Japan Football League (1992–98)

Japan Football League
Founded 1992
Folded 1998
Country Japan Japan
Confederation AFC
Divisions 2 (1992–1993)
1 (1994–1998)
Number of teams 16
Level on pyramid 2–3 (1992–1993)
2 (1994–1998)
Feeder to J. League
Relegation to Japanese Regional Leagues
Domestic cup(s) Emperor's Cup
J. League Cup (associates)
Last champions Tokyo Gas
(1998)
Most championships 7 clubs
(1 title each)
For the league after 1999 (Nihon futtobōru Līgu (日本フットボールリーグ), referred to in this page as "the new JFL") see Japan Football League.
Vissel Kobe vs. NTT Kanto F.C. at Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium in 1995

The former Japan Football League (ジャパンフットボールリーグ, Japan Futtobōru Līgu) was an association football 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.

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 top two places in the Regional League promotion series. The initial configuration was two divisions of 10 clubs each, but from 1994, the format was changed to a single division of 16 clubs.

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.

Participating clubs

Division 1

Club Name First Season
in JFL		 Seasons
in JFL		 Home Town(s) First Season
in D2		 Seasons
in D2		 Last Spell
in D2		 Last JFL
Title		 Current
League
Albirex Niigata 1998 1 Niigata & Seiro, Niigata 1998 1 1998 — J1
Omiya Ardija 1994 5 Saitama, Saitama 1987/88 10 1994–1998 — J1
Shonan Bellmare 1992 2 Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 1990/91 4 1990/91–1993 1993 J2
Fukuoka Blux 1993 3 Fukuoka, Fukuoka 1991/92 4 1993–1995 1995 J2
Brummel Sendai 1995 4 Sendai, Miyagi 1995 4 1995–1998 — J1
Cerezo Osaka 1992 3 Osaka, Osaka 1991/92 4 1991/92–1994 1994 J1
Consadole Sapporo 1992 6 Sapporo, Hokkaido 1978 17 1992–1997 1997 J2
Cosmo Oil Yokkaichi 1994 3 Yokkaichi, Mie 1980 10 1994–1996 — Defunct
Denso SC 1996 3 Kariya, Aichi 1996 3 1996–1998 — Tōkai League D1
Kawasaki Frontale 1992 7 Kawasaki, Kanagawa 1972 20 1979–1998 — J1
Fukushima FC 1995 3 Fukushima, Fukushima 1995 3 1995–1997 — Defunct
Tosu Futures 1994 3 Tosu, Saga 1994 3 1994–1996 — Defunct
Mito HollyHock 1997 2 Mito, Ibaraki 1997 2 1997–1998 — J2
Honda Motors 1992 6 Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 1975 12 1994–1998 1996 JFL
Jatco SC 1997 2 Numazu, Shizuoka 1997 2 1997–1998 — Defunct
Kokushikan University 1998 1 Machida, Tokyo 1998 1 1998 — Kantō University League
Montedio Yamagata 1994 5 All cities/towns in Yamagata 1994 5 1994–1998 — J2
NKK SC 1992 1 Kawasaki, Kanagawa 1980 5 1991/92–1992 — Defunct
Otsuka FC Vortis Tokushima 1994 5 All cities/towns in Tokushima 1990/91 7 1994–1998 — J1
Kyoto Purple Sanga 1993 3 Southwestern cities/towns in Kyoto 1972 13 1993–1995 — J2
Kashiwa Reysol 1992 3 Kashiwa, Chiba 1987/88 6 1992–1994 — J1
Sagan Tosu 1997 2 Tosu, Saga 1997 2 1997–1998 — J1
Seino Transportation 1994 4 All cities/towns in Gifu 1985 7 1994–1997 — Defunct
Sony Sendai 1998 1 Miyagi 1998 1 1998 — JFL
Tokyo Gas 1992 7 Tokyo 1991/92 8 1991/92–1998 1998 J1
Oita Trinity 1996 3 Ōita, Ōita 1996 3 1996–1998 — J2
Ventforet Kofu 1994 5 All cities/towns in Yamanashi 1972 25 1994–1998 — J1
Vissel Kobe 1994 2 Kobe, Hyōgo 1986/87 9 1994–1995 — J1
Yamaha Motors 1992 2 Iwata, Shizuoka 1979 4 1992–1993 1992 J2

Division 2

Club Name First Season
in JFL D2		 Seasons
in JFL D2		 Home Town(s) Last Spell
in JFL D2		 Current
League
Fukuoka Blux 1992 1 Fujieda, Shizuoka 1992 J2
Cosmo Oil Yokkaichi 1992 2 Yokkaichi, Mie 1992–1993 Defunct
Honda Motors 1993 1 Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 1993 JFL
Kawasaki Steel 1992 2 Kurashiki, Okayama 1992–1993 J1
Kofu SC 1992 2 All cities/towns in Yamanashi 1992–1993 J1
Kyoto Shiko 1992 1 Southwestern cities/towns in Kyoto 1992 J2
NKK SC 1993 1 Kawasaki, Kanagawa 1993 Defunct
NTT Kanto 1992 2 Saitama, Saitama 1992–1993 J1
Osaka Gas 1992 1 Osaka, Osaka 1992 Osaka League D2B
PJM Futures 1993 1 Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 1993 Defunct
Seino Transportation 1992 2 All cities/towns in Gifu 1992–1993 Defunct
Tanabe Pharmaceuticals 1992 1 Osaka, Osaka 1992 Osaka League D3G
Toho Titanium 1992 2 Chigasaki, Kanagawa 1992–1993 Kantō League D2
Toyota Higashi-Fuji 1993 1 Shizuoka 1993 Defunct

Championship, promotion and relegation history

SeasonChampionsRunners-upPromoted to J. League after the seasonPromoted from Regional Leagues before the seasonRelegated to Regional Leagues after the season
1992[1]Div. 1-Yamaha
Div. 2-Chuo Bohan Fujieda		Div. 1-Hitachi S.C.
Div. 2-Kyoto Shiko Club		NoneOsaka Gas
Seino Transportation		Tanabe Pharmaceutical S.C.
Osaka Gas S.C.
1993[2]Div. 1-Bellmare Hiratsuka
Div. 2-Honda F.C.		Div. 1-Jubilo Iwata
Div. 2-PJM		Hiratsuka
Iwata		Toyota Higashifuji
PJM		Toho Titanium S.C.
NKK F.C. (disbanded)
Toyota Higashifuji (disbanded)
1994[3]Cerezo OsakaKashiwa ReysolCerezo
Kashiwa		NEC Yamagata S.C.None
1995[4]Fukuoka BluxKyoto Purple SangaFukuoka
Kyoto		Brummell Sendai
Fukushima F.C.		None
1996[5]Honda F.C.Vissel KobeKobeNippon Denso F.C.
Oita F.C.		Cosmo Oil Yokkaichi (disbanded)
Tosu Futures (disbanded)
1997[6]Consadole SapporoTokyo Gas F.C.SapporoPrima Ham F.C. Tsuchiura
Jatco F.C.
Sagan Tosu (new club, replaces Tosu Futures)		Fukushima F.C. (disbanded)
Seino Transportation F.C. (disbanded)
1998[7]Tokyo Gas F.C.Kawasaki FrontaleNoneAlbirex Niigata
Sony Sendai F.C.,
Kokushikan Univ. S.C. (recommended by Univ. Assoc.)		None
*The following clubs were admitted to the new J. League Division 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)

Most successful clubs

Club Winners Runners-up Winning seasons Runners-up seasons
Júbilo Iwata
1
1
 1992 1993
Tokyo Gas
1
1
 1998 1997
Bellmare Hiratsuka
1
0
 1993
Cerezo Osaka
1
0
 1994
Fukuoka Blux
1
0
 1995
Honda FC
1
0
 1996
Consadole Sapporo
1
0
 1997
Kashiwa Reysol
0
2
 1992, 1994
Kyoto Purple Sanga
0
1
 1995
Vissel Kobe
0
1
 1996
Kawasaki Frontale
0
1
 1998

References

  1. ↑ "Japan 1991/92". Rec.Sport.Soccer. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  2. ↑ "Japan 1993". Rec.Sport.Soccer. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "Japan 1994". Rec.Sport.Soccer. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "Japan 1995". Rec.Sport.Soccer. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  5. ↑ "Japan 1996". Rec.Sport.Soccer. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  6. ↑ "Japan 1997". Rec.Sport.Soccer. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "Japan 1998". Rec.Sport.Soccer. Retrieved 15 December 2014.

See also

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Japan Soccer League Second Division		 Second tier of Japanese football
1992-1998 		Succeeded by
J. League Division 2
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