North-Western Railway football team, runners-up at the 1946 Inter-Railways Football Tournament
The North-Western Railway Football Club was founded in the 1880s as representative of the North Western State Railway in football competitions in British India. In it's early years, it was operated predominantly by the British railwaymen and officials. The team has been recorded as playing in several football tournaments in the 1890s in Lahore.[3][4]
After the partition of British India in 1947, most of the North Western Railway network was allocated to Pakistan, and the team remained active in the newly formed country. Immediately after, the team began playing in several tournaments across Pakistan.[8][9]
In the 1954 National Football Championship, the team finished as runner-up after losing to Punjab Blues in the final. In 1956, competing as Railway White, it again placed second, this time against Balochistan.[10] In 1958, the team again lost in the final against Punjab Blues.[10]
In 1969, it secured its first National Football Championship title by defeating Karachi.[10]
Renaming to Pakistan Railways (1974–2005)
Following the renaming of Pakistan Western Railway to Pakistan Railways in 1974, three years after the independence of Bangladesh and losing the eastern wing, the club adopted its present name.
In 1984, it won its second National Football Championship, after overcoming WAPDA in the final.[14] In 1989, the team finished runner-ups after losing to Punjab Red.[10]
Railways again qualified to the top-tier by winning their departmental leg of the 2013 PFF League.[16] It remained in the top tier until getting relegated again in the 2014–15 Pakistan Premier League.
2023–present
Following the domestic football revamp in the country in 2023, departmental clubs including Railways remained competing in the PFF National Challenge Cup.[17][18]
Stadium
Since 1932, the Railway Stadium in Garhi Shahu, Lahore, owned by the Pakistan Railways Sports Board serve as the team own ground. It has also been a historic football venue of Pakistan, hosting several domestic and international football matches.[19][20]
The players below had senior international cap(s) for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed, represented their countries before or after playing for Pakistan Railways.
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