Pakistan Railways F.C.

History

North-Western Railway (1880s–1961)

The North-Western Railway Football Club was founded in the 1880s as representative of the North Western State Railway in football competitions in British India. In its early years, it was operated predominantly by the British railwaymen and officials. The team has been recorded as playing in several football tournaments in the 1890s in Lahore.

At the 1938 Durand Cup, the Lahore-based side finished runner-ups after losing against the South Wales Borderers football team in the final by 0–1.

After the partition of British India in 1947, most of the North Western Railway network was allocated to Pakistan, and the team remained active in the newly formed country. Immediately after, the team began playing in several tournaments across Pakistan.

In the 1954 National Football Championship, the team finished as runner-up after losing to Punjab Blues in the final. In 1956, competing as Railway White, it again placed second, this time against Balochistan. In 1958, the team again lost in the final against Punjab Blues.

Pakistan Western Railway (1961–1974)

In early 1961, the North-Western Railway was renamed as Pakistan Western Railway, and the club name was accordingly changed. A separate side, Pakistan Eastern Railway, represented the railway division in East Pakistan.

Between 1963 and 1966, the team finished runner-up in three consecutive finals, each time against Karachi.In 1963, the club won its first major honour by lifting the Aga Khan Gold Cup after defeating Dhaka Wanderers in the final. {{multiple image In 1969, it secured its first National Football Championship title by defeating Karachi.

Renaming to Pakistan Railways (1974–2005)

Following the renaming of Pakistan Western Railway to Pakistan Railways in 1974, three years after the independence of Bangladesh and losing the eastern wing, the club adopted its present name.

In the 1976 National Football Championship, the team lost to Pakistan Airlines in the final. In 1982, it again finished runner-ups after losing to Habib Bank.

In 1984, it won its second National Football Championship, after overcoming WAPDA in the final. In 1989, the team finished runner-ups after losing to Punjab Red.

Pakistan Premier League era (2006–2015)

After the revamp in Pakistani football and the discontinuation of the National Football Championship, the club competed in the second-tier, winning the 2005–06 PFF National League, returning to the top flight.

They were relegated from Pakistan Premier League after two years in the 2007–08 Pakistan Premier League. Chaudhry Muhammad Asghar was Pakistan Railways football coach till that time. The coaching was then passed to Muhammad Rasheed, the ex-national player and Pakistan Railways player.

Railways again qualified to the top-tier by winning their departmental leg of the 2013 PFF League. It remained in the top tier until getting relegated again in the 2014–15 Pakistan Premier League.

2023–present

Following the domestic football revamp in the country in 2023, departmental clubs including Railways remained competing in the PFF National Challenge Cup.

Stadium

Since 1932, the Railway Stadium in Garhi Shahu, Lahore, owned by the Pakistan Railways Sports Board serve as the team own ground. It has also been a historic football venue of Pakistan, hosting several domestic and international football matches.

Notable players

The players below had senior international cap(s) for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed, represented their countries before or after playing for Pakistan Railways. Asia

• IND Taj Mohammad Sr. (1957)

Honours

Domestic

Leagues

• National Football Championship
  • Winners (2): 1969, 1984
  • Runners-up (9): 1954, 1956, 1958, 1963, 1964–65, 1966, 1976, 1982, 1989
• Football Federation League
  • Winners (2): 2005–06, 2013

Invitational

• Durand Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 1938
• Aga Khan Gold Cup
  • Winners (1): 1963

References

References

1. "Pakistan - Pakistan Railways - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos and news - Soccerway".
2. Ashdown, John. (2010-02-03). "Which clubs are named after modes of transport?". The Guardian.
3. "Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) - Friday 28 January 1898".
4. "Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) - Wednesday 19 October 1898".
5. "India - List of Durand Cup Finals".
6. "List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Durand Cup".
7. "Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) - Sunday 02 October 1938".
8. "Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) - Saturday 13 March 1948".
9. "Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore) - Sunday 14 March 1948".
10. Ali Wahidi, Syed Akber. (March 17, 2016). "Pakistan – List of Champions".
11. "Pakistan Observer 1963.10.30 — South Asian Newspapers".
12. "Pakistan Observer 1963.10.30 — South Asian Newspapers".
13. Tom Lewis. (2003). "Aga Khan Gold Cup (Dhaka, Bangladesh)".
14. "Pakistan 1984".
15. (2009-01-01). "Railways hold Airmen 0-0 in PFF league".
16. Reporter, The Newspaper's Sports. (2013-12-22). "Railways, Baloch FC Quetta promoted to PPFL".
17. Wasim, Umaid. (2023-01-25). "Domestic football returns as Challenge Cup kicks off".
18. "PFF National Challenge Cup kicks off today".
19. (2008-12-28). "PFF League kicks off today".
20. Tatheer. (2020-03-20). "Railway Stadium closed for sports activities".