Air India FC

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Air India
File:Air India Logo.svg
Full nameAir India Football Club[1]
Nickname(s)The Pilots
Founded1952; 72 years ago (1952)[2]
GroundCooperage Ground
Capacity5,000
OwnerAir India
ManagerNaushad Moosa[3]
LeagueMDFA Elite League
2012–13I-League, 13th (Relegated)

Air India Football Club is an Indian professional football club, founded by Anand Prajapati in 1952, based in Mumbai, Maharashtra.[4][5] They are sponsored by Air India,[6] and have enjoyed some success in the MDFA Elite League. They have also competed in the I-League,[7][8][9][10] then top tier of Indian football league system.[11][12]

Four times champions in the local league in Mumbai, Air India are best known for nurturing youngsters into big time players. Many of these boys have played with distinction for bigger teams in the later years.[13]

In 2005, the team qualified to the National Football League first division and then 2007 saw Air India finishing 7th and were the Mumbai Harwood Champions in 2005.[14]

History[edit]

Air India team line-up in 2010

Formation and journey[edit]

Founded in 1952, Air India Football Club is one of the oldest institutional sides in the country.[15] Since then, they became affiliated with Western India Football Association (WIFA). Though never considered as frontrunners in the I-League, the Mumbai-based club has often proved to be a thorn in the flesh for many top sides.

In leagues of Mumbai[edit]

Since their inception, Air India became a member of WIFA and later in 1983, became affiliated with Mumbai District Football Association (formerly BDFA).[16] They participated in later editions of Bombay Harwood League alongside Maharashtra Football League.[17][18]

They participated in B.D.F.A League, and W.I.F.A. Super Division from 1990 to 1999 and clinched WIFA title in 1999.[19]

Air India also participated in MDFA Elite Division,[20] and lifted trophies in 2009–10, 2013–14, 2014–15 and 2016–17 season.[21] They also won Harwood league in 2000 and 2005.

National Football League seasons[edit]

They used to play in the NFL 2nd Division but got promoted to Premier Division and have maintained their position there until the formation of I-League.[22][23][24][25] Generally a low budget side, Air India's best finish in the National Football League came in the 1997–1998 season, when they were placed sixth in the table and their coach Bimal Ghosh received the Best coach award.[26]

Air India FC had been playing in the Premier Harwood League since 1980. Though it, they qualified for the National Football League in 1995. In the first season of NFL 1996, they finished 6th on the table[27] and then 5th in 1997.

After being relegated to the second division in 1998, Air India paved their way back into the first division the next year and played in the National Football League in 2000 as well. The years 2001 to 2004 saw Air India going through a tough phase as they were playing in the second division. In 2005 the team qualified to the National Football League first division and then 2007 saw Air India finishing 7th and were the Mumbai Harwood Champions in 2005.[28][14] In 1996, they emerged as the champions of Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup and they lifted the trophy again in 2006.[29][30]

Present years[edit]

Allan Dias with Air India at the 2010–11 I-League

In 2012,[31][32] the club emerged as the champions of the Durand Cup, which was their last trophy.[33][34] On 25 February 2012 it was announced that parent company Air India do not have any plans on fulfilling the AFC Criteria required to play in the league and thus may fold the club by the end of the 2011–12 I-League season.[35][36][37]

They came back to the I-League, participating in the 2012–13 I-League season.[38] On 7 April 2013, they played against Mumbai F.C. and lost 3–1.[39] They earned 26 points in 19 league matches and finished on thirteenth position.[40]

The club later confirmed their inability to field team for the 2013–14 I-League,[41] and financial reasons were main factors behind it.[42][43]

Crest[edit]

Air India has always used a crest different from the logo of the parent company. For the 2011–12 season, however, Air India used the parent logo on both the home and away jersey.

Colours[edit]

To keep up with their image of being a sponsor of aircraft company Air India the club decided to make the colours of the club red which is the colour associated with the aircraft Air India.[35]

Stadium[edit]

Cooperage Football Ground before renovation

Air India have always played at the Cooperage Ground[44][45] for all their home games.[46] Between 2007 and 2013, Air India FC hosted their home games of the top tier I-League at the 5,000 seater Cooperage Ground.[47][48][49] While renovations took place, Air India played at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune.

During the 2010–11 I-League season, Rajarshi Shahu Stadium in Kolhapur, hosted numerous matches of Mumbai teams due to unavailability of Cooperage Ground. Air India played its home games at this ground throughout the season.[50]

Ownership[edit]

Since the beginning, Air India Football Club has been owned by airline company Air India which currently own a hub at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport which is where the club is located.[15]

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors[edit]

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2000–2011 Air India[51]
2011–present Star Impact[51]

Managerial history[edit]

Head coach's record[edit]

Picture Name Nationality From To P W D L GF GA Win% Honours
Bimal Ghosh  India 2008[26] 2009 22 5 9 8 21 26 022.73
Yusif Ansari  India 2009[52] June 2010 26 7 7 12 28 46 026.92
Santosh kashyap.JPG
Santosh Kashyap  India August 2010[53] 26 May 2012 52 14 14 24 54 94 026.92
Godfrey Pereira  India 3 July 2012[54] 27 December 2012[55] 17 7 3 7 25 27 041.18 2012 Durand Cup
Anthony Fernandes  India 30 December 2012[56] 2 March 2013 7 1 4 2 8 14 014.29
Naushad Moosa  India 2 March 2013[57] Present 0 0 0 0 0 0 !

Last technical staff[edit]

Name Position
India Naushad Moosa Head coach
India Anthony Fernandes Assistant coach
India Yusuf Ansari Goalkeeping coach
India Joginder Thapa Senior manager
India Sandeep Kurale Physio
India Simon D'Souza Media manager

Notable former players[edit]

For all current and former notable Air India FC players with Wikipedia articles, see: Air India FC players.

Honours[edit]

Domestic tournaments[edit]

Achievements[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. Fourth oldest football tournament, organized by the IFA (W.B.), and played between the local clubs of West Bengal and other invited ones.

References[edit]

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Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

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