Reipas Lahti

Reipas Lahti is a sports club based in Lahti, Finland. It is involved in various of ball games and also other sports. The club emerged in the late 1940s, when the inhabitants of Viipuri had mostly been relocated in Lahti, after evacuation during World War II. As a consequence, the activities of Viipurin Reipas, which had been founded in 1891, were continued in the new home town of the evacuees. The name of the club was still Reipas Viipuri until 1962, when the ball game section became simply Reipas.

Lahti

Viipuri

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Location of Viipuri and Lahti within the 1812–1940 borders

Jari Litmanen, Reipas greatest ever player

Reipas has played in top-flight football, ice hockey and bandy, with particular success in football.

In bandy, Reipas last appeared in top flight in 1967, but then discontinued its involvement in this sport the following year. In 1975, the football and ice hockey sections became independent clubs, football being continued under the name of Lahden Reipas, and ice hockey under the name of Kiekkoreipas, who now play as Pelicans.

Football

Reipas Lahti

Full name	Lahden Reipas
Founded	1891 (1891)
Ground	Lahden kisapuisto, Lahti
Capacity	4,000
League	Kakkonen
2023	4th of 12 (Group A)
Home colours Away colours

The hallmark of Reipas in football is a shirt with vertical orange and black stripes.

From 1963 to 1970, Reipas won the Mestaruussarja three time, thus achieving a hat trick of Finnish championships. However, by 1996 the club was in financial difficulties, and the problem was solved by merging Reipas and they more recently arrived local rival Kuusysi. At the time both clubs played in the northern section of the second-tier Ykkönen, but at the end of the season Reipas found themselves in the relegation zone.

FC Lahti

The new club was simply called FC Lahti, and it inherited Kuusysi's place in Ykkönen. The divisional position and the league license of Reipas, in 1997 Kakkonen, was given to FC Pallo-Lahti, which was founded as a reserves team. Later this team was discontinued and the place in the division in question was given up.

FC Reipas

Together with the other changes, a club named FC Reipas was founded in 1996. Its task is to continue the tradition of bringing up new generations of footballers in Lahti, more specifically U15–U18 players. Nowadays the club has teams in all age groups.

The club also has an elderly men's team.

The club organises the annual Lahti Soccer tournament.

Return of Reipas Lahti

Lahden Reipas, i.e. Reipas Lahti returned to men's competitive football for the season 2012, when it was given the former place of Reipas Salpausselkä in Division 3.

Season to season

Season to season

Season Level Division Section Administration Position Movements 1931 Tier 2 B-Sarja (Second Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd 1932 Tier 2 B-Sarja (Second Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1933 Tier 2 B-Sarja (Second Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1934 Tier 2 B-Sarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd Promotion Group 4th 1935 Tier 2 B-Sarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1936 Tier 2 Itä-Länsi-Sarja (Second Division) East League Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd Promotion Group 4th 1937 Tier 2 Itä-Länsi-Sarja (Second Division) East League Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd 1938 Tier 2 Itä-Länsi-Sarja (Second Division) East League, South Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promotion Playoff – Promoted 1939 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th Relegated 1940–1944 Wartime – activity ceased 1945–46 Tier 3 SPL Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Kymenlaakso North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd first season in Lahti 1946–47 Tier 3 SPL Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Häme East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promotion Playoff 1947–48 Tier 3 SPL Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Häme East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promotion Playoff 1948 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) South Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promotion Playoff 1949 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) South Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd Promotion Playoff – Promoted 1950 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th Relegated 1951 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) South Group B Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1952 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) South Group B Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1953 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) South Group B Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd 1954 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Central Group IV Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promotion Group East 6th 1955 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) West Group 2 Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 5th 1956 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) South Group II Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1957 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) South Group II Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 3rd 1958 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) South Group II – South East Finland Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 4th 1959 Tier 3 Maakuntasarja (Third Division) Group 2 Uusimaa Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 1st Promoted 1960 Tier 2 Suomensarja (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promoted 1961 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1962 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd 1963 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Champions 1964 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1965 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd 1966 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1967 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th Champions 1968 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd 1969 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1970 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Champions 1971 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th 1972 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd 1973 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd 1974 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd 1975 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th 1976 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1977 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1978 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th 1979 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th Championship Group 5th 1980 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th Relegation Group 8th – Relegated 1981 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 6th Relegation Group 2nd 1982 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promotion Group 2nd – Promoted 1983 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 11th Relegation Group 7th – Relegated 1984 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1985 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 2nd Promotion Playoff 1986 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 1st Promoted 1987 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 10th 1988 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 3rd Championship Group 4th 1989 Tier 1 Mestaruussarja (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 8th Relegation Group 2nd 1990 Tier 1 Futisliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 5th 1991 Tier 1 Futisliiga (Premier League) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 12th Relegated 1992 Tier 2 I Divisioona (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 12th Relegated 1993 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) East Group Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 2nd Promoted 1994 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1995 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 4th 1996 Tier 2 Ykkönen (First Division) North Group Finnish FA (Suomen Palloliitto) 9th Relegated – Merged with Kuusysi to form FC Lahti 1997–2011 Only youth teams 2012 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Group 3 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa) 3rd 2013 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Group 3 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa) 2nd 2014 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Group 3 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa) 3rd 2015 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Group 3 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa) 5th 2016 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Group 3 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa) 2nd 2017 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Group 3 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa) 3rd 2018 Tier 4 Kolmonen (Third Division) Group 3 Helsinki & Uusimaa (SPL Uusimaa) 1st Promoted 2019 Tier 3 Kakkonen (Second Division) Group A Finnish FA (Suomen Pallolitto) 6th 27 seasons in Veikkausliiga 19 seasons in Ykkönen 16 seasons in Kakkonen 7 seasons in Kolmonen

Honours in football

• Finnish champion (3):
  • 1963, 1967, 1970
• Finnish Cup (7):
  • 1964, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978
• Finnish Cup runners-up (3):
  • 1963, 1967, 1970

External links

• Reipas Lahti homepages
• FC Reipas homepages
• Reipas Lahti and Veikkausliiga web exhibition by Sports Museum Foundation of Finland.