Seiska (football)

Seiska (in Finnish)
Sjuan (in Swedish)
Country	Finland
Number of teams	24
Level on pyramid	8 (1973–2023); 9 (2024–)
Promotion to	Kutonen
Domestic cup(s)	Finnish Cup
	Current: 2024 Seiska

Seiska or VII divisioona is the ninth level in the Finnish football league system. The number of teams that compete each season can vary. The VII divisioona was introduced in 1973 and in the mid-2000’s it became known as the Seiska (Number Seven in English and Sjuan in Swedish). In theory, Seiska is the last league in Finland where a club can go all the way and become Veikkausliiga champions.

Competition

The clubs in the Seiska are divided in 2 groups decided by geographical location. During the course of a season (starting in April and ending in October) teams play each other once. The groups then split approximately in half and the clubs play another round of one match against each other. The top teams in each Seiska group are normally promoted to the Kutonen.^[1]

In the past there were more divisions and in the 1980s there was a lower tier VIII divisioona level. In 2002 Seiska comprised 5 divisions with 64 teams affiliated to the SPL Helsingin piiri.^[2]

Notable clubs

Helsingin Palloseura

Helsingin Palloseura (HPS) won the Finnish football championship (Mestaruussarja) 9 times and they also played in the European Cup, against Stade de Reims in 1958–59. In 1999 they were forced to abandon their place in the Kakkonen and reformed in Section 1 of the Seiska for the 2000 season. In their first season they finished in ninth place in their section and spent two more seasons at this level before gaining promotion at the end of the 2002 campaign under player coach Harri Hiltunen.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Current clubs - 2021 season

Western - Lohko 1 (Section 1)	Western - Lohko 2 (Section 2)	Western - Lokho 3 (Section 3)
Exodus Fish United HJS/2 LaPro ParVi Pato/2 PiPo 79/2 SOHO SS Toteemit ^[5]	ACE/2 AC Darra FC HaPa HIF Ilves-Kissat 2 FC Kangasala/2 FC Kaveriporukka KU-68 FC Lasten ^[5]	Apassit/2 Dynamo UTD FC Helmi Jätkä IkU/2 Ilves/3 Kristallipalatsi MouMa Roxbury JK TyPS ^[5]

Southern - Lohko 1 (Section 1)	Southern - Lohko 2 (Section 2)	Southern - Lokho 3 (Section 3)
Cosmos Kilo IF/2 MoPo OT-77 FC POHU/Kova Kamppi Roxbury JK Hki AC StaSi/Europort Tolsa ^[6]	HakPa HeKuLa Käpylän Sekunda FC Lähliö FC Pakila FC POHU/Swigu FC Puimur ^[6]	FC Kontu/TDJ KPOSE/CRPS FC Kullervo Ponnistus/TK AS RaPe Trikiinit Valtti/3 JJ Vepo ^[6]

References

^ "Resultcode". SPL. Archived from the original on 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
^ ^a ^b "Sarjataulukot - FUTIS-sanomat 5/2002" (PDF). SPL Helsingin piiri. Retrieved 2012-04-18.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "Tähtäimessä HPS - FUTIS-sanomat" (PDF). SPL Helsingin piiri. March 2003. Retrieved 2012-04-18.
^ "HPS - Historiaa" (PDF). Helsingin Palloseura. Retrieved 2012-04-18.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Men's Seiska Western 2021". Suomen Palloliitto. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Men's Seiska Southern 2021". Suomen Palloliitto. Retrieved 30 October 2021.

External links

[1] "Resultcode". SPL. Archived from the original on 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2012-04-17.

[Sarjataulukot-2] "Sarjataulukot - FUTIS-sanomat 5/2002" (PDF). SPL Helsingin piiri. Retrieved 2012-04-18.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[3] "Tähtäimessä HPS - FUTIS-sanomat" (PDF). SPL Helsingin piiri. March 2003. Retrieved 2012-04-18.

[4] "HPS - Historiaa" (PDF). Helsingin Palloseura. Retrieved 2012-04-18.

[tables-5] "Men's Seiska Western 2021". Suomen Palloliitto. Retrieved 30 October 2021.

[tables2-6] "Men's Seiska Southern 2021". Suomen Palloliitto. Retrieved 30 October 2021.

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