The Chennai Football League, formerly known as the Madras Football League, is the group of state-level football leagues in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu,[2][3][4] including the top-level CFA Senior Division League.[5][6][7] The League is organised by the Chennai Football Association (CFA), which is affiliated to the Tamil Nadu Football Association (TNFA), the official football governing body of the state.
| Organising body | Chennai Football Association |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1934 (as Madras Football League) |
| Country | India |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 5–9 |
| Promotion to | I-League 3 |
| Relegation to | Various |
| Domestic cup(s) | Vittal Trophy[1] TFA Shield |
| Current champions | Swaraj FC (1st title) |
History
editThe Madras Football Association was formed on 26 October 1933, with had the jurisdiction over the undivided province of Madras in British India. It was formed by the members of the Madras United Club.[8] The Madras Football Association league championship was started in 1934 with the inaugural 1934-35 league championship won by the Pachaiyappa football club. The MFA started conducting the First division league from 1936, and the Second division from 1937. In the year of 1972, Madras city clubs formed a separate association and the federation became a part of the Tamil Nadu Football Association.[9]
The league was suspended since the 2018 edition due to the legal disputes between Chennai FA and Tamil Nadu FA,[10][11] but eventually resumed in 2022.[12]
Competition structure
editThere are five divisions in the league under the Chennai Football Association (CFA), with the CFA Senior Division being the top-most league, followed by four lower tiers.[5]
| Chennai Football League | |
|---|---|
| Tier | Division |
| 1 (5 on Indian Football pyramid) |
CFA Senior Division ↑promote (to I-League 3) ↓relegate |
| 2 (6 on Indian Football pyramid) |
CFA First Division ↑promote ↓relegate |
| 3 (7 on Indian Football pyramid) |
CFA Second Division ↑promote ↓relegate |
| 4 (8 on Indian Football pyramid) |
CFA Third Division ↑promote ↓relegate |
| 5 (9 on Indian Football pyramid) |
CFA Fourth Division ↑promote |
Venue
editThe matches are held at Nehru Stadium and ICF Stadium.
Champions
edit| Season | Champion |
|---|---|
| 1934–35 | Pachaiyappa FC |
| 1936–1949 | No data |
| 1950 | WIMCO (Western India Match Company)[13] |
| 1951 | WIMCO |
| 1952 | WIMCO |
| 1953 | WIMCO |
| 1954 | WIMCO |
| 1955 | WIMCO |
| 1956–1969 | No data |
| 1970 | SBI[14] |
| 1971–1974 | No data |
| 1975 | WIMCO |
| 1976 | WIMCO |
| 1977–1987 | No data |
| 1988 | Southern Railway[15] |
| 1989–1992 | No data |
| 1993 | ICF (Integral Coach Factory) |
| 1994 | ICF |
| 1995 | ICF |
| 1996 | No data |
| 1997 | Indian Bank[16] |
| 1998 | Indian Bank[17] |
| 1999–2000 | No data |
| 2000–01 | Indian Bank |
| 2001–02 | AGORC |
| 2002–03 | Indian Bank[18] |
| 2003–04 | Madras Sporting Union[19] |
| 2004–05 | ICF[20] |
| 2005–06 | ICF |
| 2006–07 | ICF |
| 2007–08 | Indian Bank |
| 2008–09 | Nethaji SC[21][22] |
| 2009–10 | Chennai Customs |
| 2010–11 | AGORC |
| 2011–12 | Chennai Customs[23] |
| 2012–13 | Arrows |
| 2013–14 | ICF |
| 2014–15 | Hindustan Eagles[24] |
| 2015–16 | Disputed[5] |
| 2016–17 | Chennai City |
| 2017–18 | Indian Bank[25][26] |
| 2018–21 | League suspended (CFA-TNFA dispute) |
| 2021–22 | Viva Chennai |
| 2022–23 | Swaraj FC[27] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Regaining lost ground". The Hindu. 28 October 2014. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ "CFA Senior Division". The Away End. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- ^ "CFA league: ICF beats Nethaji FC 2–1". dtnext.in. Chennai: DTNEXT Bureau. 5 June 2023. Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ "Local football: Swaraj beats Nethaji 2–0". dtnext.in. Chennai: DTNEXT Bureau. 10 June 2023. Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ a b c Muralidharan, Ashwin (1 May 2018). "All you need to know about the league structure in Tamil Nadu". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ Venkatesan, S. Prasanna (7 May 2018). "The lost glory of Chennai's football league". sportstar.thehindu.com. Sportstar. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021.
- ^ Keeda, Sports (19 March 2013). "Football in Chennai - On a slippery surface". Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ Musings, Madras. "Snippets from the MUC's Centenary Souvenir".
- ^ V, Sriram (19 June 2014). "When football came to Madras". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ Muralidharan, Ashwin (23 July 2020). "Impasse between Chennai FA and Tamil Nadu FA hampering the football ecosystem in the state". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ Sheelan, Guna (23 April 2018). "Tamil Nadu: How Indian football's next powerhouse is being held back by bureaucratic wrangles". Khel Now. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ Shrivathsan, S (12 May 2022). "Look at the bright side: Vijayan, Edwin on CFA League's resumption". DT Next. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
- ^ Frederick, Prince (23 June 2016). "Wimco's comeback moment, and the year after". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ Frederick, Prince (26 April 2011). "Memories of Madras - Football's field day". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ Arunava, Chaudhuri. "List of Champions of the Chennai Football League". indianfootball.de. Archived from the original on 3 May 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- ^ Arunava, Chaudhuri. "1996/97 Season in Indian Football". indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- ^ India regional tournaments 1997/98 Archived 23 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Rsssf. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ Arunava Chaudhuri. "2003/04 Season in Indian Football". indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 17 January 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- ^ "India 2004 Regional Championships". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ "India 2005 Regional Championships". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ "Nethaji Football Club has a new owner". www.thehindu.com. The Hindu. 14 December 2013. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
- ^ "Seeking fresh challenges". sportstar.thehindu.com. Chennai: Sportstar. 21 February 2009. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ "Customs Blank CFC in Senior Division League". The New Indian Express. 27 January 2012. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ "Hindustan Eagles emerges champion". The Hindu. 1 May 2015. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ "Indian Bank emerges victorious in CFA league". dtnext.in. 28 April 2018. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ Krishnan, Vivek (27 April 2018). "CFA League: Pravitto brace gives Indian Bank title". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. The Times of India. TNN. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ "CFA league: Kamalesh sizzles in Indian Bank win". DT Next. 16 June 2023. Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.