History
History
History

Kitchee Sports Club

Established in 1931, Kitchee Sports Club is one of the most illustrious clubs in Hong Kong, serving the community for almost a century. Looking beyond the pursuit of titles and glories, the Club is constantly seeking to revitalise the football industry in Hong Kong. In the 21st Century, Kitchee has emerged in all aspects of club operations. Besides domestic trophies, the team repeatedly makes historical breakthroughs in the continental level, making a name for Hong Kong football in Asia.

 

In the future, the Club’s ambition is to push forward in all fronts and take the Club to the next level. Kitchee aims to make further progress in the domestic and continental stage while holding true to the Club’s football philosophy, and to produce youth players who are ready and eager to prove themselves in Hong Kong football. In the quest of building a football industry, Kitchee seeks to form a self-sustaining business model by enhancing its commercial value. We envision that success on the pitch can lead to new business opportunities, which can support the Club’s football operations, navigating a new route in the industrialisation of Hong Kong domestic football.

The foundation of the Club was laid from 1928 to 1930 as a group of local enthusiasts formed a football team to join the Third Division organised by the Hong Kong Football Association. This football team, named Kitchee, moved on and participated in other competitions.

 

Kitchee Sports Club was established and officially named in 1931. With the founding members coming from humble backgrounds, the Club was operated with minimal resources and could only provide limited support to the team.

 

In 1934, the Club launched a fundraising programme in order to secure the funding needed to rent an office. With the support received, the Club began its operations on 4/F, 130 Johnston Road at Wanchai. One of the earliest trophies the Club won was the Second Division Shield in 1938, as the Club was mainly focused on football development.

 

The Pacific War from 1939 to 1945 put an abrupt halt to club operation. Moreover, the Club’s office was damaged during the war, which led to the loss of the document archive of the Club.

 

Since the end of the War in 1945, the Club resumed its operation and assisted in the rejuvenation of domestic football, including the organisation of local player and referee associations and social unions. The team was champion of the First Division in 1948, 1950, and 1964, while winning the Senior Shield in 1950, 1954, 1960, and 1964. However, mixed performance in the end of the century led to the team’s relegation to the Second Division in the 1965-66 season, and subsequently to the Third Division. Kitchee initially returned to the First Division in 1992, but the team would drop to the Second Division again in 1995.