Japan Football League (former)
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- In Japan's football history, there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different. One (ジャパンフットボールリーグ Japan futtobōru Rīgu?) does not exists any more and is the subject of this article while the other (日本フットボールリーグ Nihon futtobōru Rīgu?) is still alive and kicking. In this page, the former is referred to as "the former JFL," and the latter as "the new JFL."
The former Japan Football League (ジャパンフットボールリーグ Japan Futtobōru Rīgu?) was a football (soccer) league that existed from 1992 to 1998. Also known as the JFL, it was the 2nd tier of the Japanese football hierarchy following J. League.
[edit] History
When the Japan Football Association decided to found a professional football league, the Japan Soccer League (JSL), the top-flight league until the 1991/92 season, was reorganised into two newly formed leagues. One was the Japan Professional Football League as known as J. League, the first-ever professional football league in Japan. The other was the former Japan Football League.
Out of twenty eight clubs who were the members of the JSL division 1 and 2, nine along with independent Shimizu S-Pulse formed J. League, one (Yomiuri Junior) was merged with their parent club, and the other eighteen chose not to be professional, at least at that time. They played the inaugural 1992 season of the former JFL together with Osaka Gas and Seino Transportation, the winners of the regional league play-offs.
The former JFL ceased to exist at the end of the 1998 season when J. League Division 2 was formed. Out of 16 teams who played the last season of the former JFL, 9 decided and were accepted to play in J2 and the other 7 teams joined the new JFL.
[edit] Results
| Season | Champions | Runners-up | Promoted to J. League after the season | Promoted from Regional Leagues before the season | Relegated to Regional Leagues after the season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Div. 1-Yamaha Div. 2-Chuo Bohan Fujieda |
Div. 1-Hitachi S.C. Div. 2-Kyoto Shiko Club |
None | Toyota Higashifuji, PJM | Tanabe Pharmaceutical S.C., Osaka Gas S.C. |
| 1993 | Div. 1-Bellmare Hiratsuka Div. 2-Honda F.C. |
Div. 1-Jubilo Iwata Div. 2-PJM |
Shonan, Iwata | NEC Yamagata S.C. | Toho Titanium S.C., NKK F.C. (disbanded), Toyota Higashifuji (disbanded) |
| 1994 | Cerezo Osaka | Kashiwa Reysol | Cerezo, Kashiwa | Brummell Sendai, Fukushima F.C. | None |
| 1995 | Fukuoka Blux | Kyoto Purple Sanga | Fukuoka, Kyoto | Nippon Denso F.C., Oita F.C. | None |
| 1996 | Honda F.C. | Vissel Kobe | Kobe | Prima Ham F.C. Tsuchiura, Jatco F.C. | Cosmo Oil Yokkaichi (disbanded) |
| 1997 | Consadole Sapporo | Tokyo Gas F.C. | Sapporo | Albirex Niigata, Sony Sendai F.C., Kokushikan Univ. S.C. (recommended by Univ. Assoc.) |
Fukushima F.C. (disbanded), Seino Transportation F.C. (disbanded) |
| 1998 | Tokyo Gas F.C. | Kawasaki Frontale | *The following clubs were accepted by J. League Div. 2 Brummell Sendai (Vegalta Sendai), Montedio Yamagata, Omiya Ardija, Tokyo Gas F.C. (F.C. Tokyo), Kawasaki Frontale, Ventforet Kofu, Albirex Niigata, Sagan Tosu, Oita F.C. (Oita Trinita) |
