Salon Palloilijat (abbreviated SalPa) is a sports club from Salo in Finland. The club is popularly known as The Swans (Joutsenlauma in Finnish). SalPa was formed in 1956 and their home ground is at the Salon Urheilupuisto. The men's football first team currently plays in the new second-tier Ykkösliiga. The Chairman of SalPa is Toni Tammi.
The club currently has sections covering football, floorball, figure skating and basketball.
Background
Salon Palloilijat was established in 1956 and the club's first taste of success was in 1960 when the gained promotion to the Suomisarjaa (Finland League) which at that time was the second tier of Finnish football. Their success at this level was short-lived but just over forty years later in 2001 they played one season in the Ykkönen (First Division) which is the current second tier.
SalPa have had four periods covering 25 seasons in the Kakkonen (Second Division), the third tier of Finnish football from 1978 to 1979, 1982–90, 1996–2000 and 2002 to the current day.
The club's highest attendance is 2,984 spectators (SalPa-Futistähdet 21.6.1999). The largest attendance for a league match is 835 spectators (SalPa-AC Vantaa, 2001, Ykkönen – First Division).
SalPa have historically invested heavily in youth activities and continues to provide a thriving junior section.
After the 2022 Kakkonen season, SalPa won the promotion to the second tier Ykkönen.
Current squad
Season to season 5 season in Suomensarja/Ykkönen/Ykkösliiga 50 seasons in Maakuntasarja/Kakkonen 14 seasons in Kolmonen/4. divisioona 1 seasons in 4. divisioona SeasonLevelDivisionSectionAdministrationPositionMovements1956Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Regional League)South Group I Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th1957Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Regional League)West Group I Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th1958Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Regional League)Group 3Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th1959Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Regional League)Group 3Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1stPromoted1960Tier 2Suomensarja (Finland Series) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11thRelegated1961Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Regional League)Group 3Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd1962Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Regional League)Group 2Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th1963Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Regional League)Group 2Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd1964Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Regional League)Group 2Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th1965Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Regional League)Group 2Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd1966Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Regional League)Group 3Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th1967Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Regional League)Group 2Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th1968Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Regional League)Group 3Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th1969Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Regional League)Group 2Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9thRelegated1970Tier 44. divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 3Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2nd1971Tier 44. divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 2Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)4th1972Tier 44. divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 4Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd1973Tier 54. divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 4Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stPromoted1974Tier 43. divisioona (Third Division)Group 2Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd1975Tier 43. divisioona (Third Division)Group 3Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2nd1976Tier 43. divisioona (Third Division)Group 3Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2nd1977Tier 43. divisioona (Third Division)Group 3Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1stPromoted1978Tier 32. divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th1979Tier 32. divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9thRelegation Playoff - Relegated1980Tier 43. divisioona (Third Division)Group 2Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd1981Tier 43. divisioona (Third Division)Group 4Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)2ndPromotion Playoff - Promoted1982Tier 32. divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd1983Tier 32. divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th1984Tier 32. divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th1985Tier 32. divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th1986Tier 32. divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th1987Tier 32. divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th1988Tier 32. divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th1989Tier 32. divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th1990Tier 32. divisioona (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11thRelegated1991Tier 43. divisioona (Third Division)Group 3Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)5th1992Tier 4Kolmonen (Third Division)Group 2Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)6th1993Tier 4Kolmonen (Third Division)Group 3Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)7th1994Tier 4Kolmonen (Third Division)Section 3Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)3rd1995Tier 4Kolmonen (Third Division)Section 3Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)1st Promoted1996Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th1997Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th1998Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)South GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd1999Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th2000Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1stPromoted2001Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division)South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10thRelegated2002Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd2003Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th2004Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th2005Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)West GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1stPlay-offs2006Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd2007Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th2008Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th2009Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th2010Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd2011Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th2012Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)SouthernFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd2013Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)SouthernFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2014Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)SouthernFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th2015Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)WesternFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd2016Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th2017Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd2018Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd2019Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th2020Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th2021Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th2022Tier 3Kakkonen (Second Division)Group BFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st (Champions)Promoted2023Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th2024Tier 2 Ykkösliiga (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th2025Tier 2 Ykkösliiga (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10thRelegated
Club structure
SalPa currently has 1 men's team, 1 ladies teams, 7 boys teams and 7 girls team. The club organises various activities for its young players including skill and ability schools, tournaments and futsal.
References and sources Official Website Men's First Team Website Salon Palloilijat Juniorit Website Suomen Cup Salon Palloilijat Facebook
Footnotes