Hong Kong First Division League
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| Hong Kong First Division League | |
|---|---|
 Hong Kong First Division League 2006-07 |
|
| Sport | Football |
| Founded | 1908 |
| No. of teams | 10 |
| Country |  Hong Kong |
| Current champions | Happy Valley |
Hong Kong First Division League (officially known as HKFA Coolpoint Ventilation First Division League due to sponsorship reason) is the top division football league in Hong Kong created in 1908. It is separated from the league system in the People's Republic of China (which includes the Chinese Super League, the Chinese Football Association Jia League, and leagues below them).
Contents |
[edit] League Rules
- Each team plays the other teams twice, one home and one away game. The ticket profits would 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 their 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 would decide the maximum number of foreign and mainland Chinese players each club can have and how many can play in each game.
[edit] Stadiums
As Hong Kong is a small place, the clubs do not have spaces to build home stadiums. Even they have their own training ground (such as the case of South China), the league matches are played elsewhere. The First Division League games are usually play in Hong Kong Stadium or Mong Kok Stadium, but sometimes they are played in other fields. In season 2006-07, Wofoo Tai Po, HKFC and Lanwa have their own home grounds, which are Tai Po Sports Ground, Hong Kong FC Stadium and Dongguan Sports Ground (in Dongguan, China) respectively.
List of stadiums used:
- Hong Kong Stadium
- Hong Kong FC Stadium
- Mong Kok Stadium
- Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground
- Tai Po Sports Ground
[edit] Records
[edit] Unbeaten Teams
In the record of the First Division League since 1945 (ie. after WWII, when HKFA has held a complete record of the competition), there are 4 teams which had remained unbeaten throughout thw whole season.
- South China (1977-78, 1985-86)
1977-78 There were 12 teams in the First Division League. South China finished as the Champion for the season with a magnificent result of 20 wins ,2 draws and 0 lose. South China became the first team ever in the League to be unbeaten in a season. The only two draw matches were against Eastern and Tung Sing.
1985-86 It was a season with 2 unbeaten teams in the league. Both South China and Happy Valley topped the league with 10 wins and 8 draws. Goal Differencew were used to decide the Champion and South China won the trophy by +21 against +16. South China became the first team to hold a record of 2 unbeaten seasons.
- Seiko (1978-79)
1978-79 In the season immediate after South China becoming the first unbeaten team, Seiko became the second team whcih achieved this result. With a slightly worse result (19 wins and 3 draws) comparing to last year's South China, Seiko still became the Champion of the season. The draw matches were against Kui Tang, 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.
- Happy Valley (1985-86, 2002-03#)
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 Happy Valley was not unbeaten in this season according to the league tacble. The 'losing' match was against Fukien. In that match, Happy Valley was originally the winning team. However, it was later discovered that a player who was not in the player list was playing in the match. Happy Valley was penalized by losing 0-3.
- Sun Hei (2002-03)
2002-03 Sun Hei became the fourth unbeaten team in the league history. However, with one point behind Happy Valley, it was just able to get a Runner-up prize.
[edit] Top Goal Scorers
- Kwok Moon Wai (Largest Number of Goals)
Season:1967-68
Number of Goals:37
Team: Eastern
- Dale Tempest (Most Times winning for Top Goal Scorer prize)
Winning Seasons:1989-90, 1990-91, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95
Total goals: more than 100
Played Teams: Eastern, South China
- Yuen Kuen To (4 times Top Goal Scorer Runner-up)
Runner-up seasons: 1967-68, 1968-69, 1971-72, 1972-73
[edit] Goalkeeper Records
References:[5]
- Ian Hesford (Longest Clean Sheets)
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 Law Wai Chi.
[edit] Opening Matches
- 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 (1992-93)
Eastern 5:0 South China
- Highest Scoring Game (1997-98)
- First Unrecognized 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 penalized by losing 0-3.
[edit] Results
[edit] Before World War II (Not recognized by HKFA)
| Season | Champions | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1908-09 | 'Buffs' | |
| 1909-10 | Royal Garrison Artillery | |
| 1910-11 | 'Buffs' | |
| 1911-12 | King's Own Rifles | |
| 1912-13 | Royal Garrison Artillery | |
| 1913-14 | DCLI | |
| 1914-15 | Royal Garrison Artillery | |
| 1915-16 | Royal Garrison Artillery | |
| 1916-17 | Royal Engineers | |
| 1917-18 | Royal Garrison Artillery | |
| 1918-19 | Royal Navy | |
| 1919-20 | HKFC | |
| 1920-21 | Wiltshire Regiment | |
| 1921-22 | HMS '?' | |
| 1922-23 | King's Own Rifles | |
| 1923-24 | South China | |
| 1924-25 | East Surrey Regiment | |
| 1925-26 | Kowloon | |
| 1926-27 | South China | |
| 1927-28 | Athletic | |
| 1928-29 | Athletic | South China |
| 1929-30 | Athletic | |
| 1930-31 | South China | |
| 1931-32 | South Welsh Borderers | |
| 1932-33 | South China | |
| 1933-34 | South Welsh Borderers | |
| 1934-35 | South China | |
| 1935-36 | South China | |
| 1936-37 | Ulster Guards | |
| 1937-38 | South China 'B' | Middlesex Regiment |
| 1938-39 | South China | |
| 1939-40 | South China | Eastern |
| 1940-41 | South China | |
| 1941-42 | season unfinished | |
| 1942-43 | no competition | |
| 1943-44 | no competition | |
| 1944-45 | no competition |
*Number of Titles:
| Rank | Team | Number of Champions | First Winning Season | Last Winning Season | Longest Consecutive Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South China | 9 | 1923-24 | 1940-41 | 3 (1938-39,39-40,40-41) |
| 2 | Royal Garrison Artillery | 5 | 1909-10 | 1917-18 | 2 (1914-15,15-16) |
| 3 | Athletic | 3 | 1927-28 | 1929-30 | 3 (1927-28,28-29,29-30) |
| 4 | 'Buffs' | 2 | 1908-09 | 1910-11 | 1 |
| 4 | King Own Borderers | 2 | 1911-12 | 1922-23 | 1 |
| 4 | South Welsh Borderers | 2 | 1931-32 | 1933-34 | 1 |
| 7 | DCLI | 1 | 1913-14 | 1913-14 | 1 |
| 7 | East Surrey Regiment | 1 | 1924-25 | 1924-25 | 1 |
| 7 | HMS (?) | 1 | 1921-22 | 1921-22 | 1 |
| 7 | HKFC | 1 | 1919-20 | 1919-20 | 1 |
| 7 | Kowloon | 1 | 1925-26 | 1925-26 | 1 |
| 7 | Royal Engineers | 1 | 1916-17 | 1916-17 | 1 |
| 7 | Royal Navy | 1 | 1918-19 | 1918-19 | 1 |
| 7 | South China 'B' | 1 | 1937-38 | 1937-38 | 1 |
| 7 | Ulster Guards | 1 | 1936-37 | 1936-37 | 1 |
| 7 | Wiltshire Regiment | 1 | 1920-21 | 1920-21 | 1 |
[edit] After World War II
*Number of Titles:
| Rank | Team | Number of Champions | Number of Runners-up | First Winning Season | Last Winning Season | Longest Consecutive Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South China | 27 | 15 | 1948-49 | 1999-00 | 6 (1956-57,57-58,58-59,59-60,60-61,61-62) |
| 2 | Seiko | 9 | 3 | 1972-73 | 1984-85 | 7 (1978-79,79-80,80-81,81-82,82-83,83-84,84-85) |
| 3 | Happy Valley | 6 | 16 | 1964-65 | 2005-06 (current holder) |
1 |
| 4 | Eastern | 4 | 3 | 1955-56 | 1994-95 | 3 (1992-93,93-94,94-95) |
| 5 | Kitchee | 3 | 4 | 1947-48 | 1963-64 | 1 |
| 6 | Sun Hei | 3 | 2 | 2001-02 | 2004-05 | 2 (2003-04,04-05) |
| 7 | Kowloon Motor Bus Co. | 2 | 5 | 1953-54 | 1966-67 | 1 |
| 8 | Instant-Dict | 2 | 2 | 1995-96 | 1997-98 | 1 |
| 9 | Sing Tao | 1 | 4 | 1946-47 | 1946-47 | 1 |
| 10 | Jardines | 1 | 1 | 1969-70 | 1969-70 | 1 |
| 11 | Rangers | 1 | 0 | 1970-71 | 1970-71 | 1 |
| 11 | Royal Air Force | 1 | 0 | 1945-46 | 1945-46 | 1 |
| 11 | Yuen Long | 1 | 0 | 1962-63 | 1962-63 | 1 |
[edit] See also
- The Hong Kong Football Association
- Hong Kong Second Division League
- Hong Kong Third 'A' Division League
- Hong Kong Third 'District' Division League
[edit] References
- ^ HKFA Webpage (in Chinese)(聯賽長勝軍(上))
- ^ HKFA Webpage (in Chinese)(聯賽長勝軍(下))
- ^ HKFA Webpage (in Chinese)(甲組神射手回顧(上))
- ^ HKFA Webpage (in Chinese)(甲組神射手回顧(下))
- ^ HKFA Webpage (in Chinese)(聯賽不失球紀錄的保持者─希福特)
- ^ HKFA Webpage (in Chinese)(甲組足球聯賽揭幕戰回顧(一))
- ^ HKFA Webpage (in Chinese)(甲組足球聯賽揭幕戰回顧(二))
