Hong Kong First Division League
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hong Kong First Division League | |
| Country | Hong Kong |
|---|---|
| Confederation | AFC |
| Founded | 1908 |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| 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 |
| AFC cup(s) | AFC Cup |
| Current champions | South China (2007-08) |
| Most successful club | South China (38 titles) |
| Website | Hong Kong First Division League home page |
 2007-08 season |
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Hong Kong First Division League (traditional Chinese: 香港甲組聯賽, officially known as HKFA Coolpoint Ventilation First Division League for sponsorship reasons) 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 |
[edit] League rules
- 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 would decide the maximum number of foreign and mainland Chinese players each club can have and how many can play in each game.
[edit] Exceptions
There were two teams, The Army and The Police, that are not required to relegate. The league explained soldiers in The Army team were frequently redeployed to another country and very difficult to establish teamwork. The Police team did not need to relegate 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 move was allowed due to the fact that 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 the attendance for South China's fans to the game to generate revenues. Relegation would result in a lose-lose situation for both sides.
[edit] 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 stadiums used in seasson 2007–08:
[edit] Competing clubs
[edit] 2007–08 season
The following 10 clubs are competing in the Hong Kong First Division League during the 2007–08 season.
| Club |
Position in 2006–07 |
First season in top division |
Last title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulova Rangers | 4th | 1965–66 | 1970–71 |
| Citizen | 8th | 2004–05 | n/a |
| Convoy Sun Hei | 3rd | 1994–95 | 2004–05 |
| Eastern | 10th, Second Division | 1936–37 | 1994–95 |
| Happy Valley | 6th | 1959–60 | 2005–06 |
| Kitchee | 2nd | 1947–48 | 1963–64 |
| Lanwa Redbull | 5th | 2005–06 | n/a |
| South China | 1st | 1918–19 | 2006–07 |
| Wofoo Tai Po | 7th | 2006–07 | n/a |
| Workable | 2nd, Second Division | 2007–08 | n/a |
[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 the 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 losses. South China became the first ever team in the League to go unbeaten in a season. The only two drawn matches were against Eastern and Tung Sing.
1985-86 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 difference was 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 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.
- 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
- Ho Cheung Yau (traditional Chinese: 何祥友) (Largest number of goals)
- 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: 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:[7]
- 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 Loh 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] 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 |
[edit] Champions
| Team | Champions | Winning seasons | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Before WWII | After WWII | ||
| South China | 38 | 9 | 29 | 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 |
| 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 |
| Sun Hei | 3 | – | 3 | 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04 |
| 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 |
[edit] See also
- The Hong Kong Football Association
- Hong Kong Second Division League
- Hong Kong Third Division League
- Hong Kong Third 'A' Division League
- Hong Kong Third 'District' Division League
[edit] References and notes
- ^ 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.
- ^ 聯賽長勝軍(上) (Chinese). The HKFA website.
- ^ 聯賽長勝軍(下) (Chinese). The HKFA website.
- ^ 甲組神射手回顧(上) (Chinese). The HKFA website.
- ^ 甲組神射手回顧(下) (Chinese). The HKFA website.
- ^ 關於歷年一屆入波最多球員一問 (Chinese). GoalGoalGoal.com.
- ^ 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))
[edit] External links
- (Chinese) The Hong Kong Football Association
- (English) The Hong Kong Football Association
 Hong Kong First Division League 2007-08
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Hong Kong First Division League Seasons
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Hong Kong football league system - Level 1
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