Organising body | Chennai Football Association |
---|---|
Founded | 1934 (as Madras Football League) |
Country | India |
Number of teams | 12 |
Level on pyramid | 5–9 |
Promotion to | I-League 3 |
Relegation to | First Division |
Domestic cup(s) | Vittal Trophy [1] TFA Shield |
Current champions | Swaraj FC (1st title) |
Current: 2022–23 |
The Chennai Football League, sometimes simply known as CFA Senior Division League, [2] [3] [4] and formerly the Madras Football League, is the group of state-level football leagues in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, including the top-level Senior Division. [5] [6] [7] The League is organised by the Chennai Football Association (CFA), which is affiliated to the Tamil Nadu Football Association (TNFA), the official football governing body of the state.
The Madras Football Association was formed on 26 October 1933, with had the jurisdiction over the undivided province of Madras in British India. It was formed by the members of the Madras United Club. [8] The Madras Football Association league championship was started in 1934 with the inaugural 1934-35 league championship won by the Pachaiyappa football club. The MFA started conducting the First division league from 1936, and the Second division from 1937. In the year of 1972, Madras city clubs formed a separate association and the federation became a part of the Tamil Nadu Football Association. [9]
The league was suspended since the 2018 edition due to the legal disputes between Chennai FA and Tamil Nadu FA, [10] [11] but eventually resumed in 2022. [12]
There are five divisions in the league under the Chennai Football Association (CFA), with the CFA Senior Division being the top-most league, followed by four lower tiers. [5]
Chennai Football League | |
---|---|
Tier | Division |
1 (5 on Indian Football pyramid) | Senior Division League |
2 (6 on Indian Football pyramid) | First Division |
3 (7 on Indian Football pyramid) | Second Division |
4 (8 on Indian Football pyramid) | Third Division |
5 (9 on Indian Football pyramid) | Fourth Division |
The matches are held at Nehru Stadium and ICF Stadium.
Season | Champion |
---|---|
1934–35 | Pachaiyappa FC |
1950 | WIMCO (Western India Match Company) [13] |
1951 | WIMCO |
1950 | WIMCO |
1953 | WIMCO |
1954 | WIMCO |
1955 | WIMCO |
1970 | SBI [14] |
1975 | WIMCO |
1976 | WIMCO |
1988 | Southern Railway [15] |
1993 | ICF (Integral Coach Factory) |
1994 | ICF |
1995 | ICF |
1997 | Indian Bank [16] |
1998 | Indian Bank [17] |
2000–01 | Indian Bank |
2001–02 | AGORC |
2002–03 | Indian Bank [18] |
2003–04 | Madras Sporting Union [19] |
2004–05 | ICF [20] |
2005–06 | ICF |
2006–07 | ICF |
2007–08 | Indian Bank |
2008–09 | Nethaji SC [21] [22] |
2009–10 | Chennai Customs |
2010–11 | AGORC |
2011–12 | Chennai Customs [23] |
2012–13 | Arrows |
2013–14 | ICF |
2014–15 | Hindustan Eagles [24] |
2015–16 | Disputed [5] |
2016–17 | Chennai City |
2017–18 | Indian Bank [25] [26] |
2018–21 | League suspended (CFA-TNFA dispute) |
2021–22 | Viva Chennai |
2022–23 | Swaraj FC [27] |
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