Sikkim Football League

The Sikkim Football League is a group of state-level football leagues in the Indian state of Sikkim, organised by the Sikkim Football Association. It was founded in 2012 as the Sikkim Premier Division League. The SFA "A" Division S-League is the premier state-level football league in Sikkim.[1][2] United Sikkim is the most successful club with three league titles.

SFA "A" Division S-League
Organising bodySikkim Football Association
Founded2012; 12 years ago (2012) (as Sikkim Premier Division League)
CountryIndia
Number of teams8
Level on pyramid5
Promotion toI-League 3
Relegation toSFA "B" Division
Domestic cup(s)Sikkim Gold Cup
Independence Cup
Current championsSikkim Police (1st title)
Most championshipsUnited Sikkim (3 titles)
TV partnersSFA (YouTube)
Styxsports

History

edit

The current top-tier league in Sikkim was started in 2011 with 8 teams.[1] The league was suspended in 2019, following a dispute between the Football Players Association of Sikkim (FCAS) and the SFA.[3] The state league eventually resumed in 2023.[2] Matches for the 2023 season were broadcast on Pavilion TV.

Venues

edit

The most matches for the Sikkim Premier Division League are held at Paljor Stadium. Matches for the Sikkim B Division League are mostly held at Bhaichung Stadium, Namchi, for Namchi Zone, and Paljor Stadium for Gangtok Zone.

2024 teams

edit
Team Location
Sikkim Police Gangtok
Sikkim Brotherhood FC Ranipool
Sikkim Himalayan Gangtok
Sikkim Aakraman Gangtok
Kumar Sporting FC Rongneck
Sikkim Boys FC Gangtok
Howlers SC Singtam
Sang Mustang FC Sang

Champions

edit
Season Champions Runners-up Ref
2012 Sinolchu FC
2013 United Sikkim
2014 Gangtok Himalayan [4]
2015 State Sports Academy
2016 Sikkim Aakraman Gangtok Himalayan [5]
2017 United Sikkim Sikkim Aakraman [6]
2018 United Sikkim Sikkim Aakraman [7]
2019 League suspended due to FCAS and SFA dispute
2023 Sikkim Police Sikkim Himalayan [8]
2024

SFA "B" Division League

edit

The current second-tier league has teams from Gangtok and Namchi. The league operates on a round robin basis, with top 2 teams from each zone progressing to the playoff. Both of the finalists are promoted.

Gangtok Zone
Team
Sikkim Brotherhood FC
Sang Mustang FC
Sikkim Boys FC
Northerners FC, Mangan
Dzongri FC
Pakyong United SC
Namchi Zone
Team
Howlers FC, Singtam
Red Panda FC
Gyalsing Sporting Club
Sanju Football Academy
Sinolchu FC
Kaluk Sporting Club

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Parasar, Swapnaneel (24 July 2018). "All you need to know about the football league structure in Sikkim". Goal.com.
  2. ^ a b Pradhan, Sujal (16 June 2023). "Sikkim Premier Division League 2023 to kick off on June 21st". indiatodayne.in. Gangtok: India Today North East. Archived from the original on 16 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Sikkim Premier Division League 2019: Update". The Away End. 17 September 2019. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  4. ^ "Sikkim Himalayan SC has technically won the Sikkim Premier League title with one more game to go". Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  5. ^ "Sikkim Aakraman F.C. Sikkim Premier Division League Champions". sikkimexpress.com. The Sikkim Express. 26 September 2017. Archived from the original on 27 September 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ "United Sikkim FC thrashed State Sports Academy to win Sikkim Premier League title". Goalie365.com. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  8. ^ "SIKKIM POLICE LIFTS SIKKIM PREMIER DIVISION LEAGUE 2023". Sikkim Express. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.