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Hong Kong First Division League

 
Wikipedia: Hong Kong First Division League
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Hong Kong First Division League
Countries Hong Kong
Confederation AFC
Founded 1908
Number of teams 11
Relegation to Hong Kong Second Division
Level on pyramid Level 1
Domestic cup(s) Hong Kong Senior Shield
Hong Kong FA Cup
Hong Kong League Cup
International cup(s) AFC Cup
Current champions South China (2008–09)
Most championships South China (39)
Website http://www.hkfa.com/en/
Soccerball current event.svg 2009–10 season

Hong Kong First Division League (traditional Chinese: 香港甲組聯賽) is the top division football league in Hong Kong established in 1908.

It does not affiliate to any football leagues in the People's Republic of China, such as Chinese Super League and Jia League.

Contents

Competition format

A 2006–07 football match between South China and Rangers in Mong Kok Stadium.
  • Each team plays the other teams twice, one home and one away game. The ticket profits go to the home team. If there are two matches in the same stadium on the day, the profits are shared between the two home teams.
  • Since most of the teams do not have a home ground, the games are mostly played in Hong Kong Stadium or Mongkok Stadium. It happens that one team plays their home games in both stadiums in the same season.
  • The bottom two teams are relegated to the Hong Kong Second Division League.
  • Each season, HKFA decides the maximum number of foreign and mainland Chinese players each club can have and how many can play in each game. This season, a maximum of 9 foreign players (mainland Chinese players included) can be registered for a team, where no more than 6 of them could be played simultaneously on the pitch, with 2 more can be placed as substitutes.

Exceptions

There were two teams, The Army and The Police, that are not required to be relegated. The league explained that soldiers in The Army team were frequently redeployed to another country and hence it was very difficult to establish teamwork. The Police team were not required to be relegated as they supply the venue Police Sports and Recreation Club for the league.

Another relegate exception was made to South China Athletic Association during the 2006/07 season. The Hong Kong Football Association approved a request from South China to remain in the first division June 14, 2006.[1] The reason for exception was not disclosed. The public believed that this application was allowed probably because South China has a long history in the First Division League and it would otherwise be humiliating for the club to relegate to Second Division League. Another reason is that other football clubs rely on the large fan base of South China to generate more revenues. Relegation would result in a lose-lose situation for both sides.

Stadiums

As Hong Kong is a small place, most clubs do not have space to build home stadiums. Even if they have their own training ground (as in the case of South China), the league matches are played elsewhere. The First Division League games are usually played in Hong Kong Stadium or Mong Kok Stadium.

List of soccer facilities used in season 2008–09:

But with the renovation of the Mong Kok Stadium in autumn 2009, the HKFA worked with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to arrange home grounds for all the competing teams in the 2009-10 season as follows:

Competing clubs

2008–09 season

The following 13 clubs are competing in the Hong Kong First Division League during the 2008–09 season.

Club
 Position
in 2007–08		 First season in
top division		 Last title
Citizen 2nd 2004–05 n/a
Convoy Sun Hei 5th 1994–95 2004–05
Eastern 7th 1936–37 1994–95
Fourway Rangers n/a 2008–09 n/a
Happy Valley 4th 1959–60 2005–06
Kitchee 6th 1947–48 1963–64
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NT Realty Wofoo Tai Po 3rd 2006–07 n/a
Sheffield United 8th 2005–06 n/a
South China 1st 1918–19 2007–08
TSW Pegasus n/a 2008–09 n/a
Tuen Mun Progoal 9th 2007–08 n/a
Xiangxue Eisiti n/a 2008–09 n/a

Records

Unbeaten teams

References: [3][4]

Since 1945 (ie. after WWII, when HKFA has held a complete record of the competition), there are 4 teams which have remained unbeaten throughout the whole season.

1977-78 There were 12 teams in the First Division. South China finished as the Champions with a magnificent result of 20 wins, 2 draws and 0 losses. South China became the first team in the League to go unbeaten in a season. The two drawn matches were against Eastern and Tung Sing.
In 1985-86 there were 2 unbeaten teams in the league. Both South China and Happy Valley topped the league with 10 wins and 8 draws. South China won the league with a goal difference of +21 five goals better than the +16 held by Happy Valley. South China became the first team to hold a record of 2 unbeaten seasons.

1978-79 In the season immediately after South China becoming the first unbeaten team, Seiko became the second team which achieved this result. With a slightly poorer result (19 wins and 3 draws) compared to the previous year's South China, Seiko still became the Champion of the season. The draw matches were against Kui Tan, Eastern and Caroline Hill. A more marvellous result for Seiko was that it won 5 out of the 6 competitions that season. The only trophy it failed to get was FA Cup, losing to Yuen Long by penalty kicks.

1985-86 Happy Valley was unbeaten in the season, same as South China (10 wins and 8 draws). However, Happy Valley just claimed the Runners-up because a worse goal difference. It became the first unbeaten team which could not gain the title for the season.
2002-03# Actually, according to the league table Happy Valley did not go unbeaten during this season. The 'losing' match was against Fukien. In that match, Happy Valley was originally the winning team. However, it was later discovered that an ineligible player was used during the game. Happy Valley was penalised with a 0-3 loss.

2002-03 Sun Hei became the fourth team to go the whole season without losing a game in the history of the league. However, they were only able to achieve a second place finish, one point behind Happy Valley.

Top goal scorers

References: [5][6][7]

Season: 1957–58
Number of goals: 40
Team: South China
  • Dale Tempest (Most Times winning for Top Goal Scorer prize)

Winning Seasons:1989-90, 1990-91, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95
Total goals: 160
Played Teams: Eastern, South China, Kitchee

  • Yuen Kuen To (4 times Top Goal Scorer Runner-up)

Runner-up seasons: 1967-68, 1968-69, 1971-72, 1972-73

Goalkeeper records

References:[8]

Record: 827 min
Season: 1992-93
He assisted Eastern to maintain a record of 0 conceded and 9 straight wins in the first 9 matches of 1992-93 season. His record ended when they played the second round match against South China at the 17th minute. The goalscorer was Loh Wai Chi.

Opening matches

References:[9][10]

  • First Opening Match with last year's Champion vs Runner-up (1988-89)

South China 2:2(6:7 pen) Happy Valley

  • Biggest Goal Difference (2008-09)

South China 9:0 Tuen Mun Progoal

  • Highest Scoring Game (1997-98)

Instant-Dict 5:4 South China

  • First Unrecognised Game (1998-99)

Instant-Dict 2:2 South China (original score)
As there was a suspended player played in Instant-Dict's squad, the team was penalised by losing 0-3.

Highest disclosed transfer fee records

Rank Year Player Position Transfer from Transfer to Transfer fee
1 2007 Chan Wai Ho (陳偉豪) defender Rangers South China HKD$400,000
2 1996 Cheng Siu Chung Ricky (鄭兆聰) midfielder LD Alajuelense South China USD$30,000 (about HKD$234,000)
3 1992 Tam Ar Fuk (譚亞福) midfielder Happy Valley Ernest Borel HKD$140,000
4 1972 Fok Pak Ning (霍柏寧) defender Sing Tao Seiko HKD$5,000
5 1972 Au Wing Hung (區永鴻) defender Sing Tao Seiko HKD$3,000

Champions

Main article: Hong Kong football champions
Team Champions Winning seasons
Overall Before WWII After WWII
South China 39 9 30 1923–24, 1930–31, 1932–33, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1948–49, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1996–97, 1999–00, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
Seiko 9 – 9 1972–73, 1974–75, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85
Happy Valley 6 – 6 1964–65, 1988–89, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2005–06
R.G.A. 5 5 0 1909–10, 1912–13, 1914–15, 1915–16, 1917–18
Eastern 4 0 4 1955–56, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95
C.A.A. 3 3 0 1927–28, 1928–29, 1929–30
Kitchee 3 0 3 1947–48, 1949–50, 1963–64
Convoy Sun Hei 3 – 3 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05
Buffs 2 2 0 1908–09, 1910–11
King's Own Rifiles 2 2 – 1911–12, 1922–23
South Welsh Borderers 2 2 – 1931–32, 1933–34
K.M.B. 2 – 2 1953–54, 1966–67
Double Flower (Instant-Dict) 2 – 2 1995–96, 1997–98
D.C.L.I. 1 1 – 1913–14
Royal Engineers 1 1 0 1916–17
Royal Navy 1 1 0 1918–19
HKFC 1 1 0 1919–20
Wiltshire Regiment 1 1 – 1920–21
HMS Curiew 1 1 – 1921–22
East Surrey Regt. 1 1 – 1924–25
Kowloon FC 1 1 – 1925–26
Recreio 1 1 – 1926–27
Ulster Guards 1 1 – 1936–37
Royal Air Force 1 0 1 1945–46
Sing Tao 1 0 1 1946–47
Yuen Long 1 – 1 1962–63
Jardines 1 – 1 1969–70
Rangers 1 – 1 1970–71

See also

References and notes

  1. ^ 傳媒報導 - 2006-08-01 羅傑承主政班費千萬增兵 南華搵摩連奴師兄執教, SCAA Fans Club official site, Accessed on October 20, 2007.
  2. ^ 2009/10賽季各球會主場
  3. ^ "聯賽長勝軍(上)" (in Chinese). The HKFA website. http://www.hkfa.com/includes_files/board_details.php?news_id=4274. 
  4. ^ "聯賽長勝軍(下)" (in Chinese). The HKFA website. http://www.hkfa.com/includes_files/board_details.php?news_id=4277. 
  5. ^ "甲組神射手回顧(上)" (in Chinese). The HKFA website. http://www.hkfa.com/includes_files/board_details.php?news_id=4220. 
  6. ^ "甲組神射手回顧(下)" (in Chinese). The HKFA website. http://www.hkfa.com/includes_files/board_details.php?news_id=4221. 
  7. ^ "關於歷年一屆入波最多球員一問" (in Chinese). GoalGoalGoal.com. http://www.goalgoalgoal.com/viewthread.php?tid=91046&page=2&fromuid=2479#pid1233165. 
  8. ^ HKFA Webpage (in Chinese)(聯賽不失球紀錄的保持者─希福特)
  9. ^ HKFA Webpage (in Chinese)(甲組足球聯賽揭幕戰回顧(一))
  10. ^ HKFA Webpage (in Chinese)(甲組足球聯賽揭幕戰回顧(二))

External links

v • d • e
2009–10 Hong Kong First Division League
v • d • e
Hong Kong First Division League seasons
1900–01 • 1901–02 • 1902–03 • 1903–04 • 1904–05 • 1905–06 • 1906–07 • 1907–08 • 1908–09 • 1909–10
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Hong Kong football league system - Level 1
v • d • e
Promotion to: None (Top Level)
Relegation to: Hong Kong Second Division League
v • d • e
Football in Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Football Association
National teams
Hong Kong (Team records) · U-23 · U-19 · U-16 · Futsal
League system
First Division · Second Division · Third Division (A • District)
Domestic cups
Other competitions
Defunt competitions
Hong Kong League XI · Foreign players · List of clubs · List of venues · List of competitions
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Top level football leagues of Asia (AFC)
† Provisional Associated Member

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