Neha Patil (Editor)

National Football League (India)

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Country
  
India

Founded
  
1996

Number of teams
  
10

Confederation
  
AFC

Folded
  
2007

National Football League (India)

Divisions
  
1 (1996) 2 (1997–2005) 3 (2006-2007)

The National Football League (commonly known as the NFL) was an association football league competition in India between 1996 and 2007 which was organised into three divisions. The league is now transformed into the I-League and continues with that name. The Premier Division of the league was first introduced in 1996, though the country already had a long history in the sport thanks to the likes of the IFA Shield and the Federation Cup. In fact, the Santosh Trophy (started in 1941) was the top football competition in the country before the then National Football League started.

Contents

A Second Division was added to the league in 1997, as Football in India grew to challenge cricket for the title of India's most popular sport. Between the divisions each year two teams were relegated and two teams were promoted. By 2006 a Third Division was added but that did not matter as by this time this would be the last year for the NFL; it was replaced in 2007 by the I-League which focuses on completely turning Indian football into a professional sport.

List of League Sponsors

1996-97 Philips 1997-98 Philips 1898-99 Coca Cola 1999-00 Coca Cola 2000-01 Coca Cola 2001-02 Tata 2002-03 Oil PSU

Original 12 Clubs

  • JCT FC (1996-2007) - defunct
  • East Bengal Club (1996-2007)
  • Salgaocar S.C. (1996-2006)
  • Indian Bank (1996-1999, 2002-2004)
  • Dempo S.C. (1996-2000, 2002-2007)
  • Air India FC (1996-1998, 1999-2000, 2005–2007)
  • Churchill Brothers S.C. (1996-2005, 2006-2007)
  • Mahindra United (1996-2007) - defunct
  • Mohammedan SC (1996-1997, 2003-2004, 2005–2007)
  • Kerala Police F.C. (1996-1997) - defunct
  • Mohun Bagan A.C. (1996-2007)
  • Indian Telephone Industries Limited (1996-1997, 1998-2003) - defunct

    • Other First Division Clubs

    In order of their promotion to the First Division.

  • FC Kochin (1997-2002) - defunct
  • Tollygunge Agragami (1998-2005)
  • State Bank of Travancore (1999-2001, 2004-2005)
  • Border Security Force SC (1999-2000)
  • Vasco S.C. (2000-2005)
  • Punjab Police FC (2001-2002)
  • Hindustan Aeronautics Limited S.C. (2002-2003, 2006-2007)
  • Sporting Clube de Goa (2003-2007)
  • Fransa-Pax FC (2004-2006)

    • References

    National Football League (India) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA