Author: Mark Wiltshear

Helmarit, Huuhkajat, Podcast Show Notes, VeikkausliigaLeave a comment

New Kit For Finland. Helmarit Nations League Match Reports. Huuhkajat World Cup Qualifier Previews. U21 Euros Preview. Veikkausliiga Update.

Mark Wiltshear

Keke hosts again as Producer Mark is ‘otherwise engaged’ feeling poorly. He is joined by Ally and Rasmus to look at a very busy spell for Finnish football, starting with launch of an eye-catching new kit for the Finland National teams 😮‍💨🤌

They looked back at the recent Nations League matches for the Helmarit, who just missed out on promotion from Group B3, but who are heading straight into the Women’s Euro 2025 in Switzerland in July. Next, they preview upcoming Men’s World Cup 2026 Qualifiers with the Huuhkajat facing the Netherlands (Sat 7.6.) and Poland (Tue 10.6.) The international segment finishes with a preview of the under-21 Euro 2025, where Finland’s ‘Pikkuhuuhkajat’ will compete.

They finish the show with a look at (mostly the top of) the Veikkausliiga, considering the recent performances of Ilves, KuPS Kuopio, HJK Helsinki and Inter Turku – being sure to save a few minutes to smirk and chuckle at SJK Seinäjoki’s recent form! When the (SJK supporting) cat is away, the mice will play… Continue reading New Kit For Finland. Helmarit Nations League Match Reports. Huuhkajat World Cup Qualifier Previews. U21 Euros Preview. Veikkausliiga Update.

FFS Awaydays, Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

FFS Awaydays: Travelling To Finland For A Football Fix

Mark Wiltshear

Producer Mark gets together with two football fans from England who both travelled to Finland just to watch football. Well that and to try Finnish food. Yes, really!

Longtime FFS follower, Joe Parr caught Mark’s attention with a shout-out on The Sweeper podcast about his connection to Musan Salama (MuSa), who play in Kakkonen, the Finnish fourt tier. Jonny Hibberd set his sights higher by paying a flying visit to watch KuPS Kuopio in the Veikkausliiga, but it was his mission to to try a local delicacy that first inspired his trip. Continue reading FFS Awaydays: Travelling To Finland For A Football Fix

Podcast Show Notes, VeikkausliigaLeave a comment

Veikkausliiga at ‘Vappu’. Which team is where after 4-5 games?

Mark Wiltshear

Hyvää vappua kaikille!

Mark W & Rasmus get together on the Labour Day holiday and spend an hour mulling over the first month of Veikkausliiga action. All teams have played 4-5 games which is a good point to discuss the front-runners, the chasing pack and those lagging behind. Here why Rasmus descibes HJK Helsink as ‘a bit unlucky’ as they lose their first three games – to the delight of fans from all the other Veikkausliiga teams 😆 Continue reading Veikkausliiga at ‘Vappu’. Which team is where after 4-5 games?

Helmarit, Huuhkajat, Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

Huuhkajat World Cup Qualifier Match Reports. Helmarit Nations League Group B3 Match Reports.

Mark Wiltshear

Keke & Mark H are ‘let loose’ on the pod as Producer Mark is either a) skiving or, b) recovering from the three Veikkausliiga preview pods – you decide reader/listener/viewer 😉

Mark & Keke look back at Jacob Friis’ first competitve games as Huuhkajat head coach. Two matches that saw Finland win 1-0 away to Malta, before drawing away 2-2 with Lithuania. Then they turn their attention to the Helmarit and two more Nations League games, a 0-0 draw at home to Belarus followed by a 3-0 home win over Hungary. Continue reading Huuhkajat World Cup Qualifier Match Reports. Helmarit Nations League Group B3 Match Reports.

Podcast Show Notes, VeikkausliigaLeave a comment

Veikkausliiga 2025 Preview: SJK Seinäjoki, FF Jaro, KuPS Kuopio, VPS Vaasa

Mark Wiltshear

The third and final episode in this series, in which the FFS team present previews for each Veikkausliiga team. In this episode, we hear from Petter Brunell on Jaro, Julian Dawe & Lari Paski on SJK, Jouni Laukkanen on KuPS and Sebastian Pundars on VPS.

Producer Mark is now going to have a lie down to prepare for the start of the season 😴 Continue reading Veikkausliiga 2025 Preview: SJK Seinäjoki, FF Jaro, KuPS Kuopio, VPS Vaasa

Podcast Show Notes, VeikkausliigaLeave a comment

Veikkausliiga 2025 Preview: KTP, IF Gnistan, Inter Turku & Ilves

Mark Wiltshear

The second episode in a series of shows, in which the FFS team present previews for each Veikkausliiga team. In this episode, we hear from Sami Lindfors on KTP, John Ehrnstén on IF Gnistan, Inter Turku fan Jussi and FFS regulars Jamie and Rasmus discuus their team, Ilves. Continue reading Veikkausliiga 2025 Preview: KTP, IF Gnistan, Inter Turku & Ilves

Podcast Show Notes, VeikkausliigaLeave a comment

Veikkausliiga 2025 Preview: Haka, IFK Mariehamn, AC Oulu & HJK Helsinki

Mark Wiltshear

This is the first in a series of shows, in which the FFS team present previews for each Veikkausliiga team. In the first episode, we hear from Ally Manson on HJK Helsinki, Johan Lindblom on IFK Mariehamn, Tuomas Komulainen on AC Oulu and Tuomas Vaalta on FC Haka. Continue reading Veikkausliiga 2025 Preview: Haka, IFK Mariehamn, AC Oulu & HJK Helsinki

Huuhkajat, Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

Finland World Cup Qualifier Match Previews. Jacob Friis Names His First Huuhkajat Squad. Keke’s Passport Gets Some Action.

Mark Wiltshear

Mark W and Keke with a hastily arranged episode, recorded the day after new Huuhkajat head coach, Jacob Friis, names his first squad. They look for any surprising selections, discuss the positives of continuity and consider the significance of the U21’s selecting a strong squad for the Euros in June.

They then preview Finland’s first two World Cup qualifiers away to Malta and Lithuania, and Keke gets ready for his trip to Ta’ Qali (or the National Stadium). Listen out for an update on the FFS schedule for 2025, as Mark tries not to admit he has too many pods on the go! Continue reading Finland World Cup Qualifier Match Previews. Jacob Friis Names His First Huuhkajat Squad. Keke’s Passport Gets Some Action.

Finns Overseas, Huuhkajat, Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

New Huuhkajat Head Coach. Liigacup update. Transfers for Finns Overseas. Suomen Cup Round 0, ‘Juuson Kierros’.

Mark Wiltshear

Mark W, Keke and Rasmus return from the winter hibernation with a round-up of recent events in the world of Finnish football. They start by sharing what they know about new Huuhkajat Head Coach, Jacob Friis, and it turns out they know more than they first thought! 🤓

They give a brief update on the Liigacup and Mark fumes at the thuggish tactics of ‘dirty Jaro’.Keke gives the low-down on the exploits of Finnish players overseas and some key transfers, including several Helmarit who have moved to play near to Keke. 😮

Finally, they look forward to round ‘0’ [ZERO] of the Suomen Cup and discuss why it’s known as Juuso’s Round – only to discover that FFS has TWO members playing in this round of the cup! 🤯 Continue reading New Huuhkajat Head Coach. Liigacup update. Transfers for Finns Overseas. Suomen Cup Round 0, ‘Juuson Kierros’.

Helmarit, Huuhkajat, Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

Huuhkajat Nations League Relegation. ‘Rive’ Kanerva Sacked. Helmarit & Pikkuhuuhkajat Qualify For Euro 2025 🔥

Mark Wiltshear

Mark W and Keke get together to look back at two more defeats and relegation to Nations League C for Finland. This run of 6 defeats was also the final action in Markku ‘Rive’ Kanerva’s distinguished spell as Huuhkajat head coach. Ally sent his thoughts on Finland 0-2 Greece and Mark H, creator of the word Rivelution, explains why “Rive deserves a statue!”

Attention then turns to the women’s national team, as the Helmarit qualify for Euro 2025 in Switzerland with an aggregate 2-0 victory over Scotland. The men’s under-21s, the Pikkuhuuhkajat, add to a busy summer next year, qualifying for their Euro 2025 in Slovakia by trouncing Norway 6-3 on aggregate! Continue reading Huuhkajat Nations League Relegation. ‘Rive’ Kanerva Sacked. Helmarit & Pikkuhuuhkajat Qualify For Euro 2025 🔥