Garhwal Heroes Football Club (also known asGarhwal Football Club) is an Indian professionalfootball club based inNew Delhi.[2] The club lifted its firstFD Senior Division league title in 1986, which became one of the most successful seasons in their history.[3] In 2010, Garhwal FC became the first Delhi based club to enter into the quarter final ofDurand Cup, prestigious and oldest knockout football club tournament in India. They also competed in theI-League 2nd Division.[4][5]
Garhwal Heroes FC was initially set up by Kesar Singh Negi as a platform for young players of theGarhwali community to compete locally in Delhi. As the club gained popularity, it was formally registered with theFootball Delhi (formerlyDelhi Soccer Association)[6] in 1953. Since then, GHFC has regularly featured in the league championship organized by theFootball Delhi (FD).[7][8] One of the most memorable moments came in 1986, when GHFC were crowned the champions of theFD Senior Division. Unfortunately, the one and a half decades following the historic triumph saw GHFC beset by financial problems which resulted in the club being relegated to the A Division and then the B Division of the Delhi League. The club got a fresh lease of life when it was taken over by B. S. Negi and M. S. Patwal in 2001 following which the club gradually started its ascent once more. From the nadir of the B Division, the club gained promotion to A Division and then to the Senior Division in 2005. GHFC won the FD Senior Division League once more in 2012–13.[9]
In 2013, GHFC also won the Delhi leg of theManchester United Premier Cup, which is a nationwide U-16 club competition. As GHFC tries to attain sustainability of its operations, the partnership will strengthen the club's youth development and scouting network.
In 2013, GHFC was rechristened as Garhwal Football Club (GFC) in order to fulfill theAFC Club Licensing Criteria laid down by theAll India Football Federation (AIFF) – a step that would enable GFC to compete in theI-League – the highest level of professional football in the country. GFC brought about a major restructuring drive that would make it a complete club ready for the next generation. In addition to becoming an independent commercial entity as mandated by AIFF, GFC also set up a highly organized youth development system and a professional management team. They provide a pathway for player development toBhaichung Bhutia Football Schools. BBFS players will be able to further their football development by playing professionally. GFC finished runners up in All India Football Tournament inPithoragarh,Uttarakhand.
2020 was Garhwal's one of the successful seasons when the club finished top of the 2019–20 2nd Division League Group A preliminary round[16] and entered into the2020 I-League Qualifiers, where they finished at the bottom.[17]
Apart from being champions of theDelhi League, other notable achievements in the past include winning the Delhi Women's League in 2011 and reaching the quarterfinals of the prestigious Durand Cup in 2010, beating the likes ofSporting Clube de Goa andJCT in the process.[18]
Historically, theGarhwal Kingdom in theGarhwal Himalayas was established by KingKanak Pal by integrating the 52 forts or "Garhs" in the region at a time when these forts were owned by several warring chieftains. This helped the kingdom to unite and flourish despite the hardships posed by the unforgiving terrain andextreme weather conditions. Unity and bravery of theGarhwalis were also instrumental in helping the Kingdom to withstand multiple invasions – firstly from theMughals and then from theGorkhas. These values of fighting against all odds to survive and succeed formed the basis of the club's philosophy when it was set up. Thus,Unity, Bravery, Victory (Ekta, Shaurya, Vijay) became the guiding principles of the club. The goal of the club is to promote community welfare by achieving sporting success in the field of football on the basis these principles.[citation needed]
Since its inception, GFC has always been a community-oriented club with most of its roster being local players. It enjoys unparalleled support withinDelhi andUttarakhand with over 5000 fans celebrating its victory in the Delhi League in 2012–13.[19]
^[Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in India, a shorter format of the league was announced. Therefore, only the top 6 non-reserve clubs advanced to the Final Round.]
Bhagwan Singh Negi
