Category: Podcast Show Notes

Huuhkajat, Podcast Show Notes, VeikkausliigaLeave a comment

Match Previews: Huuhkajat World Cup Qualifier. Veikkausliiga finale reviewed. KuPS crowned champions again 👑

Mark Wiltshear

This episode is brought to you by Mark W, Keke, Ally and Rasmus; a full squad for a full episode. They start by looking at the upcoming games for the Huuhkajat, a World Cup qualifier against Malta and a home friendly against Andorra. They also talk about the Finland fans’ feelings about head coach, Jacob Friis.

They then focus on the final few games in the Veikkausliiga season. With KuPS finishing as champions again and doing well in this season’s Europa Conference League. They give a detailed breakdown of the top six teams and what the near future might hold for each club. Continue reading Match Previews: Huuhkajat World Cup Qualifier. Veikkausliiga finale reviewed. KuPS crowned champions again 👑

Podcast Show Notes, VeikkausliigaLeave a comment

Huuhkajat World Cup Qualifiers Match Reports. Veikkausliiga: Karsintasarja concludes, Metsaruussarja continues…

Mark Wiltshear

Mark W & Keke are joined by a couple of guests for a bumper episode. Firstly, Jussi Hartikainen, from Suomen Maajoukkue Kannatajat ry and Football Supporters Europe, comes on to discuss the latest two World Cup Qualifiers for Finland, a 2-1 home win over Lithuania and a 0-4 away defeat to the Netherlands. Jussi also explains about his role and FSE and his involvement in the recent Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Finnish FA and the SMJK supporters group.

All three are then joined by KTP fan Sami Lindfors, who shares his experience of the bottom-of-the-table clash between KTP and Haka, which saw Haka relegated and KTP into a playoff with TPS Turku. They also talk through the current situation in the top half, with only 6 points between the top 4 teams and still 5 rounds of games to be played. Continue reading Huuhkajat World Cup Qualifiers Match Reports. Veikkausliiga: Karsintasarja concludes, Metsaruussarja continues…

In Conversation, Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

In Conversation with… Salim Yussif

Mark Wiltshear

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”
Huuhkajat, Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

Match Previews: Huuhkajat World Cup Qualifiers & U21 Euro Qualifier. Plus Ilves fans’ BUSt-up in Seinäjoki.

Mark Wiltshear

Mark W and Keke look at the upcoming World Cup qualifiers for the Finland men’s national teams, as the Huuhkajat face Lithuania at home before travelling to play the Netherlands in Amsterdam. Finland need as many points as possible to have any hope of qualifying from group G. Finland’s U21s, the Pikkuhuuhkajat, also have two games over the coming week, a secretive friendly against the USA, followed by a U21 Euros qualifier away to Spain. Challenging weeks for both teams

Keke also asks Mark to explain why Ilves fans had a BUSt-up in Seinäjoki with an old London double-decker Routemaster… Continue reading Match Previews: Huuhkajat World Cup Qualifiers & U21 Euro Qualifier. Plus Ilves fans’ BUSt-up in Seinäjoki.

Helmarit, Huuhkajat, Podcast Show Notes, VeikkausliigaLeave a comment

Is Finland Heading ‘Backe to the Future’?*

Mark Wiltshear

Mark W and Keke again with match reports from Finland’s two away games; a 1-0 friendly defeat to Norway, followed by a 3-1 defeat in the World Cup qualifier against Poland. Keke shares tales from his trip to Chorzów, Poland. They revisit the topic of an early episode* to ask if Finland is regressing under Jacob Friis, back to the performances of the Hans Backe era.

Finally, they discuss a positive week for Finnish referee, Mohammad Al-Emara, who made his elite international debut in the England-Andorra match at Wembley, before an unprecedented(?) post-match Q&A with the fans, after SJK 3-3 HJK 🤯

* See FFS episode #12: Backe sacke & ‘Crack’. Hans Backe Fired. Continue reading Is Finland Heading ‘Backe to the Future’?*

Podcast Show Notes, VeikkausliigaLeave a comment

Veikkausliiga 2025 So Far… The ‘Runkosarja’ Reviewed By Fans Of Each Club

Mark Wiltshear

Producer Mark rounded-up our band of Veikkausliiga fans to record an update to our preview episodes. As the ‘runkosarja’ has now finished and the league table splits in two, we asked each fan to give us an update on their club’s season so far. You will hear each fan’s personal report, starting at the bottom of the table and working up, so you’ll hear a change in tone, satisfaction and level of optimism, as the show progresses.

Huge thanks from FFS to all the fans for sharing their insights about their club! Continue reading Veikkausliiga 2025 So Far… The ‘Runkosarja’ Reviewed By Fans Of Each Club

Helmarit, Huuhkajat, Podcast Show Notes, VeikkausliigaLeave a comment

Huuhkajat & U21 Match Previews. Veikkausliiga splits into Champions & Challenger series.

Mark Wiltshear

Mark W and Keke get back together after a long summer break. They give a brief update on the Veikkausliiga* as the league season splits into the Mestaruussarja and Haastajasarja. Who is in the race to win and who is trembling on the relegation trapdoor?

They then focus on upcoming games for the Finland men’s national teams, as the Huuhkajat play Norway in a friendly, before facing Poland away in a World Cup qualifier. The U21s, the Pikkuhuuhkajat, also have two games over the coming weekend, both Euro qualifiers against San Marino (home) and Cyprus (away).

* Look out for our full review of the Veikkausliiga season so far, as we hear from fans reviewing their club’s performances in the runkosarja. Coming soon. Continue reading Huuhkajat & U21 Match Previews. Veikkausliiga splits into Champions & Challenger series.

Podcast Show Notes, VeikkausliigaLeave a comment

Veikkausliiga update & the first round of European Games

Mark Wiltshear

Mark W & Rasmus get back together during Finland’s 2025 summer heatwave and spend another hour discussing the current situation in the Veikkausliiga, which includes a very congested top half led, but not dominated, by Inter Turku. They also consider the first round of European games played, to varying degrees of success, last week by SJK Seinäjoki, KuPS Kuopio, HJK Helsinki & Ilves. Continue reading Veikkausliiga update & the first round of European Games

Helmarit, Huuhkajat, Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

200th Episode of FFS with special guest, Stevie Grieve. Plus international match reports & Women’s Euro preview.

Mark Wiltshear

Special episode, this one, as FFS achieves its 200th episode. SJK Seinäjoki Head Coach, Stevie Grieve joined Mark W and Ally to chat about SJK’s season so far. They are then joined by occasional contributor, Seppo, who is the middle of a busy summer of international football.

They discuss the two World Cup Qualifiers for the Huuhkajat, a 0-2 defeat to Netherlands and a 2-1 victory over Poland. Seppo also shares his experiences travelling to Kosice, Slovakia with the Pikkuhuuhkajat, to watch Finland in the U21 Euro 2025 finals. They finish up with a preview of the Helmarit’s upcoming fixtures in the Women’s Euro 2025 finals – finding real reasons to feel optimistic about Finland’s chances. Hyvä Suomi 🦉 Continue reading 200th Episode of FFS with special guest, Stevie Grieve. Plus international match reports & Women’s Euro preview.

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.