Hong Kong FC (football)

The football section of Hong Kong Football Club (Abbreviation: HKFC; Chinese: 香港足球會) fields a range of teams at various age divisions in the Hong Kong leagues.[1] The first team currently competes in the Hong Kong Premier League.[2]

HKFC
港會
Full nameHong Kong Football Club
Nickname(s)Chinese: 港會
Short nameHKFC
FoundedFebruary 12, 1886 (1886-02-12)
GroundHong Kong Football Club Stadium
Capacity2,750
ChairmanMark Grainger
Head coachTony Hamilton-Bram
LeagueHong Kong Premier League
2022–23HKPL, 6th

History

While the football team has won many titles in the second-tier competition in recent years, they have rarely enjoyed success when playing against professional sides in the First Division. In 1980 however, the club managed to avoid relegation from the professional First Division for the first time in their history. One of the highlights of the season was a 1–1 draw with eventual champions Seiko SA. On 10 May 1980 at the HK Government Stadium CLUB defeated Kui Tan 1–0 with an 87th-minute penalty scored by John McGunnigle, meaning Kui Tan joined Yuen Long in the drop that year.

In the past few years, HKFC opted not to take promotion to the First Division. In 2006, finally, the club accepted the promotion after winning the Second Division. After showing initial promise, they lost 4 league matches in a row between March and April 2007 and were relegated to the Second Division. They did however become champions of the Second Division again in April 2010 and returned to the First Division. Therefore, HKFC is known as the yo-yo club in Hong Kong.

2016–17 Season

In 2016, two years after the establishment of the fully professional Hong Kong Premier League, HKFC finally decided to seek promotion to the top flight after finishing as runners-up behind Tai Po in the 2015–16 season. Their stay in the top flight only lasted a single season. Their first HKPL season saw them only collect 2 wins and 6 points in 20 league games and saw themselves finishing bottom of the league with a staggering -64 goal difference. The club also recorded one of the biggest losses in their history with a 10-0 thumping to Kitchee,[3] becoming the highest scoring match of the season.

HKFC won the First Division for the first time in a century during the 2017–18 season, going unbeaten throughout the entire league campaign. The club declined promotion as they did not want to field a professional side.[4][5]

2021–22 Season

After being crowned champions of the 2020–21 Hong Kong First Division League, on 19 August 2021, HKFC accepted the HKFA's invitation to be promoted to the 2021–22 Hong Kong Premier League, after the withdrawals of Happy Valley and Pegasus, having last appeared five years ago in the 2016–17 season.[6][7][8] The team then signed experienced players such as Brian Fok, To Chun Kiu, Oliver Laxton and Chris Chung to add quality to the squad in pre-season.[9] Following the season being cut-off by the COVID-19 Pandemic, the club by then had recorded a 6th-place finish in the league with 4 rounds in and 1 point. A poor showing in the Sapling Cup and FA Cup did not help much as they lacked quality.

2022–23 Season

Prior to the start of the 2022-23 Hong Kong Premier League, the club announced the crucial signings of striker Paul Ngue,[10] others such as Alex Dujardin, Siu Ka Ming, Ng Tsz Chung, Emmet Wan, and Jack Sealy were brought in to help restructure the senior squad and increase their chances of survival.[11][12] The club then bid farewell to goalkeeper To Chun Kiu, who left for fellow Premier League club Sham Shui Po and defender Brian Fok who retired.[13] A number of youth talents from the club's youth teams were promoted, notably Timothy Chow, Raphael Merkies [14] and goalkeeper Justin Fung.

The team would collect all 3 points in their season opener to Sham Shui Po in a 1–0 victory with a penalty scored by Paul Ngue to settle the score.[15] HKFC, however, fell short in their second game as they fell to a 5-0 thumping by Kitchee in the Senior Challenge Shield.[16] HKFC then saw the arrival of experienced attacking player Paulinho joining the team with him making his debut in a historical 4-2 comeback to Tai Po FC in a 2022-23 Sapling Cup game, scoring twice and assisting Henry Moore for the equalizing goal.[17][18]

On February 5, 2023, goalkeeper Freddie Toomer became the first goalkeeper in the Hong Kong Premier League history to score a goal as he netted an acrobatic bicycle kick in the 90+6 minute to help the club equalize and salvage a point in a 1–1 draw to Resources Capital.[19] The match between Kitchee and HKFC at HKFC Stadium became the first game in the club's history to become a sellout, however, HKFC came on the losing end in a 3-0 humbling.[20]

Following the club's 2–0 victory over Sham Shui Po on 19 February 2023, the club broke their records as they recorded a 21-point finish following the game, breaking the former record of 20 points in the top-tier league way back in 1963.[21] Following their 1–0 loss to Eastern and the confirmation of their final league position, it was announced that another record had been broken as they had made history by finishing in 6th place, 5 places above the original record of 11th place back in the 2016–17 Hong Kong Premier League season. The club then finished the season on a high with a 2–1 victory over Southern with goals from Thiago and Timothy Chow sealing the victory, the match was also the final professional game for club legend Freek Schipper and veteran striker Shunsuke Nakamura.

Star goalkeeper Freddie Toomer's overhead equalizer against RCFC would win goal of the season from WELOVEHKPL.[22]

2023–24 Season

Prior to the start of the 2023–24 season, the club said farewell to Raphaël Merkies and Alexandre Dujardin.[23][24] Yue Yixing was also revealed to have joined HK U23 on a free transfer in search of gametime.[25] Jahangir Khan was then leaked to have signed for the club [26][27] following a Hong Kong national team call-up announcement. In addition to Khan, the club also secured signings of former Southern defender Lau Hok Ming,[28][29] Harima Hirokane, Jordon Brown on loan from Kitchee along with young players Lee Chun Yin, Maddox Kong, Stefan Antonic[30] and Calum Bloxham to their ranks. Foreigners Dominic Johns who was formerly on trial with fellow HKPL club Eastern[31] was signed alongside Costa Rican-English defender Felix Perez-Doyle.[32]

The team would fall miserably to Kitchee in a 8-0 thrashing on season opening,[33][34] goalkeeper Issey Maholo was also forced off the pitch due to injury and on came striker Paul Ngue having to step up to go in goal due to the team having no reserve goalkeeper.[35]

HKFC Soccer Sevens

The team is known outside Hong Kong for being the host of the annual HKFC Soccer Sevens youth-team seven-a-side tournament which attracts high-profile teams such as Manchester United, Aston Villa and Celtic.

Following a 3-year postponement, it was announced the soccer sevens would make a return in 2023, with teams such as Brighton, Fulham, and Glasgow Rangers youth teams invite to the tournament.[36] Les Ferdinand was also invited as the main guest of the drawing of teams during the 2023 edition of the tournament. He was spotted overseeing youth teams of HKFC and even interacted with some of the youth players.

Stadium

Hong Kong Football Club Stadium
Main article: Hong Kong Football Club Stadium

The stadium was situated adjacent to the racecourse. But in 1995, as part of a redevelopment of the racecourse, the club moved into a brand new, 64,000 square meter, purpose-built home, with the main building being outside the race track, and the main pitch, all-weather hockey pitch, bowling green, and sports bar being inside the racetrack.[37] The stadium is currently used for the club's youth pathways teams, senior and youth rugby team and also serves as the home stadium of Lucky Mile FC. Aside from hosting regular league games, the stadium is also the host stadium of the annual HKFC Soccer Sevens which is a seven-a-side tournament with teams joining all over the world.

The stadium holds a home sellout record of 1,720 sold tickets during the 3–0 defeat of HKFC against Kitchee in the 2022–23 Hong Kong Premier League season.[38]

Pitchside view of the HKFC Stadium, October 2022

Players

Current Squad
As of 15 September 2023

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK England ENG Freddie Toomer FP
2 DF Hong Kong HKG Timothy Chow
3 DF Costa Rica CRC Félix Pérez-Doyle FP
4 DF Hong Kong HKG Lau Hok Ming
5 DF England ENG Martin Fray (captain) FP
6 MF Hong Kong HKG Lee Chun Yin
7 MF Australia AUS Dominic Johns FP
8 MF Scotland SCO Marcus McMillan FP
9 FW Hong Kong HKG Hirokane Harima
10 MF Brazil BRA Jean Maciel FP
11 FW Hong Kong HKG Maddox Kong
12 FW Japan JPN Toshihiro Murakoshi FP
16 MF Hong Kong HKG Emmet Wan
17 FW Brazil BRA Gustavo Henrique FP
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 DF Hong Kong HKG Jack Sealy
19 FW Hong Kong HKG Jahangir Khan
20 DF Hong Kong HKG Siu Ka Ming
23 DF Hong Kong HKG Jordon Brown (on loan from Kitchee)
24 DF Serbia SRB Stefan Antonić LP
25 FW Hong Kong HKG Paul Ngue
26 FW Brazil BRA Léo FP
30 FW Hong Kong HKG Paulinho
31 MF Hong Kong HKG Calum Bloxham
47 FW Hong Kong HKG Daniel Man
81 GK Germany GER Justin Estlinbaum FP
85 GK Japan JPN Issey Maholo FP
88 GK France FRA Gilles Meyer FP
91 FW Brazil BRA Thiago FP

Remarks:
LP These players are considered as local players in Hong Kong domestic football competitions.
FP These players are registered as foreign players.

Club officials

Soccer Section Committee
Position Staff
ChairmanMark Grainger
CaptainGraeme Lane
RepresentativeNigel Merritt
SecretaryJun Li
TreasurerAudrey Menard
Membership SecretaryIvan Hung
Social Convener Mia Williams
Communications Officer Adrian Martin
Section Coach England Tony Hamilton-Bram
First Team Representative England Martin Fray
Lucky Mile Representative Japan Shinnosuke Kawasaki
Junior Soccer Representative Nam Nguyen

Coaching Staff
Position Staff
Head CoachEngland Tony Hamilton-Bram
Team managerEngland Stewart Montgomery
Coach Hong Kong John Pimlott
Goalkeeping CoachHong Kong Justin Wah
Technical CoachEngland Stephen Tucker-Roberts
Academy Director South Africa Chancy Cooke

Citation [39]

Sponsors
Kit Supplier Main Sponsor Youth Section Sponsor Soccer Sevens Sponsor
Germany Adidas Hong Kong The Executive Center Hong Kong AIA Hong Kong Citibank

Season-to-season record
Season Tier Division Teams Position Home Stadium Attendance/G FA Cup Senior Shield League Cup Sapling Cup
2004–05 2 Second Division 12 1 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium – – –
2005–06 2 Second Division 13 1 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium – – –
2006–07 1 First Division 10 9 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium 346 Quarter-finals Quarter-finals Group Stage
2007–08 2 Second Division 10 2 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium – – –
2008–09 2 Second Division 10 3 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium – – –
2009–10 2 Second Division 9 1 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium – –
2010–11 1 First Division 10 10 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium 327 First Round Semi-finals First Round
2011–12 2 Second Division 12 3 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium – – –
2012–13 2 Second Division 11 5 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium – –
2013–14 2 Second Division 12 3 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium Round of 16 –
2014–15 2 First Division 15 2 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium – – –
2015–16 2 First Division 14 2 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium – – – –
2016–17 1 Premier League 11 11 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium 387 First Round Quarter-finals First Round
2017–18 2 First Division 14 1 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium – – –
2018–19 2 First Division 14 2 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium – – –
2019–20 2 First Division 14 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium – – –
2020–21 2 First Division 14 1 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium –
2021–22 1 Premier League 8 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium 489
2022–23 1 Premier League 10 6 Hong Kong Football Club Stadium 825 Quarter-finals First Round Group Stage

Note:

  1st or Champions   2nd or Runner-up   3rd place   Promotion   Relegation

Affiliated clubs

Lucky Mile is the B or second team of the HKFC Soccer Section and has used the club's membership since the late 1990s. [40] The club now competes in the Hong Kong Second Division and is led by coach Rich Le-Gallez alongside assistant managers Leung King Yu and Ko Chun.

Honours

League

Cup Competitions

Head coaches

See also

References
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