Tag: Huuhkajat

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 👑

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’?*

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.

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.

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.

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 🔥