Hong Kong Football Club
| Full name | Hong Kong Football Club Chinese: 香港足球會 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicknames | The Club, The Football Club | ||
| Founded | 12 February 1886 | ||
| Ground | Hong Kong Football Club Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 2,750 | ||
| Chairman | Neil Jensen | ||
| Manager | Cooke | ||
| League | Hong Kong Premier League | ||
| 2023–24 | Hong Kong Premier League, 7th | ||
| Website | www | ||
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Hong Kong Football Club (HKFC; Chinese: 香港足球會), established in 1886, is a private members' club in Hong Kong. The name reflects its origins as a club for playing association football and rugby.[1]
Situated in Happy Valley, the club's facilities are located adjacent to the Happy Valley Racecourse. The 2,750-capacity Hong Kong Football Club Stadium serves as the venue for the club's rugby and football matches and hosts most of the Hong Kong Rugby Union's international fixtures. It is also the venue for the HKFC International Rugby Tens and HKFC International Soccer Sevens tournaments.
The football section currently competes in the Hong Kong Premier League, the top tier of Hong Kong football. Unlike other clubs in the league which are fully professional, HKFC operates on a semi-professional model.
History
Hong Kong Football Club was founded in 1886 by Sir James Haldane Lockhart, following a meeting held at the Victoria Recreation Gymnasium on 12 February 1886.[2] The club played its first rugby union match on 16 February 1886, followed by its first association football match on 16 March 1886 against the Royal Engineers.[2]
The Hong Kong Sevens, one of the most prestigious rugby sevens tournaments in the world, was founded by the club and hosted at its stadium from 1976 until it moved to the larger Hong Kong Stadium in 1982.[3]
In 1995, as part of the Happy Valley Racecourse redevelopment, the club moved into a new 64,000 square metre facility. The main building is located outside the race track, while the sports pitches are situated within the infield.[2] In 2011, HKFC celebrated its 125th anniversary.
Current squad
As of 1 September 2024 Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club officials
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Neil Jensen |
| President | Nick Hunsworth |
| Director of Operations | Mark Cameron |
| Head Coach | Stephen Cooke |
| Assistant Coach | Stewart McInnes |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Justin Estrop |
| Team Manager | John Shanahan |
| Head Physiotherapist | Tegan McNaughton |
Managerial history
As of May 2024
| Name | Nat | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Tony Sealy | 1995–2016 | |
| Richard Eason | 2016–2018 | |
| Tony Sealy | 2018–2023 | |
| Stuart Montgomery | 2023–2024 | |
| Stephen Cooke | 2024–Present |
Honours
- Hong Kong First Division
- Champions (3): 1919–20, 2017–18, 2020–21
- Runners-up (3): 2014–15, 2015–16, 2018–19
- Hong Kong Second Division
- Champions (13): 1972–73, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09
- Hong Kong Senior Shield
- Champions (5): 1898–99, 1907–08, 1915–16, 1918–19, 1921–22
Senior leadership
The club is led by a President and a Chairman.
- President: Nick Hunsworth (2018–present)
- Chairman: Neil Jensen (2022–present)
References
- ^ "Oh Calcutta!!! — vandals 2013 tour" (PDF). hkfc.com. Hong Kong Football Club. 2 June 2013. pp. 14–16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ a b c Twydell, Dave (1994). The Little Red Book of Chinese Football. Yore Publications. ISBN 1-874427-80-1.
- ^ Denis, Way (2011). Along the Sports Road. The Hong Kong Football Club, its environs and personalities. ISBN 978-988-19772-1-2.