Tampere Saints is an
American football club in the city of
Tampere,
Finland. Its men's senior team currently play in
SAJL second highest league
1st division.
History
The club was established in the fall of 1998,
[Mount Ida QB Drosendahl Signs with Finland's Tampere Saints - Eastern Collegiate Football](_blank)
/ref> becoming the third in city's history. Previous clubs Rocks (1983-1991), Ilves (----) and Patriots (1995-1997, officially Pyynikki Patriots according to their home field) had all fallen to economic difficulties. The new club entered its first full-season competition in 1999, playing in SAJL's 1st division. From its early years, the club has expanded to field also junior teams and a women's contact football team.
Men's team
Club's flagship team, the men's team, has been in existence since the establishment of the club. Their biggest success came in 2007 and 2015 when they conquered Finnish 1st division championship (below Maple League). With those win's the team was promoted to play in Vaahteraliiga Maple League, the top-tier league in Finnish American football league system. In three season (2008, 2009, 2010) the team could only amass two wins in a total of 32 games with two entirely winless seasons. After the 2010 campaign the team voluntarily relegated themselves and begun the 2011 season in 2nd division. In 2015, the team was able to pull 4 wins from 12 games and was one win from playoffs.
Junior teams
The junior program was started for 2005 season when the club fielded teams in A- ja C-junior leagues. In the years, the club has had a team in every age class from E(under 13) to A at least at some point. Junior teams are ... national championship.. B-juniors' 7-man football championship in 2014. The club's C-junior teams have also been runners-up (2008) and 3rd place finishers (2005) as well as 1st division champions (2012).
Tommi Pinta played on a four-year scholarship at NAIA's Missouri Valley College. Hannes Mattila played one year of high school football at Mount Saints Joseph's High in Vermont, receiving a scholarship to Texas A&M University–Kingsville. Lauri Anttila enjoyed two years at Forsyth County Day School and one year at Averett College
, established =
, type = Private university
, endowment = $21.3 million (2019)
, staff =
, faculty = 270
, president = Tiffany M. Franks
, principal =
, rector =
, chance ...
. Ilari Laine has also two years of high school football and JUCO. Several players have played in European fields.
See also
* Helsinki Roosters
Helsinki Roosters is an American football team based in Helsinki, Finland. The team plays in the Vaahteraliiga in Finland and their home field is the Helsinki Velodrome.
History
Roosters were founded in 1979 and the club is a founding member ...
* Seinäjoki Crocodiles
Seinäjoki Crocodiles are an American football team from Seinäjoki, Finland. The team plays in the Finnish Maple League and it has also played in the European Football League. The Crocodiles are one of the top teams in Finland and Europe.
Acc ...
* Turku Trojans
Turku Trojans is one of the oldest American football teams in Finland, established in 1982. Turku Trojans have played in the Maple League Vaahteraliiga (highest level) in Finland operated by American Football Association of Finland
American F ...
References
External links
Tampere Saints
- Official Site (in Finnish)
American football teams in Finland
Sport in Tampere
1998 establishments in Finland
American football teams established in 1998
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