North-West India Football Association
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The North-West India Football Association (NWIFA), was a football governing body in British India, encompassing football control in Punjab, NWFP, Sind, Baluchistan and Delhi.[1] It was headquartered in Lahore. It also sent state teams for the Santosh Trophy.
History
A movement to form a separate football association in North Western India was initiated by Wing Commander Hamid Ali Soofi in November 1931, aiming to promote football activity in the region.[1] In March 1932, the North-West India Football Association was established, headquartered in Lahore, and encompassing control in Punjab, NWFP, Sind, Balochistan and Delhi.[1][2][3] Sikandar Hayat Khan was elected president and Hamid Ali Soofi was elected honorary secretary.[4] On 23 June 1937, NWIFA became one of the nine regional football associations to become affiliated with the newly formed All India Football Federation.[5][6]
Later on, several regions detached and formed their own associations. Sind Football Association was formed in July 1937,[7][8][9] and the NWFP Football Association was founded in August 1937.[10] After the partition of India and the subsequent division of Punjab between India and Pakistan, the East Punjab Football Association was established in India,[4] and the West Punjab Football Association was established in Pakistan.[11] The last honorary secretary of the North-West India Football Association since 1942, Khawaja Riaz Ahmed, continued his position as honorary secretary in the West Punjab Football Association in Pakistan.[12] Hamid Ali Soofi also became the first honorary secretary of the Pakistan Football Federation.[13]
State teams
The North-West India Football Association (NWIFA) football team competed in the Santosh Trophy.[14]
Office bearers
Presidents
| President | Term[15] |
|---|---|
| Sikandar Hayat Khan | 1932 – 1935 |
| Khan Bahadur Nawab Muzaffar Khan | 1935 – 1938 |
| Dr. H.B. Dunnicliff | 1938 – 1939 |
| Khan Bahadur Muhammad Sheikh | 1939 – 1942 |
| Khan Bahadur Mian Afzal Hussain | 1942 – 1947 |
Honorary Secretaries
| Honorary Secretary | Term[15][12] |
|---|---|
| Hamid Ali Soofi | 1932 – 1942 |
| Khawaja Riaz Ahmed | 1942 – 1947 |
Competitions
North-West India Football Championship
The association organised several editions of the North-West India Football Championship, open to teams from Punjab, NWFP, Sindh, Balochistan and Delhi.[16][17][18][19] The winners were awarded the Harper Nelson Challenge Cup, and the tunners-up were awarded the Rambhajdatt Chaudhary Memorial Challenge Cup.[15]
| Edition | Year | Champion | Score | Runner-up | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1932–1933 | Headquarter Wing, East Surrey Regiment | 1–1
N/A (replayed final) |
Shining Club (Kohat) | [20][21] |
| 2 | 1933–1934 | A Company, East Surrey Regiment | N/A | Headquarter Wing, East Surrey Regiment | [22][23] |
| 3 | 1935 | Mozang Club | 3–2 | North-Western Railway Workshops | [24] |
| 4 | 1936 | United Hands FC | 3–0 | A Company The Royal Scots | [25] |
| 5 | 1937 | Shining Club (Kohat) | 1–0 | Government College (Lahore) | [26][27] |
| 6 | 1938 | ||||
| 7 | 1939 | ||||
| 8 | 1940 | C Company DCLI | 2–1 | Government College (Lahore) | [28] |
| 9 | 1941 | Government College (Lahore) | 2–0 | B Company | [29] |
| 10 | 1942 | Olympians Club (Lahore) | 5–0 | Mozang Muslims | [30] |
| 11 | 1943 | Batapur Club/Bata Sports | 3–0 | Rangers FC | [31][32] |
| 12 | 1944 | Bata Sports Club | 1–1
3–2 (replayed final) |
DFA Jullundur | [33][34][35] |
| 13 | 1945 | ||||
| 14 | 1946 | ||||
| 15 | 1947 |
Lahore Football League
A Lahore Football League was founded in 1936, which was won by the Old Boys Club.[36] From 1937 onwards, it was divided in two divisions.[37]