GBK Kokkola

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 .

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]

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.

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 administered by the Keski-Pohjanmaa SPL.

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 DF  USA Chris Corcoran 7 FW  FIN Benjamin Storbacka 8 MF  FIN Niko Tukeva 9 FW  SWE David Carlsson 11 MF  FIN Miika Hohenthal 12 GK  FIN Jonas Holm 13 FW  FIN Deng Malwal 14 MF  FIN Tom Åstrand

No. Pos. Nation Player 15 MF  FIN Paul Adour 16 MF  FIN Juho Alasuutari 17 DF  FIN Tatu Mäki 18 FW  FIN Tobias Wentin 19 MF  FIN Kim Ågren 20 MF  FIN Alfred Söderman 21 MF  FIN Aaro Hedman 22 FW  FIN Atte Henttu 23 FW  FIN Linus Sandell 24 DF  FIN Ville Jylhä 25 DF  FIN Tomi Björklund 27 MF  FIN Angilo Lado 30 GK  FIN Oskari Wikström

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