Hong Kong First Division League 1908877 222070271 2008-06-27T12:29:10Z 219.78.13.87 {{Infobox football league | name = Hong Kong First Division League | logo = | pixels = | country = Hong Kong | confed = [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] | founded = 1908 | folded = | divisions = | teams = 10 | feeds = | promotion = | relegation = [[Hong Kong Second Division League|Hong Kong Second Division]] | levels = 1 | domest_cup = [[Hong Kong Senior Shield]]<br />[[Hong Kong FA Cup]]<br />[[Hong Kong League Cup]] | confed_cup = [[AFC Cup]] | champions = [[South China AA|South China]] | season = [[Hong Kong First Division League 2007-08|2007&ndash;08]] | most successful club = South China (38 titles) | tv = | website = http://www.hkfa.com/en/ | current = [[Hong Kong First Division League 2007-08|2007&ndash;08 season]] }} '''Hong Kong First Division League''' ({{zh-t|t={{linktext|香|港|甲|組|聯|賽}}}}) is the top division [[football (soccer)|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 [[Chinese Football Association Jia League|Jia League]]. ==Competition format== [[Image:28.10.06 Soccer South China vs Rangers.JPG|thumb|A 2006&ndash;07 football match between [[South China AA|South China]] and [[Hong Kong Rangers FC|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, [[Hong Kong Football Association|HKFA]] would decide the maximum number of foreign and mainland Chinese players each club can have and how many can play in each game. ===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]].<ref>[http://202.76.19.48/template?series=2&article=30 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], [http://www.scaafc.com/ SCAA Fans Club official site], Accessed on October 20, 2007.</ref> 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. ==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 AA|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&ndash;08: *[[Mong Kok Stadium]] *[[Hong Kong Stadium]] *[[Dongguan Stadium]] ==Competing clubs== ===2007&ndash;08 season=== The following 10 clubs are competing in the Hong Kong First Division League during the [[Hong Kong First Division League 2007-08|2007&ndash;08]] season. {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |- !Club<br /> !Position<br />in 2006&ndash;07 !First season in<br //>top division !Last title |- |style="text-align:left;"|[[Hong Kong Rangers FC|Bulova Rangers]]||4th||1965&ndash;66||1970&ndash;71 |- |style="text-align:left;"|[[Citizen AA|Citizen]]||8th||2004&ndash;05||n/a |- |style="text-align:left;"|[[Sun Hei|Convoy Sun Hei]]||3rd||1994&ndash;95||2004&ndash;05 |- |style="text-align:left;"|[[Eastern AA|Eastern]]||10th, [[Hong Kong Second Division League|Second Division]]||1936&ndash;37||1994&ndash;95 |- |style="text-align:left;"|[[Happy Valley AA|Happy Valley]]||6th||1959&ndash;60||2005&ndash;06 |- |style="text-align:left;"|[[Kitchee SC|Kitchee]]||2nd||1947&ndash;48||1963&ndash;64 |- |style="text-align:left;"|[[Lanwa FC|Lanwa Redbull]]||5th||2005&ndash;06||n/a |- |style="text-align:left;"|[[South China AA|South China]]||1st||1918&ndash;19||2006&ndash;07 |- |style="text-align:left;"|[[Tai Po FC|Wofoo Tai Po]]||7th||2006&ndash;07||n/a |- |style="text-align:left;"|[[Workable FC|Workable]]||2nd, [[Hong Kong Second Division League|Second Division]]||2007&ndash;08||n/a |} ==Records== ===Unbeaten teams=== References: <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hkfa.com/includes_files/board_details.php?news_id=4274 |title=聯賽長勝軍(上)|publisher=The HKFA website|language=Chinese}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hkfa.com/includes_files/board_details.php?news_id=4277 |title=聯賽長勝軍(下)|publisher=The HKFA website|language=Chinese}}</ref> In the record of the First Division League since 1945 (ie. after WWII, when [[Hong Kong Football Association|HKFA]] has held a complete record of the competition), there are 4 teams which had remained unbeaten throughout the whole season. * '''[[South China AA|South China]]''' (1977-78, 1985-86) '''1977-78''' There were 12 teams in the First Division League. [[South China AA|South China]] finished as the Champion for the season with a magnificent result of 20 wins, 2 draws and 0 losses. [[South China AA|South China]] became the first ever team in the League to go unbeaten in a season. The only two drawn matches were against [[Eastern AA|Eastern]] and [[Tung Sing]].<br/> '''1985-86''' was a season with 2 unbeaten teams in the league. Both [[South China AA|South China]] and [[Happy Valley AA|Happy Valley]] topped the league with 10 wins and 8 draws. Goal difference was used to decide the champion and [[South China AA|South China]] won the trophy by +21 against +16. [[South China AA|South China]] became the first team to hold a record of 2 unbeaten seasons.<br/> * '''[[Seiko (football)|Seiko]]''' (1978-79) '''1978-79''' In the season immediately after [[South China AA|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 AA|South China]], Seiko still became the Champion of the season. The draw matches were against [[Kui Tan]], [[Eastern AA|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 [[Hong Kong FA Cup|FA Cup]], losing to [[Yuen Long (football)|Yuen Long]] by penalty kicks.<br/> * '''[[Happy Valley AA|Happy Valley]]''' (1985-86, 2002-03#) '''1985-86''' [[Happy Valley AA|Happy Valley]] was unbeaten in the season, same as [[South China AA|South China]] (10 wins and 8 draws). However, [[Happy Valley AA|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.<br/> '''2002-03#''' Actually [[Happy Valley AA|Happy Valley]] was not unbeaten in this season according to the league tacble. The 'losing' match was against [[Fukien AA|Fukien]]. In that match, [[Happy Valley AA|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 AA|Happy Valley]] was penalized by losing 0-3.<br/> * '''[[Sun Hei]]''' (2002-03) '''2002-03''' [[Sun Hei]] became the fourth unbeaten team in the league history. However, with one point behind [[Happy Valley AA|Happy Valley]], it was just able to get a Runner-up prize. ===Top goal scorers=== References: <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hkfa.com/includes_files/board_details.php?news_id=4220 |title=甲組神射手回顧(上)|publisher=The HKFA website|language=Chinese}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hkfa.com/includes_files/board_details.php?news_id=4221 |title=甲組神射手回顧(下)|publisher=The HKFA website|language=Chinese}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goalgoalgoal.com/viewthread.php?tid=91046&page=2&fromuid=2479#pid1233165 |title=關於歷年一屆入波最多球員一問|publisher=GoalGoalGoal.com|language=Chinese}}</ref> *''' [[Ho Cheung Yau]] ({{zh-t|t=何祥友}}) (Largest number of goals)''' :Season: 1957&ndash;58 :Number of goals: 40 :Team: [[South China AA|South China]] * '''[[Dale Tempest]] (Most Times winning for Top Goal Scorer prize)''' Winning Seasons:1989-90, 1990-91, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95<br/> Total goals: more than 100<br/> Played Teams: [[Eastern AA|Eastern]], [[South China AA|South China]] * '''Yuen Kuen To (4 times Top Goal Scorer Runner-up)''' Runner-up seasons: 1967-68, 1968-69, 1971-72, 1972-73 ===Goalkeeper records=== References:<ref>[http://www.hkfa.com/includes_files/board_details.php?news_id=4351 HKFA Webpage] (in Chinese)(聯賽不失球紀錄的保持者─希福特)</ref> * '''[[Ian Hesford]] (Longest Clean Sheets)''' Record: 827 min <br/> Season: 1992-93 <br/> He assisted [[Eastern AA|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 AA|South China]] at the 17th minute. The goalscorer was [[Loh Wai Chi]]. ===Opening matches=== References:<ref>[http://www.hkfa.com/includes_files/board_details.php?news_id=4091 HKFA Webpage] (in Chinese)(甲組足球聯賽揭幕戰回顧(一))</ref><ref>[http://www.hkfa.com/includes_files/board_details.php?news_id=4094 HKFA Webpage] (in Chinese)(甲組足球聯賽揭幕戰回顧(二))</ref> * '''First Opening Match with last year's Champion vs Runner-up''' ''(1988-89)'' [[South China AA|South China]] 2:2(6:7 pen) [[Happy Valley AA|Happy Valley]] * '''Biggest Goal Difference''' ''(1992-93)'' [[Eastern AA|Eastern]] 5:0 [[South China AA|South China]] * '''Highest Scoring Game''' ''(1997-98)'' [[Double Flower|Instant-Dict]] 5:4 [[South China AA|South China]] * '''First Unrecognized Game''' ''(1998-99)'' [[Double Flower|Instant-Dict]] 2:2 [[South China AA|South China]] ''(original score)''<br/> As there was a suspended player played in [[Double Flower|Instant-Dict]]'s squad, the team was penalized by losing 0-3. ===Highest disclosed transfer fee records=== {| class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="2" style="border-collapse: collapse; text-align: center; margin: 0 auto;" |- style="background: #C1D8FF;" !Rank !Year !Player !Position !Transfer from !Transfer to !Transfer fee |- style="background: #D0E7FF;" |1 |[[2007]] |[[Chan Wai Ho]] (陳偉豪) |[[defender (football)|defender]] |[[Hong Kong Rangers FC|Rangers]] |[[South China AA|South China]] |HKD$400,000 |- style="background: #F5FAFF;" |2 |[[1996]] |[[Cheng Siu Chung Ricky]] (鄭兆聰) |[[midfielder]] |[[LD Alajuelense]] |[[South China AA|South China]] |USD$30,000 (about HKD$234,000) |- style="background: #D0E7FF;" |3 |[[1992]] |[[Tam Ar Fuk]] (譚亞福) |[[midfielder]] |[[Happy Valley AA|Happy Valley]] |[[Ernest Borel]] |HKD$140,000 |- style="background: #F5FAFF;" |4 |[[1972]] |[[Fok Pak Ning]] (霍柏寧) |[[defender (football)|defender]] |[[Sing Tao (football)|Sing Tao]] |[[Seiko (football)|Seiko]] |HKD$5,000 |- style="background: #D0E7FF;" |5 |[[1972]] |[[Au Wing Hung]] (區永鴻) |[[defender (football)|defender]] |[[Sing Tao (football)|Sing Tao]] |[[Seiko (football)|Seiko]] |HKD$3,000 |} ==Champions== {{main|Hong Kong football champions}} {|class="wikitable" |- !width=15% rowspan=2|Team !width=15% colspan=3|Champions !width=70% rowspan=2|Winning seasons |- !width=5%|Overall !width=5%|Before WWII !width=5%|After WWII |- |- |[[South China AA|South China]] |align=center|38 |align=center|9 |align=center|29 |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1923-24|1923&ndash;24]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1930-31|1930&ndash;31]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1932-33|1932&ndash;33]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1934-35|1934&ndash;35]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1935-36|1935&ndash;36]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1937-38|1937&ndash;38]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1938-39|1938&ndash;39]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1939-40|1939&ndash;40]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1940-41|1940&ndash;41]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1948-49|1948&ndash;49]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1950-51|1950&ndash;51]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1951-52|1951&ndash;52]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1952-53|1952&ndash;53]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1954-55|1954&ndash;55]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1956-57|1956&ndash;57]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1957-58|1957&ndash;58]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1958-59|1958&ndash;59]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1959-60|1959&ndash;60]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1960-61|1960&ndash;61]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1961-62|1961&ndash;62]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1965-66|1965&ndash;66]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1967-68|1967&ndash;68]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1968-69|1968&ndash;69]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1971-72|1971&ndash;72]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1973-74|1973&ndash;74]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1975-76|1975&ndash;76]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1976-77|1976&ndash;77]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1977-78|1977&ndash;78]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1985-86|1985&ndash;86]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1986-87|1986&ndash;87]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1987-88|1987&ndash;88]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1989-90|1989&ndash;90]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1990-91|1990&ndash;91]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1991-92|1991&ndash;92]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1996-97|1996&ndash;97]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1999-00|1999&ndash;00]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 2006-07|2006&ndash;07]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 2007-08|2007&ndash;08]] |- |[[Seiko SA|Seiko]] |align=center|9 |align=center|&ndash; |align=center|9 |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1972-73|1972&ndash;73]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1974-75|1974&ndash;75]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1978-79|1978&ndash;79]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1979-80|1979&ndash;80]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1980-81|1980&ndash;81]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1981-82|1981&ndash;82]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1982-83|1982&ndash;83]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1983-84|1983&ndash;84]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1984-85|1984&ndash;85]] |- |[[Happy Valley AA|Happy Valley]] |align=center|6 |align=center|&ndash; |align=center|6 |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1964-65|1964&ndash;65]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1988-89|1988&ndash;89]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1998-99|1998&ndash;99]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 2000-01|2000&ndash;01]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 2002-03|2002&ndash;03]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 2005-06|2005&ndash;06]] |- |[[Royal Garrison Artillery (football)|R.G.A.]] |align=center|5 |align=center|5 |align=center|0 |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1909-10|1909&ndash;10]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1912-13|1912&ndash;13]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1914-15|1914&ndash;15]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1915-16|1915&ndash;16]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1917-18|1917&ndash;18]] |- |[[Eastern AA|Eastern]] |align=center|4 |align=center|0 |align=center|4 |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1955-56|1955&ndash;56]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1992-93|1992&ndash;93]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1993-94|1993&ndash;94]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1994-95|1994&ndash;95]] |- |[[Chinese AA|C.A.A.]] |align=center|3 |align=center|3 |align=center|0 |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1927-28|1927&ndash;28]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1928-29|1928&ndash;29]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1929-30|1929&ndash;30]] |- |[[Kitchee SC|Kitchee]] |align=center|3 |align=center|0 |align=center|3 |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1947-48|1947&ndash;48]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1949-50|1949&ndash;50]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1963-64|1963&ndash;64]] |- |[[Sun Hei]] |align=center|3 |align=center|&ndash; |align=center|3 |[[Hong Kong First Division League 2001-02|2001&ndash;02]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 2002-03|2002&ndash;03]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 2003-04|2003&ndash;04]] |- |[[Buffs (football)|Buffs]] |align=center|2 |align=center|2 |align=center|0 |[[Hong Kong Football League 1908-09|1908&ndash;09]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1910-11|1910&ndash;11]] |- |[[King's Own Rifiles]] |align=center|2 |align=center|2 |align=center|&ndash; |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1911-12|1911&ndash;12]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1922-23|1922&ndash;23]] |- |[[South Welsh Borderers (football)|South Welsh Borderers]] |align=center|2 |align=center|2 |align=center|&ndash; |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1931-32|1931&ndash;32]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1933-34|1933&ndash;34]] |- |[[Kowloon Motor Bus Football Team|K.M.B.]] |align=center|2 |align=center|&ndash; |align=center|2 |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1953-54|1953&ndash;54]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1966-67|1966&ndash;67]] |- |[[Double Flower FA|Double Flower (Instant-Dict)]] |align=center|2 |align=center|&ndash; |align=center|2 |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1995-96|1995&ndash;96]], [[Hong Kong First Division League 1997-98|1997&ndash;98]] |- |[[Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (football)|D.C.L.I.]] |align=center|1 |align=center|1 |align=center|&ndash; |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1913-14|1913&ndash;14]] |- |[[Royal Engineers A.F.C.|Royal Engineers]] |align=center|1 |align=center|1 |align=center|0 |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1916-17|1916&ndash;17]] |- |[[Royal Navy (football)|Royal Navy]] |align=center|1 |align=center|1 |align=center|0 |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1918-19|1918&ndash;19]] |- |[[Hong Kong FC|HKFC]] |align=center|1 |align=center|1 |align=center|0 |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1919-20|1919&ndash;20]] |- |[[Wiltshire Regiment (football)|Wiltshire Regiment]] |align=center|1 |align=center|1 |align=center|&ndash; |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1920-21|1920&ndash;21]] |- |[[HMS Curiew (football)|HMS Curiew]] |align=center|1 |align=center|1 |align=center|&ndash; |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1921-22|1921&ndash;22]] |- |[[East Surrey Regiment (football)|East Surrey Regt.]] |align=center|1 |align=center|1 |align=center|&ndash; |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1924-25|1924&ndash;25]] |- |[[Kowloon FC]] |align=center|1 |align=center|1 |align=center|&ndash; |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1925-26|1925&ndash;26]] |- |[[Club de Recreio|Recreio]] |align=center|1 |align=center|1 |align=center|&ndash; |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1926-27|1926&ndash;27]] |- |[[Ulster Guards (football)|Ulster Guards]] |align=center|1 |align=center|1 |align=center|&ndash; |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1936-37|1936&ndash;37]] |- |[[Royal Air Force (football)|Royal Air Force]] |align=center|1 |align=center|0 |align=center|1 |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1945-46|1945&ndash;46]] |- |[[Sing Tao (football)|Sing Tao]] |align=center|1 |align=center|0 |align=center|1 |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1946-47|1946&ndash;47]] |- |[[Yuen Long (football)|Yuen Long]] |align=center|1 |align=center|&ndash; |align=center|1 |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1962-63|1962&ndash;63]] |- |[[Jardines (football)|Jardines]] |align=center|1 |align=center|&ndash; |align=center|1 |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1969-70|1969&ndash;70]] |- |[[Hong Kong Rangers FC|Rangers]] |align=center|1 |align=center|&ndash; |align=center|1 |[[Hong Kong First Division League 1970-71|1970&ndash;71]] |} ==See also== * [[The Hong Kong Football Association]] * [[Hong Kong national football team]] * [[Hong Kong Second Division League]] ==References and notes== {{reflist}} ==External links== *{{zh icon}} [http://www.hkfa.com/ The Hong Kong Football Association] *{{en icon}} [http://www.hkfa.com/en/ The Hong Kong Football Association] {{fb start}} {{Hong Kong First Division League}} {{Hong Kong football league system| level = 1 | promotion = '''None''' (Top Level) | relegation = [[Hong Kong Second Division League]]}} {{Football in Hong Kong}} {{AFC Leagues}} {{fb end}} [[Category:Hong Kong First Division League| ]] [[fr:Championnat de Hong Kong de football]] [[it:Campionato di calcio di Hong Kong]] [[ja:香港ファーストディビジョンリーグ]] [[zh:香港甲組足球聯賽]] [[zh-yue:香港甲組足球聯賽]]