacup-update/ IN THIS EPISODE... The Finnish women's national team, the Helmarit, will be in Pinatar Cup action this week. For those not familiar with the Pinatar Cup, Mark W & Keke give you an explanation, an introduction to the Finland squad and, then, look forward to three games in seven days for the Helmarit. The groups stage of the Liigacup is nearly over, so they look at recent...