FC Espoo is a Finnish
football club. It was based in the city of
Espoo, Finland. Founded in 1989, the first team plays in the
Kolmonen, the fourth tier of the
Finnish football pyramid. The club is amateur and focuses mainly on junior football sides for youth development.
The first team of FC Espoo plays its home games at Leppävaaran stadion in the district
Leppävaara in the
Greater Helsinki region.[1]
Background
FC Espoo was founded in 1989 by the Leppävaaran Pallo and
FC Kasiysi football clubs based in Espoo who now act as feeder clubs.
The club has played 9 seasons in the
Kakkonen (Second Division), the first spell being in 1993 when they were relegated back to the
Kolmonen (Third Division) after just one season and the second period being from 2002 until 2009 which culminated with promotion to the
Ykkönen (First Division) for the first time.[2]
The club runs a number of teams including 2 men's teams, 2 ladies' teams, FCE Akatemia and 3 other boys' teams and finally 2 girls' teams. A key mission of the club is to "work with Espoo football clubs to provide a first team for them and make it possible for footballers in Espoo to make progress in the sport."
A key operational objective is to provide the local clubs with talented and motivated young players that have had the best possible development opportunities. This is achieved by a high quality coaching, good training conditions and the empowerment of young players. A first team with a young age profile is the key way to support this objective.[3]