Helsingin Palloseura


Helsingin Palloseura is a sports club from Helsinki, Finland established in 1917. HPS has been active in several sports including bandy, ice hockey, football, handball and basketball.
Historically, HPS men's team is one of the most successful football teams in Finland, winning nine national championships during the 1920s and 1930s. The team is currently playing in the fourth highest league, however. In bandy, the club was the runner-up for the Finnish championship in 1920.
Famous HPS footballers have included William Kanerva, Aulis Koponen, Max Viinioksa, Kai Pahlman, Jyrki Heliskoski and Pertti Alaja.

Football

Achievements

HPS Helsinki's men's team won the Finnish football championship 9 times and they also played in the European Cup, against Stade de Reims in 1958–59. Their one success in the Men's Finnish Cup was in 1962.
The first football match played by HPS men's team in September 1918 against HIFK. The club won their first Finnish championship three years later in 1921. It also won the Mestaruussarja championship in 1922, 1926, 1927 and 1929. However, the club's golden age was in the 1930s, when the HPS men won three championships over a four-year period. Success at this time was also recognised by the large number of players receiving national recognition by representing the Finnish national side. In the 1940s success was in turn mixed with Finnish football having been disrupted by the war years. In 1940/41 HPS finished bottom of the Mestaruussarja and were relegated but were promoted back to the championship level in 1943/44.
They were relegated again in 1949 and did not compete in the Mestaruussarja again until 1956. They won the championship for the last time in 1957 and were most unfortunate a year later in 1958 when they finished equal on points with KuPS Kuopio to whom they then lost 1–0 in a championship play-off final. They maintained their place in the championship until 1964 when they were relegated and sadly that was the last time that this famous club competed at the highest level.
There then followed a gradual downward spiral with HPS fluctuating between Miesten Ykkönen, Miesten Kakkonen and Miesten Kolmonen. In 1997 HPS returned to the Kakkonen which culminated in them reaching the play-offs at the end of 1998 season when they drew 0–0 and 1–1 against FC HIFK. However they missed out on promotion on away goals. Disaster was soon to follow as in 1999 HPS abandoned their place in the Kakkonen because of economic difficulties and had no option but to reform in 2000 at the lowest level in the Seiska. However, in the last 10 years the club have seen 5 promotions and 1 relegation and they are now competing again in the Kolmonen.

European campaigns

HPS men have played in Europe on two occasions, the first time being in the European Cup in the 1958–59 season and the second time being in the Cup Winners' Cup in the 1963–64 season.
SeasonCompetitionRoundCountryClubScoreAgg.
1958–59European CupSecond roundStade Reims0–4, v 0–30–7
1963–64European Cup Winners' CupPreliminary roundŠK Slovan Bratislava1–4, v 1–82–12

Divisional movements since 1930

Top Level : 1930-40/41, 1945–49, 1956–64

Second Level : 1943/44, 1950–55, 1965–70, 1972, 1974–76, 1983

Third Level : 1973, 1977–82, 1984, 1988–89, 1997–98

Season to season

SeasonLevelDivisionSectionAdministrationPositionMovements
1930Tier 1A-Sarja 'Finnish FA '3rd
1931Tier 1A-Sarja 'Finnish FA '2nd
1932Tier 1A-Sarja 'Finnish FA '1stChampions
1933Tier 1A-Sarja 'Finnish FA '6th
1934Tier 1A-Sarja 'Finnish FA '1stChampions
1935Tier 1A-Sarja 'Finnish FA '1stChampions
1936Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Finnish FA '2nd
1937Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Finnish FA '4th
1938Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Finnish FA '5th
1939Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Finnish FA '5th
1940Cup FormatCup-kilpailu 'Finnish FA 'Round of 16
1940-41Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Finnish FA '8thRelegated
1942Cup FormatCup-kilpailu 'Finnish FA 'SemifinalsWithdraw at semifinals
1943-44Tier 2Suomensarja 'Finnish FA '1stPromoted
1945Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Group BFinnish FA '3rd
1945-46Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Finnish FA '4th
1946-47Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Finnish FA '5th
1947-48Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Finnish FA '3rd
1948Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Finnish FA '3rd
1949Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Finnish FA '11thRelegated
1950Tier 2Suomensarja 'East GroupFinnish FA '7th
1951Tier 2Suomensarja 'East GroupFinnish FA '5th
1952Tier 2Suomensarja 'East GroupFinnish FA '5th
1953Tier 2Suomensarja 'East GroupFinnish FA '2nd
1954Tier 2Suomensarja 'East GroupFinnish FA '3rd
1955Tier 2Suomensarja 'East GroupFinnish FA '1stPromoted
1956Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Finnish FA '8th
1957Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Finnish FA '1stChampions
1958Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Finnish FA '2nd
1959Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Finnish FA '5th
1960Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Finnish FA '4th
1961Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Finnish FA '7th
1962Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Finnish FA '6th
1963Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Finnish FA '8th
1964Tier 1Mestaruussarja 'Finnish FA '10thRelegated
1965Tier 2Suomensarja 'East GroupFinnish FA '5th
1966Tier 2Suomensarja 'East GroupFinnish FA '8th
1967Tier 2Suomensarja 'East GroupFinnish FA '7th
1968Tier 2Suomensarja 'South GroupFinnish FA '3rd
1969Tier 2Suomensarja 'South GroupFinnish FA '6th
1970Tier 2II Divisioona 'East GroupFinnish FA '13thRelegated
1971Tier 3III Divisioona 'Group 1 Helsinki & UusimaaFinnish FA '1stPromoted
1972Tier 2II Divisioona 'East GroupFinnish FA '5th
1973Tier 3II Divisioona 'East GroupFinnish FA '1stPromoted
1974Tier 2I Divisioona 'Finnish FA '5th
1975Tier 2I Divisioona 'Finnish FA '7th
1976Tier 2I Divisioona 'Finnish FA '11thRelegated
1977Tier 3II Divisioona 'East GroupFinnish FA '3rd
1978Tier 3II Divisioona 'East GroupFinnish FA '3rd
1979Tier 3II Divisioona 'East GroupFinnish FA '3rdPromotion Playoff
1980Tier 3II Divisioona 'West GroupFinnish FA '6th
1981Tier 3II Divisioona 'East GroupFinnish FA '2ndPromotion Playoff
1982Tier 3II Divisioona 'East GroupFinnish FA '1stPromotion Playoff - Promoted
1983Tier 2I Divisioona 'Finnish FA '12thRelegation Group 7th - Relegated
1984Tier 3II Divisioona 'East GroupFinnish FA '10thRelegated
1985Tier 4III Divisioona 'Group 2Helsinki & Uusimaa '7th
1986Tier 4III Divisioona 'Group 1Helsinki & Uusimaa '3rd
1987Tier 4III Divisioona 'Group 1Helsinki & Uusimaa '1stPromoted
1988Tier 3II Divisioona 'East GroupFinnish FA '9th
1989Tier 3II Divisioona 'East GroupFinnish FA '12thRelegated
1990Tier 4Kolmonen 'Group 2Helsinki & Uusimaa '11thRelegated
1991Tier 5Nelonen 'Group 1Helsinki District '2ndPromotion Playoff - Promoted
1992Tier 4Kolmonen 'Group 1Helsinki & Uusimaa '9th
1993Tier 4Kolmonen 'Group 2Helsinki & Uusimaa '11thRelegated
1994Tier 5Nelonen 'Group 2Helsinki District '1stPromoted
1995Tier 4Kolmonen 'Group 2Helsinki & Uusimaa '7th
1996Tier 4Kolmonen 'Group 1Helsinki & Uusimaa '1stPromoted
1997Tier 3Kakkonen 'East GroupFinnish FA '9th
1998Tier 3Kakkonen 'South GroupFinnish FA '2ndPlay-offs
1999Withdrew from Kakkonen
2000Tier 8Seiska 'Section 1Helsinki District '9th
2001Tier 8Seiska 'Section 4Helsinki District '
2002Tier 8Seiska 'Section 5Helsinki District '2ndPromoted
2003Tier 7Kutonen 'Section 2Helsinki District '1stPromoted
2004Tier 6Vitonen 'Helsinki District '3rdPromoted
2005Tier 5Nelonen 'Section 2Helsinki District '11thRelegated
2006Tier 6Vitonen 'Section 1Helsinki District '1stPromoted
2007Tier 5Nelonen 'Section 1Helsinki District '3rd
2008Tier 5Nelonen 'Section 2Helsinki District '1stPromoted
2009Tier 4Kolmonen 'Section 1Helsinki & Uusimaa '9th
2010Tier 4Kolmonen 'Section 1Helsinki & Uusimaa '6th
2011Tier 4Kolmonen 'Section 2Helsinki & Uusimaa '6th
2012Tier 4Kolmonen 'Section 1Helsinki & Uusimaa '7th
2013Tier 4Kolmonen 'Section 2Helsinki & Uusimaa '6th
2014Tier 4Kolmonen 'Section ?Helsinki & Uusimaa '?
2015Tier 4Kolmonen 'Section ?Helsinki & Uusimaa '?
2016Tier 4Kolmonen 'Section 2Helsinki & Uusimaa '5th
2017Tier 4Kolmonen 'Section 1Helsinki & Uusimaa '5th
2018Tier 4Kolmonen 'Group 2Helsinki & Uusimaa '8th
2019Tier 4Kolmonen 'Group 1Helsinki & Uusimaa '3rd

The club has a thriving youth section running a large number of teams with around 700 players. Junior coaching is seen as the key to creating a sound foundation for the development of the club in the future. HPS's mission is to be a local club serving the Pakila-Paloheinä-Torpparimäki and Oulunkylä-Maunula areas by offering soccer as a hobby for children and youngsters. Educational values, teamwork and consideration of others are key aspects that are delivered.

Current season Women

For the season 2018 the representative team of HPS, HPS women's I, competes in the Naisten Ykkönen, in the second highest national level.

Current women's Squad

Current season men

For the 2014 season HPS men compete in Section 1 of the Kolmonen administered by the Helsinki SPL and Uusimaa SPL. This is the fourth highest tier in the Finnish football system.
HPS/2 men are participating in Section 1 of the Nelonen administered by the Helsinki SPL.
HPS/Jägers are participating in Section 3 of the Kutonen administered by the Helsinki SPL.

Current men's Squad

Ice hockey

HPS played in SM-sarja for five seasons

Footnotes