Mumbai Football League

Mumbai Football League

MFA Mumbai Premier League logo (newly introduced highest division of Mumbai Football)
Organising body	Mumbai Football Association (MFA)
Founded	1902;122 years ago (1902) (as Harwood League) [1]
Country	India
Divisions	5
Number of teams	Various
Level on pyramid	5–9
Promotion to	Various
Relegation to	Various
Domestic cup(s)	Rovers Cup
League cup(s)	Nadkarni Cup
Current champions	Ambernath United Atlanta (1st title)
Most championships	Tata Sports Club Mahindra United FC (13 titles each)

The Mumbai Football League, also known as the Harwood League, ^[1] is organised by Mumbai Football Association (MFA), as a ladder-based competition involving a total of five divisions and over 300 teams. ^{[2] [3]} It is the top football league in Mumbai and the second oldest football league in Asia after Calcutta Football League. ^[4]

The league was named after colonel Harwood who founded the Bombay Football Association and became first president. ^[5]

League structure

Mumbai Football League
Tier	Division
1 (5 on Indian pyramid)	MFA Elite Division ↑promote (to I-League 3) ↓relegate
2 (6 on Indian pyramid)	MFA Super Division ↑promote ↓relegate
3 (7 on Indian pyramid)	MFA Division One ↑promote ↓relegate
4 (8 on Indian pyramid)	MFA Division Two ↑promote ↓relegate
5 (9 on Indian pyramid)	MFA Division Three ↑promote

Elite Division (Premier Elite League)

The MFA Elite Division, formerly known as the MDFA Elite Division, is the first tier of the Mumbai Football League competition. ^{[6] [7]} In March 2022, the MFA Elite Division was rechristened as the Harwood Premier League, on the lines of the name that was once associated with the Mumbai's top division football stretching back to 1902. ^{[8] [9]}

MFA Elite Division

Organising body	Mumbai Football Association (MFA)
Founded	1902;122 years ago (1902) [1]
Number of teams	18
Level on pyramid	5
Promotion to	I-League 3
Relegation to	MFA Super Division
League cup(s)	Nadkarni Cup
Most championships	Tata Sports Club Mahindra United FC (13 titles each)
Current: 2023–24

Format

The teams play each other in two groups, MFA Elite Premier League for the private clubs and MFA Elite Corporate League for the institutional clubs, in a round-robin single leg format. The top three teams at the end of the league will be declared winners and runners up and will advance to the championship round called Harwood Champions League whose winner will win the top division. The teams finishing in the bottom at the end of the league phase will be relegated to the Super Division. ^[10]

MFA Elite Division
Championship round	Harwood Champions League
Group stage	MFA Elite Premier League	MFA Elite Corporate League

Winners by year

Year	Winner	Note
1902	Oxfordshire Light Infantry
1903	Royal Garrison Artillery
1904	Cheshire Regiment
1905	Yorkshire Regiment
1906	Royal Scots
1907	Royal Scots
1908	Royal Scots
1909	Gloucestershire Regiment
1910	Royal Garrison Artillery
1911	Royal Warwickshire Regiment
1912	Royal Army Temperance Association
1913	Sherwood Foresters
1914	Sherwood Foresters
1915	Royal Garrison Artillery
1916–1920	None	Not held
1921	King's Shropshire Light Infantry
1922	King's Shropshire Light Infantry
1923	Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
1924	West Yorkshire Regiment
1925	West Yorkshire Regiment
1926	South Staffordshire Regiment
1927	Cheshire Regiment
1928	Royal Ulster Rifles
1929	Royal Warwickshire Regiment
1930	Duke of Wellington's Regiment
1931	Duke of Wellington's Regiment
1932	King's Own Scottish Borderers
1933	Royal Irish Fusiliers
1934	Royal Artillery (Colaba)
1935	Durham Light Infantry
1936	Durham Light Infantry
1937	Cheshire Regiment
1938	Cheshire Regiment
1939	South Lancashire Regiment
1940	Welch Regiment
1941	Y.M.C.A.
1942	Western India Automobile Association Staff	First native club to win the league.
1943	Western India Automobile Association Staff
1944	Embarkation Headquarters
1945	Tata Sports Club
1946	Trades India Sports Club
1947	Trades India Sports Club
1948	Tata Sports Club
1949	Trades India Sports Club
1950	Tata Sports Club
1951	India Culture League
1952	India Culture League
1953	Tata Sports Club
1954	Indian Navy
1955	None	Abandoned
1956	Burmah-Shell Sports Club
1957	Indian Navy
1958	Tata Sports Club
1959	Western Railway SC
1960	Tata Sports Club
1961	Tata Sports Club
1962	Western Railway SC
1963	Central Railway SC
1964	Tata Sports Club
1965	Central Railway SC
1966	Tata Sports Club
1967	Tata Sports Club
1968	Mafatlal Group
1969	Mafatlal Group
1970	Mahindra & Mahindra
1971	Mafatlal Group
1972	Mafatlal Group
1973	Tata Sports Club
1974–75	Tata Sports Club
1975–76	Mafatlal Group
1976	Mafatlal Group
1977	Orkay Mills
1978–79	Mafatlal Group
1979	Tata Sports Club
1980	Orkay Mills
1981	Century Rayon FC
1982	Mahindra & Mahindra
1983	Mafatlal Mills
1984	Mahindra & Mahindra
1985	Mahindra & Mahindra
1986	Bank of India (Mumbai)
1987	Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers (RCF)
1988	Orkay Mills
1989	Union Bank of India
Two separate leagues ran in competition to each other. The BDFA league retained the right to use the name "Harwood League", while the best teams eventually migrated to the WIFA league.
1990–99	WIFA League, Super Division	BDFA/MDFA League (The Harwood League)
1990	Bank of India (Mumbai)	Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers (RCF)
1991	Central Bank	United Boys (Sahar)
1992	Air India FC	Central Railway SC
1993	Bank of India (Mumbai)	ONGC (Oil & Natural Gas Commission)
1994	Air India FC	Carmelites SC
1995	Mahindra & Mahindra	Central Railway SC
1996	Air India FC	Royal Caterers
1997	Air India FC	Abandoned
1998	Bengal Mumbai FC	Village Amboli
1999	Air India FC	unknown (Holy Family/Chembur English/Rhino)
In 2000, the two leagues merged when MDFA and WIFA resolved their various disputes. The resultant league has since been run by the MDFA (affiliated to WIFA), with the restored title of The Harwood League.
Mumbai Football League Elite Division (The Harwood League)
2000	Mahindra United FC
2001–02	Mahindra United FC
2002	Mahindra United FC
2003	Mahindra United FC
2004	Mahindra United FC
2005	Maharashtra State Police
2006–07	Mahindra United FC
2007–08	Mahindra United FC
2008–09	Mahindra United FC
2009–10	Air India FC
2010–11	Mumbai FC
2011–12	ONGC FC
2012–13	None	Not held
2013–14	Air India FC
2014–15	Air India FC
2015–16	ONGC FC
2016–17	Air India FC
2017–18	ONGC FC
2018–19	Mumbai Customs
2019–20	Karnataka Sporting Association (KSA)	[11]
2020–21	None	Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in India
2021–22	Ambernath United Atlanta FC	[12]
2022–23	Ambernath United Atlanta FC	[13]
Source: Mumbai (Bombay) League Champions

Super Division

The MFA Super Division, ^[14] formerly known as the MDFA Super Division, is a men's football league in Mumbai. The league serves as the second-tier, organized by the Mumbai District Football Association. The champions of the Super Division get promoted to the MFA Elite Division. The last-place teams in the groups get relegated to the First Division. It is contested by 33 clubs. The current champions are Reliance Foundation Youth Champs and Atlanta FC are runners-up. ^[15] The Super Division is the second-highest in MFL organised by the Mumbai District Football Association.

Further information: 2017–18 MDFA Super Division

MFA Super Division

Organising body	Mumbai Football Association (MFA)
Country	India
Number of teams	37
Level on pyramid	6
Promotion to	MFA Elite Division
Relegation to	MFA Division One
League cup(s)	Nadkarni Cup
Current champions	Reliance Foundation Youth Champs (2019–20)
Website	https://footballmfa.com
Current: 2023–24 MFA Super Division

Format

All the teams in the division are divided into four or more groups and shall play a preliminary phase of round-robin games. The top two teams from each group will advance to the playoffs. The points and goals scored in the preliminary phase will not be carried forward to the next round. The top two teams at the end of the league will be promoted to the Elite Division.

All-time participants

Teams
Spartans Football Academy
SAFC Rangers
Willingdon Catholic Gymkhana
ICL Payyade
Central Railway (MD)
Chedda Nagar Prodigies
DECA(D'assisi Ex-students Charitable Association)
Desperados S.C.
ESIC
Tarun Sporting Club
Income Tax
Juhu Sparks
Teleperformance
Kenkre FC U19
Fr. Agnel Gymkhana
Iron Born F.C.
Mumbai Marines FC
Mumbai Port Trust
Mumbai Warriors
Reserve Bank Of India
Sunday Boys F.C.
Scorost United
Veniza Virar F.C.
Soccer XI
Springfields F.C.
Reliance Foundation Young Champs
Mumbai Ultras F.C.
State Bank Of India
West Zone United

Division One

MFA Division One

Organising body	Mumbai Football Association (MFA)
Level on pyramid	7
Promotion to	MFA Super Division
Relegation to	MFA Division Two
League cup(s)	Nadkarni Cup
Current champions	Community Football Club India

1. All the teams in the division will be divided into four or more groups and shall play a preliminary phase of round-robin games.
2. The top two teams from each group will advance to the post-season playoffs.
3. The points and goals scored in the preliminary phase will not be carried forward to the next round.
4. The team standing first and second after the completion of the round-robin playoff league shall be declared the winner and runner-up and will be promoted to the Super Division.
5. The teams in last place in each group after the completion of the preliminary league will be demoted to the Division Two.

Division Two

MFA Division Two

Organising body	Mumbai Football Association (MFA)
Level on pyramid	9
Promotion to	MFA Division One
Relegation to	MFA Division Three
League cup(s)	Nadkarni Cup

1. All the teams in the division will be divided into six or more groups and shall play a preliminary phase of round-robin games.
2. The top two teams from each group will advance to the post-season playoffs.
3. The points and goals scored in the preliminary phase will not be carried forward to the next round.
4. The post season playoffs will include a league phase followed by a single-leg knock out format to decide who will contest the Division Two final.
5. All eight quarter-finalists will be promoted to the Division One

Division Three

MFA Division Three

Organising body	Mumbai Football Association (MFA)
Level on pyramid	8
Promotion to	MFA Division Two
League cup(s)	Nadkarni Cup

1. All the teams in the division will be divided into eight or more groups and shall play a preliminary phase of round-robin games.
2. The top two/three teams from each group will advance to the post-season playoffs.
3. The points and goals scored in the preliminary phase will not be carried forward to the next round.
4. The post season playoffs will include a league phase followed by a single-leg knock out format to decide who will contest the Division Three final.

See also

• Western India Football Association
• Mumbai Football Association
• Rovers Cup
• Nadkarni Cup

References

1. "India – List of Mumbai (Bombay) League Champions". RSSSF . Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
2. "History: The Harwood League". wifa.in. Western India Football Association. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
3. Neil Morrison. "India - List of Mumbai (Bombay) League Champions". RSSSF . Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
4. "History". WIFA. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
5. Nirwane, Sarwadnya (18 January 2022). "Rovers Cup — the second oldest Football tournament in India". thesportslite.com. Mumbai: The Sports Lite. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
6. History: The Harwood League Archived 23 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine . wifa.in. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
7. Yadav, Siddharth (7 December 2016). "MFA Elite Division 2016–17: The Big Preview". Football Counter. Retrieved 7 December 2016.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
8. Shetty, Chittu (22 March 2022). "MFA planning to rechristen Elite Division as Harwood Premiere League". Football Counter. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
9. Bose, Liven (29 March 2022). "MFA announce first set of fixtures for MFA Elite League". IFTWC. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
10. "Harwood Champions League". The Away End. Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
11. "MDFA distribute trophies for Season 2019-20". Footballcounter. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
12. "'Invincible' Ambernath Utd – Atlanta FC lift Harwood Champions League title". Footballcounter. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
13. "Atlanta FC secures back-to-back MFA Elite Premier League titles with win over KSA". Footballcounter. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
14. "MFA announce teams for Super Division". Football Counter. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
15. Shetty, Chittu (4 November 2021). "MFA announce teams for Super Division". Football Counter. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2021.

Further reading

• bhutkar, Prasad (10 January 2016). "Spencer's hat-trick for Sea View sinks a helpless Naval Dockyard side". footballcounter.com. Mumbai. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2021.

External links

• Official website of the Mumbai Football Association