GBK Kokkola

Gamlakarleby Bollklubb is a Finnish football club from Kokkola (Gamlakarleby in Swedish). It currently plays in the Finnish Second Division (Kakkonen), which is the third-highest level in Finnish football. GBK play their home games at the Keskuskenttä in Kokkola, which has the capacity to accommodate around 3,000 people.

Gamlakarleby Bollklubb (GBK)

Full name	Gamlakarleby Bollklubb
Nickname(s)	GBK
Founded	1924; 100 years ago (1924)
Ground	Kokkolan keskuskenttä, Kokkola
Capacity	3,000
Chairman	Hans-Erik Sund
Manager	Chris Corcoran
League	Kakkonen
2013	Kakkonen Group C – 5th
Home colours Away colours

GBK is a bilingual club that organises its activities in both Finnish and Swedish.

Club history

Year 1920 IV (Idrottens vänner) and GUIK (Gamlakarleby Ungdomsförenings Idrottsklubb) joined their teams and the new club Gamlakarleby Idrottsförenig (GIF) was founded.

Year 1921 the sponsor of GIF, August Kyntzell, had visited England and seen Stoke City playing in their red and white striped dress. Kyntzell became fond of the costumes and decided that his team (GIF and later GBK) would play in the same colours. In the summer of 1921 GIF appeared in red and white striped costumes.

19 February 1924 GIF changed its name to GBK, and it is therefore one of Finland's oldest football clubs. GBK's activity is currently focused on football, but the club has also played ice hockey and bandy until the 1950s. The ice hockey club Kokkolan Hermes, (now Hermes HT) was formed in 1953, when GBK and KPV ice hockey sections amalgamated.

The club has a long tradition and has played 5 seasons in the Finnish Championship in 1959, 1964–66 and 1976. They have also played 39 seasons at the second tier and 15 seasons in the third tier. In recent years GBK have played in the Ykkönen (First Division) and Kakkonen (Second Division). The club secured promotion to the Ykkönen in September 2006 but their return to the second tier was short-lived as they were relegated at the end of the 2007 season. Since 2008 they have been playing in the Kakkonen.^[1]

In 2000 GBK became the first women's beach soccer champion in Finland and the following year became a new championship team .

Divisional Movements since 1930

Top Level (5 seasons): 1959, 1964–66, 1976
Second Level (39 seasons): 1938–39, 1945-46/47, 1948–49, 1951–58, 1960–63, 1967–75, 1977–80, 1995–97, 2002–04, 2007
Third Level (15 seasons): 1981, 1984–85, 1990–91, 1993–94, 1998–2001, 2005–06, 2008–^[2]

Season to season

Season to Season

Season Level Division Section Administration Position Movements 1936 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) West Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1937 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) West Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) Promoted 1938 Tier 2 Itä-Länsi-Sarja (Second Division) West League, Northern Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd 1939 Tier 2 Itä-Länsi-Sarja (Second Division) West League, Group 4 Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd 1940-41 Tier 3 C-Sarja (Third Division) Group 4 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1945 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st 1945-46 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 1946-47 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th Relegated 1947-48 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Central Ostrobothnia Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promotion Playoff – Promoted 1948 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1949 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th Relegated 1950 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) North Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promotion Group West 2nd – Promoted 1951 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1952 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1953 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 1954 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 7th 1955 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd 1956 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd 1957 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1958 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promoted 1959 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th Relegated 1960 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd 1961 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd 1962 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 1963 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promoted 1964 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th 1965 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1966 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11th Relegated 1967 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th 1968 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1969 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1970 Tier 2 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 1971 Tier 2 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd 1972 Tier 2 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd Qualified to new I Divisioona 1973 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1974 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1975 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promoted 1976 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11th Relegated 1977 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1978 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1979 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th Relegation Group 1st 1980 Tier 2 I divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11th Relegation Group 8th – Relegated 1981 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 12th Relegated 1982 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 8 Vaasa & Keskipohjanmaa (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd Promotion Playoff 1983 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 8 Vaasa & Keskipohjanmaa (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promotion Playoff – Promoted 1984 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 1985 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10th Relegated 1986 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 8 Vaasa & Keskipohjanmaa (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1987 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 8 Vaasa & Keskipohjanmaa (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1988 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 8 Vaasa & Keskipohjanmaa (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1989 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 8 Vaasa & Keskipohjanmaa (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1990 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 1991 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 11th Relegated 1992 Tier 4 III Divisioona (Third Division) Group 8 Vaasa & Keskipohjanmaa (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1993 Tier 3 II divisioona (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1994 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1995 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 10th 1996 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1997 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 9th Relegation Group – 4th, Relegated 1998 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) West Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1999 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 2000 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 2001 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd Promoted 2002 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd Relegation Group – 3rd 2003 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 11th 2004 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 14th Relegated 2005 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 2006 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group C Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 2007 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 13th Relegated 2008 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group C Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 2009 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group C Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 8th 2010 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group C Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 7th 2011 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group C Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 2012 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 2013 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 2014 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 2015 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 2016 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 2017 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group C Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 2018 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group C Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd Promotion Playoff 2019 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group C Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 5 seasons in Veikkausliiga 39 seasons in Ykkönen 30 seasons in Kakkonen 7 seasons in Kolmonen [3]

Kokkola Cup

The football tournament known as the Kokkola Cup is organised by GBK and is held in mid-July each year. This four-day tournament attracts about 300 teams to Kokkola and is recognised as Finland's second biggest football tournament after the Helsinki Cup.

The Kokkola Cup was initiated in 1981 by Lars-Erik Stenfors and the tournament has grown from 50 teams to 330 teams at its peak. Current professional players who have participated in the Kokkola Cup include Andy Marshall, Jimmy Nielsen, Craig Bellamy, Adam Drury, Danny Mills, Simon Davies and Matthew Etherington.

2014 season

GBK are competing in Group C (Lohko C) of the Kakkonen administered by the Football Association of Finland (Suomen Palloliitto). In 2013 the team finished in fifth place in Group C of the Kakkonen.

GBK II are participating in the Nelonen section administered by the Keski-Pohjanmaa SPL.

GBK III are competing in Section B (Lohko B) of the Kutonen^{[broken anchor]} administered by the Keski-Pohjanmaa SPL.

Current squad Legende GBK Kokkola

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  FIN Olli Nylund 2 MF  FIN Jussi Roiko 3 MF  USA Lawrence Smith 4 MF  FIN Petteri Jokihaara 5 DF  POL Brela Mateusz 6 MF  RUS Shelenskiy Nikol 7 FW  POL Kochanowski Jakub 8 DF  USA Chris Corcoran 9 FW  FIN Benjamin Storbacka 10 MF  FIN Niko Tukeva 11 FW  SWE David Carlsson 12 MF  FIN Miika Hohenthal 13 GK  FIN Jonas Holm 14 FW  FIN Deng Malwal 15 MF  FIN Tom Åstrand

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 MF  FIN Paul Adour 17 MF  FIN Juho Alasuutari 18 DF  FIN Tatu Mäki 19 FW  FIN Tobias Wentin 20 MF  FIN Kim Ågren 21 MF  FIN Alfred Söderman 22 MF  FIN Aaro Hedman 23 FW  FIN Atte Henttu 24 FW  FIN Linus Sandell 25 DF  FIN Ville Jylhä 26 DF  FIN Tomi Björklund 27 MF  FIN Angilo Lado 28 GK  FIN Oskari Wikström 29 GK  RUS Byeskiy Vityuslav 30 MF  BRA Toró

References and sources

• Official website
• Finnish Wikipedia
• Suomen Cup (archived)
• GBK (Gamlakarleby Bollklubb) on Facebook

Footnotes

1. "Finland – Divisional Movements 1930–2009". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Archives. 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
2. "Finland – Divisional Movements 1930–2009". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Archives. 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
3. "Home". finlandfootball.net.