sixth match, the team began to catch up with the leading teams. Voutilainen gave more playing time to the young players, and in addition to them, two players better known from ice hockey, Kari Eloranta and Harri Toivanen played in the team. In the end, the club finished fourth in the series, and were granted a place in the promotion/relegation group, where it was decided which teams would play in the Mestaruussarja the following season. In the promotion/relegation group Kuusysi finished fifth, when only the first four qualified for the 1981 Mestaruussarja. In the 1981 season Kuusysi won the Preliminary Stage of 1. Division and again qualified for the promotion/relegation group, in which the club ended at the very top. The club also reached the final of the Finnish Cup, where it played against Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi. The match ended in a comprehensive 4–0 victory for HJK. Success in the 1980s Kuusysi started the 1982 Mestaruussarja with high hopes, since it had been able to acquire some high quality players. In the Preliminary Stage, the team stayed close to the leading teams, and in the end finished sixth. In the Championship Stage the other teams were not able to keep up the pace, whereas Kuusysi's results got better and better. Winning the next to last match against Kokkolan Palloveikot, the club climbed to the top. In the last match Kuusysi played against Ilves of Tampere, and won this match 5–0. Thus the club earned its first Finnish championship. During this decade, financial backing came from businessman Martti Rinta, who in 1982 paid all the debts of the club, which amounted to 600 000 Finnish marks. Thanks to its success in the Finnish cup in the previous season, Kuusysi was granted a place in the 1982–83 European Cup Winners' Cup, while HJK represented Finland in the 1982–83 European Cup. In the first round Kuusysi faced Galatasaray from Turkey. The first leg ended in a win for Galatasaray, and in the second leg the result was a draw. Kuusysi lost 2–3 on aggregate. At home in Finland, Kuusysi was fourth in the 1983 Mestaruussarja Preliminary Stage, but in the Championship Stage ended up fifth. During that decade Kuusysi participated a number of times in European competitions. 1983–84 European Cup was the first time in this competition. In the first round Kuusysi faced Dinamo București, losing 0–1 at home and 0–3 away. At home