Rakuunat
Encyclopedia
Jalkapalloseura Rakuunat was a Finnish
football club, based in Lappeenranta
.
(third highest level) and was renamed to Rakuunat (a reference to Lappeenranta’s military history and its dragoon
s) in 1994.
Rakuunat played in the 1st division
between 1995–1996 and 2000–2006, and in the 2nd division between 1992–1994, 1997–1999 and 2007–2008. In 2001 they placed second in the southern group of the 1st division and took part in premier division
promotion playoffs where they lost to FC Hämeenlinna
4–0 in aggregate. In 2008 they were relegated to 3rd division
, and after subsequently being expelled from the Finnish FA
due to unpaid fees in April 2009 the club folded.
Rakuunat played its home matches at Kimpinen
.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
football club, based in Lappeenranta
Lappeenranta
Lappeenranta is a city and municipality that resides on the shore of the lake Saimaa in South-Eastern Finland, about from the Russian border. It belongs to the region of South Karelia. With approximately inhabitants Lappeenranta is the largest city in Finland...
.
History
Rakuunat was founded in 1992 as FC Lappeenranta after a merger of the first teams of LaPa and LauTP, the city’s traditional clubs. The new club took LaPa’s place in the Finnish 2nd divisionKakkonen
Kakkonen is the third tier of the Finnish football league system.-League structure:Kakkonen is divided to three groups of 14 clubs. A club plays each of the others in the same group twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents. Clubs gain three points for a win, one for a...
(third highest level) and was renamed to Rakuunat (a reference to Lappeenranta’s military history and its dragoon
Dragoon
The word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...
s) in 1994.
Rakuunat played in the 1st division
Ykkönen
Ykkönen is the second highest level of the Finnish football league system , although it is the highest league managed by the Football Association of Finland.-Competition:...
between 1995–1996 and 2000–2006, and in the 2nd division between 1992–1994, 1997–1999 and 2007–2008. In 2001 they placed second in the southern group of the 1st division and took part in premier division
Veikkausliiga
Veikkausliiga is the premier division of Finnish football, comprising the top 12 clubs of the country. Veikkausliiga is currently ranked as the 28th best league in Europe. Its main sponsor is the Finnish national betting agency Veikkaus, hence the league's name...
promotion playoffs where they lost to FC Hämeenlinna
FC Hämeenlinna
FC Hämeenlinna is a Finnish football club, based in Hämeenlinna. It currently plays in the Finnish First Division . The club's manager is Teuvo Palkki, and it plays its home matches at Kaurialan Kenttä.The team was formed in 1991....
4–0 in aggregate. In 2008 they were relegated to 3rd division
Kolmonen
Kolmonen is the fourth highest football league in Finland. The most famous club competing at this level is Helsingin Palloseura who won the Finnish Championship on 9 occasions, the last time being in 1957. They also won the Finnish Cup in 1962...
, and after subsequently being expelled from the Finnish FA
Football Association of Finland
The Football Association of Finland is the governing body of football in Finland. It was founded in 1907, and was also the governing body of bandy in Finland until the bandy association, Suomen Jääpalloliitto, was founded in 1972....
due to unpaid fees in April 2009 the club folded.
Rakuunat played its home matches at Kimpinen
Kimpisen urheilukeskus
Kimpisen urheilukeskus is an athletics stadium in Lappeenranta, Finland. The stadium's most important users are the Rakuunat football team and the Rajaritarit American Football team. The LUM athletics team also use it.-External links:**...
.