Hindustan FC
Hindustan Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in New Delhi. Founded in 1948, the club usually participated in the I-League 2nd Division, the second tier of Indian football league system. They also participate in the FD Senior Division league and play at the Ambedkar Stadium. History. Formation and early history. Hindustan FC was founded in 1948 in Delhi. Thus it became one of the oldest association football club from the capital city of India. The club has been affiliated with Delhi Soccer Association (DSA), which is now known as Football Delhi, and participated in  the DSA Senior Division league (now FD Senior Division). They are one time champion of the league and lifted the title in 2001–02 season. In November 2002, Hindustan participated in the inaugural edition of Delhi Lt. Governor's Cup and reached to the semi-finals. In 2007, Hindustan FC roped in their first foreign coach, Bernard Operanozie from Nigeria. Hindustan clinched their second DSA Senior Division title in 2009 season as co-winners with Indian National FC. Present years. Hindustan Football Academy was started by the former club chairman D. K. Bose, and they roped in Spanish professional coach Óscar  Bruzón on board for a period of two years to train Delhi's budding footballers in the age group of under-12 and under-16. Hindustan FC, founded just after the independence of India, have been the flag bearers from the capital in the second tier of Indian football, having participated for a record 14 times. They also participated in the 2014 I-League 2nd Division and moved to the Final Round of I-League Qualifiers, finishing on fifth position with four points in eight matches. Though their biggest achievement is finishing as the runners-up in the 2017–18 I-League 2nd  Division, under the coaching of Vikrant Sharma. In the 2018–19 I-League 2nd Division, Hindustan finished at the bottom of the Group A and bowed out of the tournament. The club has participated in the 2021 FD Senior Division, and finished as runners-up. Stadium. Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi used to be the clubs' home ground for the DSA Senior Division. It has also hosted I-League 2nd Division matches for the club. It has a capacity of 35,000 spectators. Rivalries. Hindustan FC have nurtured rivalries with other DSA Senior Division clubs, predominantly with Garhwal FC, Simla Youngs, Indian Air  Force FC, New Delhi Heroes, Sudeva Moonlight. Besides the state league, they faced one another in prestigious Durand Cup tournament, organized by the Indian Armed Forces. Women's team. On 29 November 2012, Hindustan FC launched its women's team with the unveiling of team jersey. At a press conference, Hindustan president Sushil Pandit said that the decision to launch the team was in line with the club philosophy to support women’s football. The women's team competes in the Delhi Women's Football League, organised by Football Delhi (formerly known as Delhi Soccer Association (DSA)). Its U17 women 's team has been participating in the "Khelo India Women's League" since 2019. Hindustan FC U19. In 2013, Hindustan FC launched it's U19 team to participate in the Elite League (India). The U19 team was from Delhi zone and first participated in the league during the 2014–15 I-League U19 season (group D – "rest of India") and moved to final round. Notable former players. "For current and former notable Hindustan FC players with a Wikipedia article, see: ".