Before the inauguration of the Suomensarja, there had been, in 1930–1935, special qualification matches for the right to play in the Mestaruussarja, ‘Championship series’.
A proper league format competition on this level began in 1936 with the 1936 Suomensarja.
[1] In the autumn of 1969, the Finnish football underwent a league system reform, and the Suomensarja was renamed II divisioona, or 2nd Division, with regional sections.
[2] In 1973, this level of football in Finland became nationwide, and the new name was 1. divisioona, present-day Ykkönen.
This article about a Finnish association football competition is a stub.