Garhwal Heroes
Full nameGarhwal Heroes Football Club
Nickname(s)Garhwalis
Short nameGFC
Founded1953 (1953) (as Garhwal Heroes Football Club)[1]
GroundAmbedkar Stadium
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Capacity35,000
60,254
OwnerBhagwan Singh Negi
League

Garhwal Heroes Football Club (also known as Garhwal Football Club) is an Indian professional football club based in New Delhi.[2] The club lifted its first FD Senior Division league title in 1986, which became one of the most successful seasons in their history.[3] In 2010, Garhwal FC became the first Delhi based club to enter into the quarter final of Durand Cup, prestigious and oldest knockout football club tournament in India. They also competed in the I-League 2nd Division.[4][5]

History

Foundation

Garhwal Heroes FC was initially set up by Kesar Singh Negi as a platform for young players of the Garhwali community to compete locally in Delhi. As the club gained popularity, it was formally registered with the Football Delhi (formerly Delhi Soccer Association)[6] in 1953. Since then, GHFC has regularly featured in the league championship organized by the Football Delhi (FD).[7][8] One of the most memorable moments came in 1986, when GHFC were crowned the champions of the FD Senior Division. Unfortunately, the one and a half decades following the historic triumph saw GHFC beset by financial problems which resulted in the club being relegated to the A Division and then the B Division of the Delhi League. The club got a fresh lease of life when it was taken over by B. S. Negi and M. S. Patwal in 2001 following which the club gradually started its ascent once more. From the nadir of the B Division, the club gained promotion to A Division and then to the Senior Division in 2005. Since then, GHFC, backed by strong community support, has consistently delivered strong results in the Senior Division which culminated in reclaiming the lost glory by winning the FD Senior Division League once more in 2012–13.[9]

In order to keep raising the bar, GHFC now has ambitions to play the I-League 2nd Division from 2013–2014 onwards. Always a community and youth-oriented club, GHFC entered into a historic partnership in 2013 with Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools – the largest and most reputed football youth development setup in India and Delhi-NCR.

Garhwal FC era (2013–present)

In 2013, GHFC also won the Delhi leg of the Manchester United Premier Cup, which is a nationwide U-16 club competition. As GHFC tries to attain sustainability of its operations, the partnership will strengthen the club's youth development and scouting network.

In 2013, GHFC was rechristened as Garhwal Football Club (GFC) in order to fulfill the AFC Club Licensing Criteria laid down by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) – a step that would enable GFC to compete in the I-League – the highest level of professional football in the country. GFC brought about a major restructuring drive that would make it a complete club ready for the next generation. In addition to becoming an independent commercial entity as mandated by AIFF, GFC also set up a highly organized youth development system and a professional management team. They provide a pathway for player development to Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools. BBFS players will be able to further their football development by playing professionally. GFC finished runners up in All India Football Tournament in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.

In July 2021, Garhwal FC participated in the Delhi 2nd Division Qualifiers and moved through knockout stages from group A.[10][11][12] In August 2023, the club earned an I-League 3 spot to compete in the inaugural edition.[13][14][15]

Competitive seasons

2020 was Garhwal's one of the successful seasons when the club finished top of the 2019–20 2nd Division League Group A preliminary round[16] and entered into the 2020 I-League Qualifiers, where they finished at the bottom.[17]

Achievements

Apart from being champions of the Delhi League, other notable achievements in the past include winning the Delhi Women's League in 2011 and reaching the quarterfinals of the prestigious Durand Cup in 2010, beating the likes of Sporting Clube de Goa and JCT in the process.[18]

Tradition

Historically, the Garhwal Kingdom in the Garhwal Himalayas was established by King Kanak Pal by integrating the 52 forts or "Garhs" in the region at a time when these forts were owned by several warring chieftains. This helped the kingdom to unite and flourish despite the hardships posed by the unforgiving terrain and extreme weather conditions. Unity and bravery of the Garhwalis were also instrumental in helping the Kingdom to withstand multiple invasions – firstly from the Mughals and then from the Gorkhas. These values of fighting against all odds to survive and succeed formed the basis of the club's philosophy when it was set up. Thus, Unity, Bravery, Victory (Ekta, Shaurya, Vijay) became the guiding principles of the club. The goal of the club is to promote community welfare by achieving sporting success in the field of football on the basis these principles.

Since its inception, GFC has always been a community-oriented club with most of its roster being local players. It enjoys unparalleled support within Delhi and Uttarakhand with over 5000 fans celebrating its victory in the Delhi League in 2012–13.[19]

Club management

Role Name
Honorary presidentIndia Bhagwan Singh Negi
TreasurerIndia Magan Singh Negi
DirectorIndia Kishor Gam Taid
Assistant directorIndia Anurag Khilnani
Honorary vice presidentIndia Sukhpal Singh Negi
Honorary secretaryIndia Anil Kumar Negi

Other department

Youth team

Garhwal FC's U17 team competes in various regional and national youth tournaments, as well as Hero Youth League.[20][21]

Women's team

Garhwal FC women's team participates in the FD Women's League, under the name Garhwal United FC.[22]

Honours

Domestic tournaments

Senior

Youth

  • FD U-18 Youth League
    • Third place (1): 2022–23[30]

Women's

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Garhwal Football Club". Khelnow.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  2. ↑ "Football Delhi 2nd Division League Qualifiers 2021: Fixtures, results, standings & more". Khel Now. 17 July 2021. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  3. ↑ "The history and the current status of football in Delhi". chaseyoursport.com. 29 April 2019. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  4. ↑ "Live Streaming I-League Qualifiers 2020 Garhwal FC vs Bhawanipore FC: When and Where to Watch on TV". New18.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  5. ↑ "I-League 2nd Division: Garhwal FC ready to punch above its weight to gain promotion". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  6. ↑ Josh, Sumit (8 May 2018). "Football Delhi: A Complete Revival of The Game in The Capital". www.thequint.com. The Quint. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  7. ↑ "DSA Senior Division Open League begins Tuesday". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  8. ↑ "Football Delhi Senior Division League: All clubs". footballdelhi.com. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  9. ↑ "Garhwal Heroes to meet Goodwill in DSA senior division league final - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 15 March 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  10. ↑ "2nd Division Qualifiers Delhi - Garwhal Heroes sign Ansumana Kromah". 17 July 2021. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  11. ↑ "Football Delhi 2nd Division League Qualifiers 2021: Fixtures, results, standings & more". 17 July 2021. Archived from the original on 17 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  12. ↑ "Delhi (DSA) Senior Division League". Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  13. ↑ "Major AIFF Decisions: 15 Clubs Nominated In 3rd Division; Youth Quota In I League Teams". thefangarage.com. 22 August 2023. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  14. ↑ "AIFF League Committee: Youth quota for I-League, State FAs nominate 3rd Division League clubs". The Away End. 22 August 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  15. ↑ Lopes, Flavio (25 September 2023). "THIRD DIVISION: Dempo to play at home, Sporting away". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Panaji: The Times of India. TNN. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  16. ↑ [Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in India, a shorter format of the league was announced. Therefore, only the top 6 non-reserve clubs advanced to the Final Round.]
  17. ↑ "I-League Qualifiers 2020 FULL MATCH -- FC Bengaluru United beat Garhwal FC 1-0". thefangarage.com. 11 October 2020. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  18. ↑ "Garhwal Heroes stuns Sporting Clube de Goa". www.thehindu.com. New Delhi: The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 November 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  19. ↑ "Footyshekkeer: Garhwal FC All set for I-League 2". Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  20. ↑ "49 teams to participate in AIFF Elite Youth League 2022–23". the-aiff.com. New Delhi: All India Football Federation. 7 December 2022. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  21. ↑ Raghunandan, Vaibhav (18 January 2023). "Quick starts, watertight defences and perfect records: A look ahead to the Hero U-17 Youth Cup final round". the-aiff.com. New Delhi: All India Football Federation. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  22. ↑ "Football Delhi Women's League & Women's Premier League". The Away End. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  23. ↑ Delhi Senior Division Football League Archived 1 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine footballdelhi.com. Retrieved 28 February 2021
  24. ↑ Arunava Chaudhary. "List of Champions of the Delhi Football League (DSA Senior Division)". Indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 1 May 2002. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  25. ↑ "Delhi (DSA) Senior Division League". theawayend.co. The Away End. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  26. ↑ Chaudhuri, Arunava (2003). "India — List of Delhi League Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  27. ↑ Chaudhuri, Arunava. "List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup". indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  28. ↑ "DFA Udaipur enter finals of the MKM National Football Tournament for the first time in 43 years". udaipurtimes.com. Udaipur Times. 29 January 2023. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  29. ↑ "𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒 🥇 Garhwal Heroes FC has won the 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗵𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗵 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝘂𝗽 2023–24 🏆". Twitter.com. Sudeva Delhi Football Club. 13 November 2023. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  30. ↑ "Football Delhi U-18 Youth League | Here's the table after the Final MatchDay of the 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟐! 🔥". twitter.com (FootballDelhi). Football Delhi. 9 January 2023. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  31. ↑ "Football Delhi Women's Premier League Table — 2023–24". theawayend.co. New Delhi: The Away End. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
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