Rangers FC Lahore
| Full name | Rangers Football Club |
|---|---|
| Short name | RFC |
| Founded | c. 1940s |
| League | Lahore District Football League |
Rangers Football club was a Pakistani football club based in Lahore. Founded in the 1940s, the club was among the prominent teams in Lahore during the pre-partition and early post-independence period. Rangers Club also had the services of prominent players including Jamil Akhtar, Muhammad Sharif, among others.
History
Early years (1940s)
The club emerged in the 1940s, and quickly established itself as one of the leading teams in the region. In the 1940s, the club, which was a part of the North-West India Football Association.[1] The team participated in the Lahore Football League,[2][3] as well as several domestic tournaments.[4][5][6]
In 1943, the club reached the final of the 11th edition of the North-West India Football Championship, organized by the North-West India Football Association, where they went up against Bata Sports Club, the final would result in a 0–3 loss for the Rangers Club.[7][8] The following year, the team reached the semi-finals of the Lahore District Football Championship, but were defeated by R.T.C. Walton four goals to nil.[9] The team also reached the final of the "Olympians Hot Weather Football Tournament", however, lost against the stronger side Bata Sports once again.[10]
In 1946, the club avenged their loss from the previous year, securing the "Olympians Hot Weather Football Tournament", where they defeated Islamia College in the replayed final.[11] Three years later, the club, alongside the likes of Muhammad Sharif, reached the final of the Lahore District Football Championship, where they secured the championship, defeating Bata Sports 2–1.[12]
Local growth (1950s)
In 1950, with the addition of star forward Jamil Akhtar, the team was greatly strengthened, however, they did not achieve much, as they finished runners-up behind rivals, Raiders FC at the Iqbal Football Tournament. With the final taking place on 4 December 1950, where both teams competed against each other, with the Raiders taking the edge and defeating their Rangers 1–0 through a free kick.[13] The subsequent year, the team won the Lahore District Soccer Championship.[14] The club would then continue to participate in the Lahore District Football League.
In 1957, the club participated in the "M.D. Sheikh Football Tournament".[15][16][17] They were eventually beaten by Olympians Club, allowing their opponents to advance into the quarter-finals.[18] Later the same year, the team also competed at the Governor's Cup held at Murree, Punjab.[19][20]
Gradual Decline and later years (1960s)
In 1962, a new set of office-bearers were appointed at the annaul general meeting of the Rangers Club held under the chairmanship of M. Aslam Chaudhry, the meeting was held on 18 August 1962, the office-bearers elected were: M. Aslam Chaudhry as chairman, Mr. Aslam Khan, and Mr. Niaz as vice-presidents, with secretary being Fazal Akbar Baig, assistant-Secretary being Mr. Khushi Muhammad and treasurer as Mr. Ehsanullah.[21] The following year, the club came runners-up in the league final behind Rovers FC, after a late winner scored six minutes before the end of the game.[22][23]
The club would then go on to continue in tournaments held across Pakistan.[24][25]
Honours
Domestic
- Olympians Hot Weather Football Tournament
- Winners (1): 1946
- Runners-up (1): 1944
- Lahore District Football Championship
- Winners (1): 1949, 1951
- Lahore Football League
- Runners-up (1): 1950
- North-West India Football Championship
- Runners-up (1): 1943
References
- ^ "N.W. I. FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION List of Disaffiliated Clubs". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 1 May 1941.
- ^ "LAHORE FOOTBALL LEAGUE". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 17 May 1945.
- ^ "DRAWN GAME". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 7 December 1943.
- ^ "BAHAWALPUR TEAM BEATEN". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 14 August 1941.
- ^ "IQBAL MEMORIAL FOOTBALL". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 27 October 1944.
- ^ "FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT AT MONTGOMERY". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 13 April 1949.
- ^ "Sport in Brief". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 22 June 1943.
- ^ "Sport in Brief". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 6 July 1943.
- ^ "Sport in Brief". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 12 January 1944.
- ^ "BATA SPORTS WIN SOCCER FINAL Olympians Tournament in Lahore". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 3 July 1945.
- ^ "Football RANGERS WIN TROPHY Islamia College Lose in Replay". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. July 1946.
- ^ "RANGERS AGAIN SECURE SOCCER FINAL Bata Club Beaten by 2-1". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 22 February 1949.
- ^ "RAIDERS WIN IQBAL SOCCER TOURNAMENT (C. & M. G. Sports Report)". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 5 December 1950.
- ^ "Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) - Thursday 07 June 1951". Retrieved 28 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "WIN FOR RANGERS IN M.D. SHEIKH SOCCER TOURNEY C. & M. G. Sports Report". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 28 February 1957.
- ^ "TODAY'S SPORTS FIXTURES". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 27 February 1957.
- ^ "OLYMPIANS DRAW WITH RANGERS". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 6 March 1957.
- ^ "OLYMPIANS WALK INTO QUARTER-FINAL M.D. Sheikh Soccer Tournament". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 7 March 1957.
- ^ "RANGERS LEAVING FOR MURREE TODAY". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 16 June 1957.
- ^ "Rangers Win Tie In Governor's Cup Soccer". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 18 June 1957.
- ^ "Rangers Football Club Office-bearers By Our Sports Reporter". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 19 August 1962.
- ^ "Lahore Dist. Soccer final today, By Our Sports Reporter". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 9 May 1963.
- ^ "LAHORE DIST. SOCCER CONCLUDES". britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. 10 May 1963.
- ^ "Lahore Rangers Beaten". gpa.eastview.com. 8 May 1964. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ "Gen. Musa Football". gpa.eastview.com. 18 August 1967. Retrieved 6 February 2026.