| Countries | Hong Kong |
|---|---|
| Confederation | AFC |
| Founded | 1908 |
| Number of teams | 10 |
| Levels on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Hong Kong Second Division |
| Domestic cup(s) | Hong Kong Senior Shield Hong Kong FA Cup Hong Kong League Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Cup |
| Current champions | Kitchee (2010–11) |
| Most championships | South China (40) |
| Website | http://www.hkfa.com/en/ |
| 2011–12 season | |
Hong Kong First Division League (Chinese: 香港甲組聯賽) is the top division football league in Hong Kong which was established in 1908, the oldest in Asia. It does not affiliate to any football leagues in the People's Republic of China.
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There were two teams, The Army and The Police, that are not required to be relegated. The league explained that soldiers in The Army team were frequently redeployed to another country and hence it was very difficult to establish teamwork. The Police team were not required to be relegated as they supply the venue Police Sports and Recreation Club for the league.
Another relegation 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 on June 14, 2006.[1] The reason for exception was not disclosed. The public believed that this application was allowed probably because South China has a long history in the First Division League and it would otherwise be humiliating for the club to be relegated to the Second Division. Another reason is that other football clubs rely on the large fan base of South China to generate revenues. Relegation would have resulted in a lose-lose situation for all sides.
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), the league matches are played elsewhere. The First Division League games are usually played in Hong Kong Stadium or Mong Kok Stadium.
List of football facilities used in season 2008–09:
The following table is a list of stadiums of the clubs in 2011/2012.
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Biu Chun Rangers | Tsing Yi Sports Ground | 6,680 |
| Citizen | Mong Kok Stadium | 6,680 |
| Hong Kong Sapling | Kowloon Bay Park | 1,200 |
| Kitchee | Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground | 3,500 |
| NT Realty Wofoo Tai Po | Tai Po Sports Ground | 3,000 |
| Sham Shui Po | Sham Shui Po Sports Ground | 2,194 |
| South China | Hong Kong Stadium | 40,000 |
| Sun Hei | Mong Kok Stadium | 6,680 |
| TSW Pegasus | Yuen Long Stadium | 4,932 |
| Tuen Mun | Tuen Mun Tang Shiu Kin Sports Ground | 2,200 |
1As Mutual has withdrawn from 2011–12 Hong Kong First Division League, Hong Kong Sapling is formed to replace.
The following 10 clubs are competing in the Hong Kong First Division League during the 2011–12 season.
| Club |
Position in 2010–11 |
First season in top division |
Last title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biu Chun Rangers | 7th | 2008–09 | n/a |
| Citizen | 6th | 2004–05 | n/a |
| Hong Kong Sapling | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Kitchee | 1st | 1947–48 | 2010–11 |
| NT Realty Wofoo Tai Po | 5th | 2006–07 | n/a |
| Sham Shui Po | 1st, Second Division | n/a | n/a |
| South China | 2nd | 1918–19 | 2009–10 |
| Sun Hei | 4th | 1994–95 | 2004–05 |
| TSW Pegasus | 3rd | 2008–09 | n/a |
| Tuen Mun | 8th | 2010–11 | n/a |
1As Mutual has withdrawn from 2011–12 Hong Kong First Division League, Hong Kong Sapling is formed to replaced.
Since 1945 (i.e. after WWII, when HKFA has held a complete record of the competition), there are 4 teams which have remained unbeaten throughout the whole season.
1945–46 There were 10 teams in the First Division. Navy B finished as 4th with a result of 5 wins, 4 draws and 0 losses. Navy B became the first team to go unbeaten in all league and cup matches in a season.
1977–78 There were 12 teams in the First Division. South China finished as the Champions with a magnificent result of 20 wins, 2 draws and 0 losses. South China became the first team in the League to go unbeaten in a season. The two drawn matches were against Eastern and Tung Sing.
In 1985–86 there were 2 unbeaten teams in the league. Both South China and Happy Valley topped the league with 10 wins and 8 draws. South China won the league with a goal difference of +21 five goals better than the +16 held by Happy Valley. South China became the first team to hold a record of 2 unbeaten seasons.
1978–79 In the season immediately after 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, Seiko still became the Champion of the season. The draw matches were against Kui Tan, 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 FA Cup, losing to Yuen Long by penalty kicks.
1985–86 Happy Valley was unbeaten in the season, same as South China (10 wins and 8 draws). However, 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.
2002–03# Actually, according to the league table Happy Valley did not go unbeaten during this season. The 'losing' match was against Fukien. In that match, Happy Valley was originally the winning team. However, it was later discovered that an ineligible player was used during the game. Happy Valley was penalised with a 0–3 loss.
2002–03 Sun Hei became the fourth team to go the whole season without losing a game in the history of the league. However, they were only able to achieve a second place finish, one point behind Happy Valley.
References:[7]
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