The League was founded in the late 1960s but has run four divisions since 1977.
Ex-pats and locals play alongside each other under club names such as KCC Dragons ( Kowloon Cricket Club) and Swiss XI. You can guess that there is a large foreign contingent treading the Astro turfs on the island.
I met a former pupil from Charterhouse, Ned, who is living in HK and who keeps himself out of mischief by turning out for Club Albion, the present Division One champions. Ned was a decent school footballer who also played for the Old Carthusians before he high tailed it off to the Far East to make money.
Founded in 1886, the club is managed by Tony Hamilton-Bram, whose pedigree includes playing in Southampton and who also keeps things afloat by being on the HKFC committee.
Albion, who are presently 3rd in Division One, are currently awaiting a Cup semi-final against second division KCC Knights, so Ned and his boys are banking on getting another trophy in the cabinet. The Knights are closing in on promotion from Division Two, so they may not be a push over. The game is kicking off at 8pm n March 20th.
In the other semi are Squadron and Swiss XI.
If you want to see some famous old names it is worth getting on to the YYL website and see who plays out here now. The annual Hong Kong Citibank International Sevens (no not the rugby) also attracts many professional clubs from all over the world and names such as David Howells (then at Southampton and ex Spurs and now coach in charge of football at Charterhouse), Gabby Agbonlahor and Jack Grealish may be found on the playing record. Clubs use this tournament as an opportunity to blood youngsters and send out their senior pros to help develop junior footballers. Last year's winners were Atletico Madrid who beat West Ham in the final.
Football is the Global game and it is fully alive in Hong Kong and Kowloon. And now I'm off to find a bar that is showing the North London Derby and hoping that this is not another St Totteringham's day!
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