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
SeasonLevelDivisionSectionAdministrationPositionMovements1948Tier 1Mestaruussarja (Premier Division)Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)15thRelegated1949Tier 2Suomensarja (Second Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto)10thRelegated1950Tier 3Suomensarja Qualifying (Third Division)East GroupFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7thQualified from TUL Leagues1951-53TUL LeaguesTUL (Työväen Urheiluliitto)1954Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)East Group IVFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd1955Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)East Group IIFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th1956Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)East Group IIFinnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8thRelegated1957Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 11Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd1958Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 9Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)5th1959Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 10Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd1960Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 10Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2nd1961Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 8Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromotion Playoff1962Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 8Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd1963Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 10Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2nd1964Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 10Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)5th1965Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 10Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd1966Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 10Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)3rd1967Tier 4Aluesarja (Fourth Division)Group 10Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)1stPromoted1968Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 5Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th1969Tier 3Maakuntasarja (Third Division)Group 5Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8thRelegated1970Tier 4IV Divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 10Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2ndPromotion Playoff - Promoted1971Tier 3III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 4Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10th1972Tier 3III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 5Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9thRelegation Group 1st - Relegation Playoff - Relegated1973Tier 5IV Divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 10Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)2nd 1974Tier 5IV Divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 11Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)8th 1975Tier 5IV Divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 11Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)8th 1976Tier 5IV Divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 10Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)6th 1977Tier 5IV Divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 11Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)8th 1978Tier 5IV Divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 11Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)9th 1979Tier 5IV Divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 11Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)11thRelegated1980Tier 6Piirisarja (District League)South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi)Promoted1981Tier 5IV Divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 10Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)7th 1982Tier 5IV Divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 10Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)6th 1983Tier 5IV Divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 10Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)5th 1984Tier 5IV Divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 10Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)12thRelegated1985Tier 6Piirisarja (District League)South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi)Promoted1986Tier 5IV Divisioona (Fourth Division)Group 10Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)11thRelegated1987-90Unknown1991Tier 4III Divisioona (Third Division)Group 6Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto)12thRelegated1992-95Unknown1996Tier 5Nelonen (Fourth Division)Group 1South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi)4th 1997Tier 5Nelonen (Fourth Division)Group 1South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi)12thRelegated1998-2005Unknown2006Tier 6Vitonen (Fifth Division)South GroupSouth-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi)9th2007Tier 6Vitonen (Fifth Division)South GroupSouth-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi)6thRelegation Group West 3rd2008Tier 6Vitonen (Fifth Division)West GroupSouth-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi)9th2009Tier 6Vitonen (Fifth Division)South GroupSouth-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi)6th2010Tier 6Vitonen (Fifth Division)South GroupSouth-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi)1stPromoted2011Tier 5Nelonen (Fourth Division)South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi)10th2012Tier 5Nelonen (Fourth Division)South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi)9th2013Tier 5Nelonen (Fourth Division)South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi)8th2014Tier 5Nelonen (Fourth Division)South-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi)5th2015Tier 7Kutonen (Sixth Division)South GroupSouth-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi)3rd2016Tier 7Kutonen (Sixth Division)South GroupSouth-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi)2ndPromoted2017Tier 6Vitonen (Fifth Division)West GroupSouth-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi)5th2018Tier 6Vitonen (Fifth Division)West GroupSouth-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi)2nd2019Tier 6Vitonen (Fifth Division)West GroupSouth-East District (SPL Kaakkois-Suomi)1stPromoted 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
://www.finlandfootball.net/
Official homepage
References
External links Club profile in Finnish FA official site