Indian association football club
Football club
Hindustan
Full name Hindustan Football Club Nickname(s) Hindustan Short name HFC Founded 1948; 76 years ago (1948 ) Ground Various Head coach Abhijoy Basu League
Delhi Premier League
2021–22 Delhi Premier League, runners-up Website
Club website
Hindustan Football Club is an Indian professional
football club based in
New Delhi .
[1]
[2] Affiliated with
Football Delhi (FD), the club last participated in
Delhi Premier League .
[3]
[4]
[5]
Founded in 1948, Hindustan predominantly participated in
I-League 2nd Division ,
[6]
[7]
[8] which was then second tier of
Indian football league system .
[9]
[10] They use
Ambedkar Stadium as home ground, in addition to
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium for selected matches.
History
Formation and early history
Hindustan FC was founded in 1948 in New Delhi.
[11]
[12]
[13] Thus it, owned and run by
Bengalis , became one of the oldest
football clubs in the capital city of India.
[14] The club has been affiliated with
Delhi Soccer Association (DSA),
[15] which is now known as Football Delhi,
[16] and participate in the
DSA Senior Division league (now named Delhi Premier League).
[17] They for the first time lifted the regional league title in 2001–02 season,
[18] while club's goalkeeper Salim Ansari was presented the player of the year award.
[19]
In November 2002, Hindustan participated in the inaugural edition of Delhi Lt. Governor's Cup and reached to the semi-finals.
[20] The club later competed in the
National Football League Second Division continuously in 2004–05, 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons, but were not granted the permission of joining the newly formed
I-League II (then second-tier) for not fulfilling the AFC club licensing criteria.
[21] In 2007, Hindustan FC roped in their first foreign coach, Bernard Operanozie from Nigeria.
[22] Hindustan clinched their second DSA Senior Division title in 2009 season as co-winners with Indian National FC.
[23]
Present years
Hindustan Football Academy was started by the former club chairman D. K. Bose,
[24] and they roped in Spanish professional coach
Óscar Bruzón on board for a period of two years to train Delhi's budding footballers in the age group of under-12 and under-16.
[25] Hindustan FC, founded just after the independence of
India , have been the flag bearers from the capital in the second tier of Indian football, having participated for a record 14 times.
[26] They also participated in the
2014 I-League 2nd Division and moved to the
final round of
I-League Qualifiers ,
[27]
[28] finishing on fifth position
[29]
[30] with four points in eight matches.
[31]
[32]
Though their biggest achievement is finishing as the runners-up in the
2017–18 I-League 2nd Division ,
[33] under the coaching of Vikrant Sharma.
[34]
[35]
[36]
[37] In the
2018–19 I-League 2nd Division ,
[38] Hindustan finished at the bottom of the Group A and bowed out of the tournament.
[39]
[40] The club has participated in the
2021 FD Senior Division ,
[41]
[42]
[43] and finished as runners-up.
Stadium
Ambedkar Stadium in
Feroz Shah Kotla .
Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi is used as the clubs' home ground for most of their DSA Senior Division League matches.
[44]
[45]
[46] It has also hosted I-League 2nd Division matches.
[47]
[48]
[49] The stadium has a capacity of 35,000 spectators. Hindustan also use
Thyagaraj Sports Complex ground.
[50]
The club formerly used Government of India press grounds for matches of DSA B-Division League.
[14]
Rivalries
Hindustan FC have nurtured rivalries with other Delhi based clubs, predominantly with
Garhwal ,
[51]
Simla Youngs ,
[52]
Indian Air Force ,
[53]
[54]
New Delhi Heroes and
Sudeva Moonlight (now 'Sudeva Delhi'). Besides the state league, they faced some more rivals in the prestigious
Durand Cup ,
[55]
[56] the
oldest existing club football tournament in Asia and third oldest in the world.
[57]
[58]
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
Women's team
On 29 November 2012, Hindustan FC launched its women's team with the unveiling of team jersey. At a press conference, Hindustan president Sushil Pandit said that the decision to launch the team was in line with the club philosophy to support women's football.
[67]
Delhi Soccer Association is looking to start its women's league and Hindustan FC would not want to be left behind.
—
Sushil Pandit , President of Hindustan FC, after launching their women's team ahead of the Delhi Women's League in 2012.
[68]
The women's team competes in the Delhi Women's Football League, organised by Football Delhi.
[69]
[70] Its U17 women's team has been participating in the Khelo India Women's League since 2019.
[71]
Youth & academy
Hindustan FC ran U-13, U-15 and U-17 level teams and academies, which were based at the Thygaraja Stadium.
[63] In 2013, the club launched its U19 team to participate in the
Elite League (India) .
[72] The U19 team was from Delhi zone and first participated in the
2014–15 I-League U19 season (group D – rest of India ), and reached the final round.
[73]
[74]
[75]
The club also established an academy, named Hindustan Football Academy.
[62] They also organize an youth football tournament yearly in Delhi, known as Hind Kishore School Tournament.
[62]
Honours
League
Cup
Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup
[81]
Notable players
For current and former notable Hindustan FC players with a Wikipedia article, see:
Hindustan FC players .
Managerial history
See also
^ Joint-winners (with "Indian National FC").
References
^
"2nd Division I-League: focus on Hindustan FC" . i-league.org . 19 March 2015. Archived from
the original on 21 March 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2021 .
^
"I-League 2nd Division standings" . goal.com .
Goal . Archived from
the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 1 March 2021 .
^ Lokapally, Vijay (1 May 2019).
"Football: Super League gets legal notice by Hindustan FC" . sportstar.thehindu.com . New Delhi:
Sportstar . Archived from
the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021 .
^
"DSA Senior Division League by Delhi Soccer Association" . footballdelhi.com . Archived from
the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021 .
^
"DSA Senior Division Open League begins Tuesday" . timesofindia.indiatimes.com .
The Times of India . Archived from
the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2013 .
^
"Match report: ARA vs Hindustan" . i-league.org . Archived from
the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2019 .
^
"I-League 2nd Division Fixtures" . theindianleague.in . The Indian League. Archived from
the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2016 .
^
"NEROCA defeats Southern Samity, awaits for a win or a draw to reach to the final round" . Sportstract. 27 February 2017. Archived from
the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018 .
^
"Archived copy" . Archived from
the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2010 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
link )
^
"5 city teams in the 2nd Division" . Calcutta, India: Calcutta Telegraph. 2 January 2012. Archived from
the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2012 .
^ Schöggl, Hans.
"India — List of Foundation Dates" .
RSSSF . Archived from
the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021 .
^
"Hindustan Football Club" . khelnow.com . Khel Now. Archived from
the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021 .
^
"Eighteen teams, including 7 reserve sides of ISL clubs to contest in revamped 2017-18 Second Division league" . firstpost.com . First Post. 20 February 2018. Archived from
the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021 .
^
a
b
c Bhattacharya, Arka (1 June 2018).
"14 years a slave: The story of Hindustan FC's 'emotional' stay in Indian football's 2nd division" . Scroll.in . New Delhi. Archived from
the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2022 .
^
"Football Delhi Senior Division League: All clubs" . footballdelhi.com . Archived from
the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2022 .
^ Josh, Sumit (8 May 2018).
"Football Delhi: A Complete Revival of The Game in The Capital" . www.thequint.com .
The Quint . Archived from
the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021 .
^ Choudhuri, Arunava.
"Delhi Senior Division to kick-off July 30" . arunfoot.blogspot.com . Arunava about Football. Archived from
the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2013 .
^ Chaudhuri, Arunava.
"2001/02 Season in Indian Football" . indianfootball.de . Indian Football Network. Archived from
the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021 .
^
a
b
"Salim Ansari gets Player of the Year Award" . tribuneindia.com . New Delhi: The Tribune India. 16 April 2002. Archived from
the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023 .
^ Arunava, Chaudhuri.
"1st Lt. Governor's Cup 2002" . indianfootball.de . Indian Football Network. Archived from
the original on 18 July 2017.
^ Express News Service, 4:00:06 AM (18 June 2009).
"Hindustan FC set sights on I-League" . archive.indianexpress.com .
Kolkata , West Bengal:
The Indian Express . Archived from
the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link )
^
"NEWS FOR THE MONTH OF September 2007" . indianfootball.de . Archived from
the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2021 .
^
"Tibetan or Indian footballers? DSA goofs up yet again" . timesofindia.indiatimes.com . 9 March 2009.
Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2022 .
^
"Hindustan Football Club from Delhi, home page" . footballdelhi.com . New Delhi: Delhi Football Association. Archived from
the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021 .
^
"HFA ropes in Spanish coach for football enthusiasts of Delhi" . timesofindia.indiatimes.com .
The Times of India . TNN. 5 July 2012. Archived from
the original on 26 January 2013.
^
"Eighteen Teams Will Contest In Second Division League 2017–18" . I-League . 20 February 2018. Archived from
the original on 23 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018 .
^
"2nd Division League Starts in Feb '14" . i-league.org . New Delhi: All India Football Federation. 9 January 2014. Archived from
the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014 .
^ Maitra, Sayantan (10 April 2014).
"Wahingdoh prove 'two' good for Kalighat MS" . the-aiff.com .
Aizawl :
All India Football Federation . Archived from
the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2019 .
^
"2nd Division League Starts in Feb '14" . Archived from
the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014 .
^
"2nd Div League: Teams Qualified" . Archived from
the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014 .
^
"ROYAL WAHINGDOH ARE SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONS" .
I-League . 11 April 2014. Archived from
the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014 .
^
"2014 I-League 2nd Division final round" . globalsportsarchive.com . Global Sports Archive. Archived from
the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021 .
^
"EIGHTEEN TEAMS WILL CONTEST IN SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE 2017–18" . aiff.com .
All India Football Federation . 21 February 2018. Archived from
the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2018 .
^
"Real Kashmir makes history after booking I-League berth" . ESPN.in . 30 May 2018. Archived from
the original on 2 June 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018 .
^
"I-League 2nd Division: Hindustan FC stuns TRAU" . Sportstarlive.com . 24 May 2018.
Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2021 .
^
"2nd Division I-League: Real Kashmir promoted to I-League" . goal.com . 30 May 2018. Archived from
the original on 5 June 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018 .
^
"Delhi Dynamos go down fighting to Hindustan FC" . Khel Now . Archived from
the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2021 .
^ Kovtalyuk, Nikolai (15 February 2019).
"Один украинец перешел в Корею, другой — в Индию | Украинцы покоряют Азию" . sportarena.con (in Russian). SPORTARENA. Archived from
the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022 .
^
"I-League 2nd division: Hindustan FC's match against Lonestar Kashmir in doubt" . sportstar.thehindu.com . 27 February 2019. Archived from
the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2021 .
^
"I-League 2nd Division 2018-19, prilimenary round summary" . Soccerway.com . Archived from
the original on 12 September 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2021 .
^
"Senior Division | Football Delhi" . footballdelhi.com . Football Delhi. Archived from
the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021 .
^
"The Groups for the Football Delhi Senior Division 2021 are out!" . Twitter.com . Archived from
the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021 .
^
"Delhi (DSA) Senior Division League" . theawayend.co . The Away End. Archived from
the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021 .
^
"Hindustan FC wins DSA Senior Division League" . timesofindia.indiatimes.com .
The Times of India . 21 February 2010.
Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021 .
^ Sharma, Siddhartha (11 February 2010).
"Musibau does the trick for Hindustan" . indianexpress.com .
The Indian Express . Archived from
the original on 15 January 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2022 .
^
"Hindustan FC hammer Bengaluru FC 4–0" . i-league.org .
All India Football Federation . 6 February 2015. Archived from
the original on 7 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021 .
^ Bhutani, Rahul (29 March 2013).
"I-League Division 2 : Mohammedan Sporting, Mumbai Tigers Start As Favorites" . thehardtackle.com . The Hard Tackle. Archived from
the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2021 .
^
"ROYAL WAHINGDOH ARE SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONS" .
I-League . 11 April 2014. Archived from
the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014 .
^
"Hindustan FC pip Dynamos 'B' in I-League second division clash" . www.mid-day.com . New Delhi: Mid Day. IANS. 2 May 2018. Archived from
the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2022 .
^
"Hindustan FC team profile: Information" . everythingforfootball.co.uk . Everything For Football. Archived from
the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022 .
^
"The history and the current status of football in Delhi" . chaseyoursport.com . 29 April 2019.
Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2021 .
^
"5 city teams in the 2nd Division" . The Telegraph (Kolkata) . 2 January 2012. Archived from
the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2012 .
^
"126th Durand Cup" . KolkataFootball . Archived from
the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016 .
^ Sportskeeda, Football Analysis (31 January 2013).
"Delhi Senior Division League Update" . www.sportskeeda.com . Sportskeeda.
Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016 .
^
"Durand Cup will be a success even sans sponsor: Organiers" . timesofindia.indiatimes.com .
The Times of India . Archived from
the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2012 .
^
"The Durand Cup – About" . durandcup.in .
Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021 .
^ Upadhyay, Somesh (22 December 2010).
"Indian Football : Ah! Those golden days..." www.sportskeeda.com . Sportskeeda. Archived from
the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022 .
^ Mitra, Bishwabijoy (30 July 2019).
"Did you know the connection Bengal has with Durand Cup?" . timesofindia.indiatimes.com .
The Times of India .
Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021 .
^
"Hindustan Football Club — About Us" . linkedin.com . Archived from
the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2022 .
^
"Company History — LML Ltd" .
The Economic Times . Archived from
the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2019 .
^
"Sahafat Ahbab FC, Hindustan FC register win in DSA League" .
The Times of India . 3 January 2009.
Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2021 .
^
a
b
c
d Chaudhuri, Arunava (8 August 2011).
"Indian Football: Delhi's Hindustan FC Want to put the Capital on the Map" . sportskeeda.com . New Delhi: Sportskeeda. Archived from
the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023 .
^
a
b Norbu, Rinchen (5 January 2014).
"No Money, More Problems" . millenniumpost.in . New Delhi: The Millennium Post India. Archived from
the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021 .
^
"DSA Senior Division League 2013: Barthwal's brace helps Solutrean-Hindustan F.C. thump City FC 4–1" . Sportskeeda.com . 2 January 2014. Archived from
the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021 .
^
"Cosco Products" . cosco limited. Archived from
the original on 28 August 2013. Retrieved 23 August 2013 .
^
"Second Division I-League focus: Hindustan FC" . www.i-league.org .
I-League . 19 March 2015. Archived from
the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021 .
^ Chaudhuri, Arunava (1 December 2012).
"Delhi's Hindustan FC launches women's team" . sportskeeda.com . Sportskeeda. Archived from
the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021 .
^
"Hindustan FC launches women's team" . hindustantimes.com . New Delhi, India:
The Hindustan Times . 29 November 2012. Archived from
the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021 .
^
"Football Delhi Women's League" . footballdelhi.com . Football Delhi. Archived from
the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2021 .
^
"Hindustan FC thrash Ahbab FC 22-0 in Delhi Women's Football League" . indiatvnews.com . 23 March 2021. Archived from
the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021 .
^
"Hindustan FC U17 girls are in Khelo India Women's League" . Facebook (Hindustan FC) . Archived from
the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021 .
^
"AIFF Moots U-15 & U-18 I-League For Clubs & Academies" . I-League.org . Hero I-League. Archived from
the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2015 .
^
"Hindustan FC in final round" . thehindu.com . The Hindu. 7 February 2015. Archived from
the original on 15 August 2021.
^
"U-19 I-League Kolkata zone finalists confirmed" . I-League.org . 8 January 2015. Archived from
the original on 18 January 2015.
^ I league, U-19 (30 January 2015).
"U-19 I-League Focus: Hindustan FC" . i-league.org . Archived from
the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021 . {{
cite news }}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link )
^ Ugra, Sharda (30 May 2018).
"Real Kashmir makes history after booking I-League berth" . espn.in .
ESPN . Archived from
the original on 2 June 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018 .
^
"2nd Division I-League: Real Kashmir promoted to I-League" . Goal.com . 30 May 2018. Archived from
the original on 5 June 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018 .
^ Chaudhuri, Arunava.
"List of Champions of the Delhi Football League (DSA Senior Division)" . indianfootball.de . Indian Football Network. Archived from
the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2021 .
^ Chaudhuri, Arunava.
"2008/09 Season in Indian Football: Local League champions from all over India 2008/09" . indianfootball.de . Indian Football Network. Archived from
the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021 .
^ Chaudhuri, Arunava (2003).
"India — List of Delhi League Champions" .
RSSSF . Archived from
the original on 18 December 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021 .
^ Chaudhuri, Arunava.
"List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup" . indianfootball.de . Indian Football Network. Archived from
the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2021 .
^ Chaudhuri, Arunava (21 September 2007).
"NEWS FOR THE MONTH OF September 2007 — Nigerian Bernard Operanozie signs as Delhi's Hindustan FC coach" . www.indianfootball.de . Indian Football Network. Archived from
the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2021 .
^
"Delhi calling: Manoranjan all set to coach Hindustan Football Club" . Indian Express . 10 October 2008. Archived from
the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021 .
^
"Fuja to coach Hindustan FC" . indianexpressews.com . New Delhi:
The Indian Express . Express News Service. 3 August 2011. Archived from
the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022 .
^
"Delhi Soccer League Senior Division: Tope Ayodeji Fuja Coaches Hindustan FC" . www.sportskeeda.com . New Delhi: Sportskeeda. 1 August 2011. Archived from
the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022 .
^
"際交流・アジア貢献活動 MITA Michiteru" . www.jfa.jp (in Japanese).
Japan Football Association . Archived from
the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2019 .
^
"I-league 2nd Division second phase" . Goalie365.com . 7 June 2015. Archived from
the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2015 .
^
"2nd Div League: Hindustan FC" . dwarkaparichay.com . Dwarka Parichay. I-LEAGUE Media Team. 24 March 2014. Archived from
the original on 21 June 2021.
^ Banerjee, Ritabrata (25 May 2018).
"2nd Division I-League: Hindustan FC's Vikrant Sharma — 'We capitalised on our chances;" . www.sportingnews.com . The Sporting News. Archived from
the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022 .
^
"Hindustan FC team profile: 2022/23" . everythingforfootball.co.uk . Everything For Football. Archived from
the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022 .
Further reading
Dineo, Paul; Mills, James (2001).
Soccer in South Asia: Empire, Nation, Diaspora .
London , United Kingdom: Frank Cass Publishers. p. 34.
ISBN
978-0-7146-8170-2 . Archived from
the original on 25 July 2022.
Kapadia, Novy (2017). Barefoot to Boots: The Many Lives of Indian Football . Penguin Random House.
ISBN
978-0-143-42641-7 .
Majumdar, Boria; Bandyopadhyay, Kausik (2006).
A Social History Of Indian Football: Striving To Score .
Routledge .
ISBN
9780415348355 . Archived from
the original on 29 June 2021.
Basu, Jaydeep (2003).
Stories from Indian Football . UBS Publishers' Distributors.
ISBN
9788174764546 . Archived from
the original on 11 October 2022.
"Regionalism and club domination: Growth of rival centres of footballing excellence" . Soccer & Society . 6:2–3 (2–3). Taylor & Francis: 227–256. 6 August 2006.
doi :
10.1080/14660970500106410 .
S2CID
216862171 . Archived from
the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023 .
Nath, Nirmal (2011).
History of Indian Football: Upto 2009–10 . Readers Service.
ISBN
9788187891963 . Archived from
the original on 22 July 2022.
Shreekumar, S. S. (15 August 2020).
THE BEST WAY FORWARD FOR INDIA'S FOOTBALL . HSRA Publications. p. 244.
ISBN
9788194721697 . Archived from
the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023 .
"Royal flush for Wahingdoh" . theshillongtimes.com . Shillong: The Shillong Times. 12 April 2014. Archived from
the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2014 .
Punnakkattu Daniel, Chris (10 April 2014).
"Royal Wahingdoh and Bhawanipore clash in 2nd Division title decider" . cpdfootball.de . Shillong. Archived from
the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2014 .
Mukherjee, Soham (9 July 2018).
"All you need to know about the football league structure in Jammu and Kashmir" . goal.com .
Goal . Archived from
the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2023 .
External links
Current teams Reserve teams Seasons Final rounds