Haka Valkeakoski

Ground: Tehtaan kenttä

Visits: 1

Date: 21st June 2010

Match: Haka Valkeakoski - Kuopion Palloseura 2-1 (Veikkausliiga)

Attendance: 1 291

When IFK Göteborg, as the first Swedish club ever, won the UEFA-Cup in 1982 they played against Haka Valkeakoski in the 1st round. For some reason I remember things like this and whenever I see the name Haka Valkeakoski I think of IFKs historic achievement. Valkeakoski is situated some 150 km north of Helsinki and since there are no trains to Valkeakoski I had to go by bus. I arrived 90 minutes before kick-off and then made the short walk to Tehtaan kenttä, the home of Haka Valkeakoski. The ground is nicely situated in what looks like a park. There are stands on three sides of the ground, all wooden but nowdays with plastic seats. The west end, towards the nearby factory, has no stand (but a very nice score-board). When the match itself started the visitors, Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS), had most of the possession but against the run of play Haka scored the opening goal. The second half was really good and entertaining. KuPs scored from a free-kick some 30 metres from goal. A cracking goal which opened up the game. Both sides then had chances to score but it was Haka who once again took the lead. A great pass lead to a Haka player being one to one with the goalkeeper and a great finishing meant 2-1. KuPS then had a ball on the goal-line, Haka cleared and then had some great chances themselves but there were no more goals in the match and it ended 2-1 to Haka.

After the match there was no bus back to Helsinki so instead I headed in the wrong direction, towards Tampere where I could change to the last train towards Helsinki. At 00.40 I was back in the Finnish capital. Even if it was late and I was a bit tired I was in a good mood, this was by far the best match on this trip a nice climax to my trip to Finland. Hopefully I will be back next summer, even if the football isn´t the best Finland is a good choice for groundhopping. You should try it yourself!

tehtaan kenttä