Kiri Kotka

Kotkan Kiri

Full name	Kotkan Kiri
Founded	1935
Manager	Parpala Eetu
League	Kolmonen
Home colours

Kotkan Kiri is a Finnish sports club from the city of Kotka.

Club participates in gymnastics, ice hockey and association football. They were originally called Metsolan Kiri, named after Metsola district of Kotka.

Background

They were formed in 1935 after internal political disputes between social democrats and communists had torn Kotkan Riento apart and left Metsola area, in which Riento had had a local section, without a sports club, Riento members from other areas in Kotka had already formed and joined other clubs, like Kotkan Työväen Palloilijat. Idea for a new club came from local shopkeeper Eino Lehtinen, who called locals for a founding meeting. Kiri joined Finnish Workers' Sports Federation after formation. Early sports included boxing, athletics, Nordic skiing, wrestling, football, swimming, and diving, in the past club also organized basketball, table tennis and bandy. Most sports have since been abandoned. In mid 1940s members build a club house which is still in use. In football club played one season in finnish premier league after TUL and SPL leagues were merged for 1948 season. From 1948 to 1955 four different clubs from fairly small Kotka visited finnish first tier, Kiri and Jäntevä represented Metsola district and Hovinsaari in general, while Reipas represented Kristiina district of Kotkansaari, KTP was biggest club in town and drew supporters and players throughout town, in addition Kotkan Palloseura played second tier football throughout 1930s and played third tier football during 1940s and 50s and Kymin Paloillijat played in second tier during late 1950s. Tough competition eventually meant that quality players were hard to find and there was not enough attendance for every club. Most local clubs slowly dropped deeper to lower division in coming decades.

Season to season

Season to Season

Season Level Division Section Administration Position Movements 1948 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 15th Relegated 1949 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th Relegated 1950 Tier 3 Suomensarja Qualifying (Third Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th Qualified from TUL Leagues 1951-53 TUL Leagues TUL (Työväen Urheiluliitto) 1954 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) East Group IV Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1955 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) East Group II Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 1956 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) East Group II Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th Relegated 1957 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 11 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1958 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 9 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1959 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 10 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1960 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 10 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1961 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 8 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promotion Playoff 1962 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 8 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1963 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 10 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1964 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 10 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1965 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 10 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1966 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 10 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1967 Tier 4 Aluesarja (Fourth Division) Group 10 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1968 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Group 5 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th 1969 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Group 5 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th Relegated 1970 Tier 4 IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) Group 10 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd Promotion Playoff - Promoted 1971 Tier 3 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 4 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10th 1972 Tier 3 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 5 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th Relegation Group 1st - Relegation Playoff - Relegated 1973 Tier 5 IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) Group 10 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1974 Tier 5 IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) Group 11 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 1975 Tier 5 IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) Group 11 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 1976 Tier 5 IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) Group 10 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 1977 Tier 5 IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) Group 11 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 1978 Tier 5 IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) Group 11 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th 1979 Tier 5 IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) Group 11 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 11th Relegated 1980 Tier 6 Piirisarja (District League) South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi) Promoted 1981 Tier 5 IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) Group 10 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 1982 Tier 5 IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) Group 10 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 1983 Tier 5 IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) Group 10 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1984 Tier 5 IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) Group 10 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 12th Relegated 1985 Tier 6 Piirisarja (District League) South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi) Promoted 1986 Tier 5 IV Divisioona (Fourth Division) Group 10 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 11th Relegated 1987-90 Unknown 1991 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 6 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 12th Relegated 1992-95 Unknown 1996 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Group 1 South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi) 4th 1997 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) Group 1 South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi) 12th Relegated 1998-2005 Unknown 2006 Tier 6 Vitonen (Fifth Division) South Group South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi) 9th 2007 Tier 6 Vitonen (Fifth Division) South Group South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi) 6th Relegation Group West 3rd 2008 Tier 6 Vitonen (Fifth Division) West Group South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi) 9th 2009 Tier 6 Vitonen (Fifth Division) South Group South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi) 6th 2010 Tier 6 Vitonen (Fifth Division) South Group South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi) 1st Promoted 2011 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi) 10th 2012 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi) 9th 2013 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi) 8th 2014 Tier 5 Nelonen (Fourth Division) South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi) 5th 2015 Tier 7 Kutonen (Sixth Division) South Group South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi) 3rd 2016 Tier 7 Kutonen (Sixth Division) South Group South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi) 2nd Promoted 2017 Tier 6 Vitonen (Fifth Division) West Group South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi) 5th 2018 Tier 6 Vitonen (Fifth Division) West Group South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi) 2nd 2019 Tier 6 Vitonen (Fifth Division) West Group South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi) 1st Promoted 1 seasons in Mestaruussarja 1 seasons in Suomensarja 8 seasons in Maakuntasarja 13 seasons in Kolmonen 18 seasons in Nelonen 10 seasons in Vitonen 2 season in Kutonen

Official homepage

• [1] (in Finnish)

External links

• Club profile in Finnish FA official site