In Conversation with… Salim Yussif

In this episode, Mark W is joined by SJK Seinäjoki defender, Salim Yussif, who talks through his unconventional route to Finland. From a childhood living in a slum in Accra, through teenage years on a football scholarship in the USA, to becoming a regular starter for SJK near the top of the Veikkausliiga. We discuss the challenge of moving countries and making friends, learning how to play Stevie Grieve’s ‘chaos football’ and just what is the ‘Seinäjoki African Community’. Salim’s a young guy with a long future ahead of him and his eye on a Barcelona shirt (if he’s lucky!)

Continue reading “In Conversation with… Salim Yussif”

In Conversation with… Abdirahman Sugulle: “Is racism a problem in Finnish football?”

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 refereeing system as a young ref of Somalian heritage, the influence other minority background referees had on him, the problem of racism is Finnish society and football, but also some lighter moments from his time on the pitch.

Continue reading “In Conversation with… Abdirahman Sugulle: “Is racism a problem in Finnish football?””

Guest host: Pyry Hannola + interview. Recent news. Veikkausliiga Update, August. Suomen Cup semi-finals. Veikkausliiga transfers.

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 by some of the FFS listeners, who give an update on their team and then get Pyry’s perspective on his Veikkausliiga opponents. They discuss the semi-finals of the Suomen Cup. then finish-up with a few prominant transfers to VL teams and a suggestion that you listen to the new, FFS-adjacent, SJK Seinäjoki fan podcast. Continue reading Guest host: Pyry Hannola + interview. Recent news. Veikkausliiga Update, August. Suomen Cup semi-finals. Veikkausliiga transfers.

In Conversation with… Ashley Coffey

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 relationship with fans of SJK Seinäjoki. It’s an intriguing story that, hopefully, still has a few chapters to run.

Continue reading “In Conversation with… Ashley Coffey”

In Conversation with… Ilmari Niskanen

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 call-up to the Finland national team. Then a spell at Dundee United in Scotland, which started well but ended in relegation, bofre Immi moved to Exeter City in the EFL League 1.

Continue reading “In Conversation with… Ilmari Niskanen”

[Podcast] 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 the details of his time in Finland: how did he first connect with SJK Seinäjoki? How did he settle in to Finnish life? What was his biggest surprise about Finland?

We also discuss Stevie’s role at SJK, both in recruitment and coaching? Just what are the principles of ‘Grieveball’? And how well-suited are Finnish players to other leagues overseas (and why)? We conclude by looking at his ambitions both for the club and for himself in the (hopefully, quite distant) future!!

Video & audio production on this episode by Glenn Murray & Sarah Senf.

Continue reading “[Podcast] In Conversation with… Stevie Grieve”

[Podcast] In Conversation with… Juha Pirinen

In this episode, Keke and Mark W are joined by another Huuhkajat star, Juha Pirinen. A versatile left-sided player and former Finland international with 20 caps, two Veikkausliiga Championships and a Suomen Cup to his name.

‘Piri’ talks us through his early career playing in the Veikkausliiga, starting at his hometown club, Haka, and the influence of his father and uncle, who were both professional footballers. His domestic career took in MyPa, RoPS and HJK and included playing in European competitions.

His form at RoPS led to his call-up to the international team and Juha explains why he had to take his girlfriend with him to his first Huuhkajat training camp! He also shares his perspective from inside the squad during the disappointing Hans Backe era.

International moves to Tromsø (Norway), AS Trencin (Slovakia) and Volos FC (Greece) followed, fulfilling another childhood dream of playing overseas. Although, his international career ended, sadly, just before Euro 2020 and he shares his feelings about missing out on those finals.

Continue reading “[Podcast] In Conversation with… Juha Pirinen”

[Podcast] In Conversation with… Thesis Author, Susanna Liljander

“Women supporters’ experiences in SJK Seinäjoki’s Klopit”

In 2022, Susanna Liljander conducted a survey among female members of SJK Seinäjoki’s supporters group, Klopit. This survey formed the basis of her Master’s thesis which was recently published and shared on the Klopit Facebook group. Mark W’s wife, Lady Satu, is also an active member of Klopit, so he thought he’d get Satu and Susanna together to compare the theory with the reality.

Continue reading “[Podcast] In Conversation with… Thesis Author, Susanna Liljander”

[Podcast] In Conversation with… Johanna Ruohonen

In this special episode ahead of the 2022 Women’s Euros beginning this week in England, Rich spoke with author Johanna Ruohonen about her new book Naisten Laji, the origins of women’s football in Finland and Europe and how things have changed – and where inequality still remains. Finland play their three group games in Milton Keynes, where Rich and Keke will be supporting the Helmarit in the matches against Spain, Denmark and Germany.

Johanna describes how the book came about, speaking with female players past and present, hopes for the future and how the Helmarit and Kansallinen Liiga can provide positive role models for the next generation of women’s footballers and coaches in Finland.

Continue reading “[Podcast] In Conversation with… Johanna Ruohonen”

[Podcast] In Conversation with… Robert Ivanov

In this episode, Keke, Rich and Mark W are joined by Huuhkajat star, Robert Ivanov. A Finland international player who has recently cemented himself into the Huuhkajat starting 11, was a member of the Euro 2020 squad and who looks certain will be commanding the Finnish defence for years to come.

Roba tells us how it felt to grow up and progress through the Finnish league system, from an 18-year-old ‘bambi’ at PK-35 to FC Myllypuro to FC Vikingit ‘to play with my friends’ and into the Veikkausliiga with FC Honka. He talks about his dream of playing for Arsenal and his move to Warta Poznan, in Poland, and explains that his transfer may not have been quite as expensive as Keke thought!

Finally, Robert talks about his international career, the joy of being selected in the Euro 2020 squad and the ‘changing of teh guard’ in the Finland defence since the Euros.

Continue reading “[Podcast] In Conversation with… Robert Ivanov”