United Sikkim FC

United Sikkim FC is an Indian professional football club based in Gangtok, Sikkim.[1] Incorporated in 2011,[2][3] the club usually competed in Sikkim Premier Division League.[4][5] United Sikkim is the only club from Sikkim to have played in I-League,[6][7][8] which was then top tier of Indian football league system.[9][10][11]

United Sikkim FC
Full nameUnited Sikkim Football Club
Nickname(s)The Snow Lions
Short nameUSFC
Founded2011 (2011)
GroundPaljor Stadium
Bhaichung Stadium (selected matches)
Capacity30,000
OwnerBhaichung Bhutia
Head coachKamal Bagdas
LeagueSikkim Premier Division League

Nicknamed the "Snow Lions",[12] United Sikkim uses Paljor Stadium as home ground.[13] It is owned by former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia,[14] and was founded in order to give people of the Indian state of Sikkim a professional football team.[15] In September 2019, Bhaichung Bhutia announced shutting the club down due to some unavoidable circumstances.[16] During an emotional farewell event, Bhaichung Bhutia thanked all the players and support staff besides the fans who supported the club over the years.[17]

The club was revived again in January 2021, with aim to play in the Indian Super League.[18] Manager Arjun Rai said on Monday that besides inaugurating the senior and youth team, emphasis would be laid on bringing footballers from the villages.[19]

History

Foundation

The professional club was founded in 2011,[20] by Sikkim Football Association (SFA) and Baichung Bhutia,[21][22][23] already competing in the Sikkim Gold Cup and other all-India tournaments for the early years of their existence.[2] On 22 March 2011, the club was launched as a professional, which would be co-owned by Dubai-based Fidelis World, former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia and Indian singer Shankar Mahadevan.[15][24] The club revealed that they would compete in the 2011 I-League 2nd Division,[25] in the quest for promotion to the I-League within the next three years.[15][26]

2011–2012: 2nd Division seasons

The club started their quest for the I-League on 27 February 2011,[27] when they signed Liberian international Johnny Menyongar from NSC Minnesota Stars of the North American Soccer League in the United States.[28] The club played their first match of the 2011 I-League 2nd Division against Langsning F.C. on 31 March 2012, in which they drew 2–2.[29] United Sikkim won their first match of the season five days later, on 5 April 2011 against North Imphal Sporting Association at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Assam, by a score of 2–0.[30] The club finished in first place in group A of the first round of the I-League 2nd Division and thus qualified for the 2011 I-League 2nd Division final round, in which they only needed to finish in the top two for promotion.[31] The club began Final round with three consecutive draws against Sporting Clube de Goa, Royal Wahingdoh and Shillong Lajong, before winning two matches in a row against Mohammedan and Southern Samity. Next, a draw to Ar-Hima and a loss to Vasco officially knocked United Sikkim out of contention for promotion and forced them to settle on fifth place for the season.[32]

The season including the 2012 I-League 2nd Division did not start well for United Sikkim. On 11 June 2011, it was announced that Johnny Menyongar would leave the club to join I-League team Shillong Lajong, as well as Indian internationals Renedy Singh and NS Manju few months later.[33][34] However, after firing coach Stanley Rozario, United Sikkim signed Belgian Philippe De Ridder as coach of the team.[35][36] The club re-signed Nigerian players Daniel Bedemi and Quinton Jacobs for the season. They then began charge for the I-League for the second season in a row with a 3–2 victory over Bhawanipore F.C. at the Satindra Mohan Dev Stadium in Assam on 2 February 2012.[37] The club went on to win three more matches during the first round of the I-League 2nd Division against Eagles, Southern Samity and Ar-Hima in order to qualify for the final round.[38] They won promotion on the last day of the season on 17 April 2012 at the Paljor Stadium in front of 30,000 fans, as United Sikkim drew Mohammedan 1–1, with Daniel Bedemi scoring.[39]

On 13 November 2012, Bhutia was named the interim manager to replace Belgian Philippe De Ridder,[40] after the club's heavy 1–10 defeat in an I-League match against Prayag United on 10 November 2012 at the Salt Lake Stadium.[41]

2012–2013: I-League

Later it was initially reported that United Sikkim had started talks with Australian manager Nathan Hall about a possible head coaching role at the club.[42] On 10 December 2012, it was officially confirmed by United Sikkim that Hall had joined the club as its new head coach, replacing interim player-coach Bhaichung Bhutia.[43] His first game as head coach of the club in the league came on 15 December against Mumbai at the Balewadi Sports Complex in which United Sikkim lost 0–1.[44] Hall then managed to earn his first point as head coach in his next match against ONGC on 29 December in which his side drew 1–1 at the Ambedkar Stadium with Nadong Bhutia scoring the first goal for United Sikkim under Hall.[45]

United Sikkim did not win a single game under Hall until 27 March 2013 in which his side managed a 5–0 victory over forced-relegated side Air India at the Paljor Stadium.[46] This would turn out to be United Sikkim's last win and points for the rest of the season as the side lost its last four matches after this one and were thus relegated to the I-League 2nd Division.

2013: Travel to Bhutan

In March 2013, United Sikkim went to Bhutan for training. In their first foreign tour, they played three friendly matches against local sides Drukpol, Yeedzin and Zimdra at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimpu.[47]

From July to August, they went to Bhutan again and participated in 2013 King's Cup,[48][49] in which they moved to the knockout stages. In the first semi-final, United Sikkim lost 2–4 to Manang Marshyangdi of Nepal.[50]

2014: I-League 2nd Division

They also participated in the 2014 I-League 2nd Division and moved to the final round of I-League Qualifiers,[51] finishing on fourth position[52][53] with seven points in eight matches.[54][55]

2014–2018

On 18 December 2014, it was revealed by owner Bhaichung Bhutia that United Sikkim had decided to leave the competition as future of the I-League was dim due to the formation of ISL, and thus team would only participate in the local league.[56][57] In 2016, they took part in Bordoloi Trophy in Assam.[58]

In February 2018, United Sikkim went to Nepal and participated in the 16th edition of Aaha! Rara Gold Cup, in which they failed to reach the knock-out stages.[59][60]

2020–present

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) was all set to invite bids for vacant spot in the I-League and Gangtok-based United Sikkim Football Club were one of the front-runners to submit it for 2020–21 season. However, the bid was won by Sudeva Moonlight (currently Sudeva Delhi) from Delhi.[61][62]

United Sikkim was the club that brought the I-League to the state where league matches were played at Paljor Stadium, and now we want to bring Indian Super League (ISL) to Sikkim. We will continue to give a platform to footballers from Sikkim and the region and in the process, contribute to the development of Indian football. The players will be scouted from different parts of the region

— Bhaichung Bhutia, owner of the club, announcing the revival of United Sikkim in January 2021, and their long-term plan in coming years.[63]

In 2021, Bhaichung Bhutia, the owner of the club announced that it will revive its junior and senior teams while aiming to bring the Indian Super League (ISL) into the state, alongside focusing on its grassroots.[63] They later took part in Birat Gold Cup in Nepal, in 2021.[64][65] The club later featured in SFA Premier Division League.[66][67][68]

Crest, colours & kits
United Sikkim's first crest from 2011 to 2012
United Sikkim's second crest in 2012
logo until 2021

On 22 March 2011, the first kit and crest of United Sikkim were unveiled at Taj Hotel in Kolkata.[69] The club crest had a picture of a snow lion,[70] which is also their mascot, and the color of the kit was red with white shorts.[69] The club's away colors are dark and light blue.[71] On 29 August 2012, after gaining promotion to the I-League, the club unveiled their new crest which is dominantly red, unlike orange crests from before. Instead of having "est. 2008" for the founding year, new crest has "est. 2011", which stands for the year when professionalized itself.[72]

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Tracksuit uniform
2011 Nike[57] EMTA[73]
2012 URO[74]
2013–2018 Kokkivo Clothing[75]
2018–2019 Lotto[76] Officer's Choice[77]
2021–2022 Cosco
2022– Silco Made in Sikkim, G.O.A.T.

Stadium
A view of Paljor Stadium

For their first season in the I-League, the club announced that they would play all their home matches at the 30,000 seater Paljor Stadium in the capital of Sikkim,[78] Gangtok.[79][80][81][82] When the club was participating in amateur tournaments from 2008 to 2011, and the I-League 2nd Division from 2011 to 2012,[83][84] in which they would play in neutral venues, the club used Paljor Stadium as a training ground, holding majority of their practices there.[85]

Seats at Paljor Stadium

However, despite the I-League 2nd Division being a neutral competition, the Paljor Stadium was given the rights to host the 2012 I-League 2nd Division final round 2nd leg, in which United Sikkim was also participating.[86] The ground was also the venue for the match in which United Sikkim gained promotion to the I-League after drawing with Mohammedan (1–1).[87]

Rivalry

United Sikkim had a rivalry with their fellow North East Indian club Shillong Lajong in the I-League, which was often regarded as the "Northeast India Derby".[88]

Northeast India Derby
Opponent Played Wins Draws Losses
United Sikkim 2011
Shillong Lajong 2110
Total 2110

Sikkim Derby

United Sikkim has also a rivalry with their fellow Sikkim-based club Gangtok Himalayan SC,[89][90] whom they face in regional tournaments including Sikkim Premier Division League.[91][92] Both the clubs use Paljor Stadium as their home grounds. They had last met each other on 9 November 2019 during a match of Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup and Gangtok Himalayan defeated United by 3–1 margin.[93]

Managerial history

Notable players

Past internationals

The following United Sikkim players have been capped at senior/youth international level, with their respective countries. Years in brackets indicate their spells at the club.[102]

World Cup player

Honours
Further information: List of United Sikkim F.C. seasons

Domestic leagues

Cup

Other achievements

Academy & youth

United Sikkim, under stewardship of Bhaichung Bhutia, took up initiatives of youth development in football.[121] In 2013, Snow Lion Cup for under-14 kids was incorporated, and coaching camps with grassroot framework in hilly areas of Sikkim, Kalimpong and Darjeeling were set up by the club, with partnership of State Bank of India and Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools.[121] The club also operates various youth age-group teams.[122]

USFC academy honours

  • U-17 Winter Cup
  • U-14 Winter Cup
    • Runners-up (1): 2023[124]

See also

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Further reading

Bibliography

  • Kapadia, Novy (2017). Barefoot to Boots: The Many Lives of Indian Football. Penguin Random House. ISBN 978-0-143-42641-7.
  • Shreekumar, S. S. (15 August 2020). The Best Way Forward for India's Football. HSRA Publications. p. 244. ISBN 9788194721697. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  • Sharma, Nikhil Paramjit; Gupta, Shantanu (4 February 2019). India's Football Dream. SAGE Publications India. ISBN 9789353283063. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.

Cited sources

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