Hindustan FC
Full name | Hindustan Football Club |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Hindustan |
Short name | HFC |
Founded | 1948 |
Ground | Ambedkar Stadium |
Capacity | 35,000 |
Manager | Abhijoy Basu |
League | FD Senior Division |
2021-22 | FD Senior Division, TBA |
Hindustan Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in New Delhi. Founded in 1948, the club usually participated in the I-League 2nd Division, the second tier of Indian football league system. They also participate in the FD Senior Division league, and plays at the Ambedkar Stadium.
History
Formation and early history
Hindustan FC was founded in 1948 in Delhi. Thus it became one of the oldest association football club from the capital city of India. The club has been affiliated with Delhi Soccer Association (DSA), and participated in the DSA Senior Division league (now known as FD Senior Division). They are one time champion of the league and lifted the title in 2001–02 season.
In November 2002, Hindustan participated in the inaugural edition of Delhi Lt. Governor's Cup and reached to the semi-finals. In 2007, Hindustan FC roped in their first foreign coach, Bernard Operanozie from Nigeria.
Present years
Hindustan Football Academy was started by the former club chairman D.K. Bose, and they roped in Spanish professional coach Óscar Bruzón on board for a period of two years to train Delhi's budding footballers in the age group of under-12 and under-16.
Hindustan FC, founded just after the independence of India, have been the flag bearers from the capital in the second tier of Indian football, having participated for a record 14 times. They also participated in the 2014 I-League 2nd Division and moved to the Final Round of I-League Qualifiers, finishing on fifth position with four points in eight matches.
Though their biggest achievement is finishing as the runners-up in the 2017–18 I-League 2nd Division, under the coaching of Vikrant Sharma. In the 2018–19 I-League 2nd Division, Hindustan finished at the bottom of the Group A and bowed out of the tournament.
The club has participated in the 2021 FD Senior Division.
Stadium
Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi used to be the clubs' home ground of for the DSA Senior Division. It has also hosted I-League 2nd Division matches for the club. It has a capacity of 35,000 spectators.
Rivalries
Hindustan FC have nurtured rivalries with other DSA Senior Division clubs, predominantly with Garhwal FC, Simla Youngs, Indian Air Force FC, New Delhi Heroes, Sudeva Moonlight. Besides the state league, they faced one another in prestigious Durand Cup tournament, organized by the Indian Armed Forces.
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
---|---|---|
1996—1998 | Phoenix Shoes | |
1998—2000 | LML | |
2000—2003 | Electrolux | |
2003—2005 | Coca-Cola India | |
2005—2006 | ||
2006—2008 | Group 4 Securicor | |
2008—2010 | ONGC | |
2010—2012 | SAIL | |
2012—2014 | Lotto | Solutrean |
2014—2020 | Cosco | Hero |
Women's team
On 29 November 2012, Hindustan FC launched its women's team with the unveiling of team jersey. At a press conference, Hindustan president Sushil Pandit said that the decision to launch the team was in line with the club philosophy to support women’s football.
"Delhi Soccer Association is looking to start its women's league and Hindustan FC would not want to be left behind,"
Sushil Pandit, President of Hindustan FC, after launching their women's team ahead of the Delhi Women's League in 2012.
The women's team competes in the Delhi Women's Football League, organised by Football Delhi (formerly known as Delhi Soccer Association (DSA)).
Hindustan FC U19
In 2013, Hindustan FC launched it's U19 team to participate in the Elite League (India). The U19 team was from Delhi zone and first participated in the league during the 2014–15 I-League U19 season (group D – rest of India) and moved to final round.
Honours
League
- I-League 2nd Division
- Runners-up (1): 2017–18
- DSA Senior Division
- Champions (2): 2001–02, 2008–09
- Runners-up (5): 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002–03, 2005
Cup
- Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup
- Runners-up (1): 1995
Notable former players
For current and former notable Hindustan FC players with a Wikipedia article, see: Hindustan FC players.
Managerial history
- Monoranjan Bhattacharya (2008–2009)
- Abhijoy basu (2015–2017)
- Vikrant Sharma (2017–2018)
- Sena Sena (2018–2020)
- Pushpender Kundu (2021–present)