Delhi Football League

History

The first parent body of Delhi football was formed in 1926, with professor Mohammed Zubair Qureishi as secretary. There was no proper local league but the clubs used to participate in private tournaments organised by sport enthusiasts. Due to the violence and upheaval caused by the Partition of India, the Delhi League was suspended after 1946. It resumed in 1948 and the oldest club in the capital Young Men has won it that year. From 1948 onwards, the Delhi League took a particular shape. It had three divisions. The top 10 teams played in the A division, on a double-leg basis, with all matches being held at the Ambedkar Stadium, earlier known as the Delhi Gate Stadium. The B and C division matches took place at either the nearby Crescent Ground or the President's Estate Ground. Except for transport allowance, kit and refreshment, there was no payment to the players. However, club officials would strive to get their top players jobs in leading public sector concerns like Delhi Audit, Northern Railway, State Bank of India, Central Secretariat Service, Delhi Electric Supply Undertaking (DESU), Food Corporation of India (FCI) and so on. A competitive institutional league was also held annually.

Structure

Delhi Premier League

Delhi Premier League, previously known as Football Delhi Senior Division League (FD Senior Division) and DSA Senior Division, is the top state-level football league in Delhi and level 5 of Indian football league system. It is also the highest level inter-city league played in the capital. Competition is conducted by Delhi Soccer Association, official governing body of Delhi region under AIFF. Most players from this league are selected to represent Delhi for Santosh Trophy.

Clubs

Eleven clubs competed in the first edition.

Champions

Delhi Senior Division League

Delhi Senior Division League is the second tier of Delhi Football League system.

Delhi A-Division League

Delhi A-Division League is the third tier of Delhi Football League system.

Delhi B-Division League

Delhi B-Division League is the fourth tier of Delhi Football League system.

Delhi C-Division League

Delhi C-Division League is the fifth tier of Delhi Football League system.

Champions of the top-most division

The Delhi League was started in 1948, but has not been finished on some occasions. From 1985, a new format, Super League (two groups followed by knock-out semifinals and final), was adopted.

References

References

1. Kapadia, Novy. (17 November 2012). "Delhi Football - A trip down memory lane".
2. "Senior Division {{!}} Football Delhi".
3. Choudhuri, Arunava. "Delhi Senior Division to kick-off July 30".
4. (29 April 2019). "The history and the current status of football in Delhi".
5. (2022-07-12). "First-Ever Delhi Premier League to Kick Off on July 15".
6. (2022-07-12). "First Delhi Premier League to Kick off on July 15, 2022".
7. Chaudhuri, Arunava. (2003). "India – List of Delhi League Champions".
8. Chaudhuri, Arunava. (2000). "List of Champions of the Delhi Football League (DSA Senior Division)". Indian Football Network.
9. "𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒🏆 {{!}} VATIKA FC ARE THE CHAMPIONS DELHI!".