Mumbai Football League
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 six 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]
| Organising body | Mumbai Football Association (MFA) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1902[1] |
| Country | India |
| Divisions | MFA Elite Division MFA Super Division MFA First Division MFA Second Division MFA Third Division |
| Number of teams | 300+ |
| Level on pyramid | 4-8 (Indian football league system) |
| Promotion to | I-League Qualifiers |
| Domestic cup(s) | Durand Cup (invitational) |
| League cup(s) | Nadkarni Cup |
| Current champions | Karnatak Sporting Association (1st title) |
| Most championships | Tata Sports Club Mahindra United FC (13 titles each) |
League structure
Elite Division
The Elite Division is the topmost division in MFL organised by Mumbai District FA. Eliminating the much-criticised championship play-offs from previous editions, the Mumbai Football Association (MFA) has restructured the Elite Division 2010–11 season into a classic league format with the teams contesting for the championship and the two dreaded relegation spots.
Elite Division format
All teams play each other in a round-robin single leg format. The top two teams at the end of the league will be declared winners and runners up. The teams finishing in the bottom two places at the end of the league phase will be relegated to the Super Division.
Super Division
The Super Division is the second highest division in MFL organised by Mumbai District Football Association.
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.
Division One
Format
- All the teams in the division will be 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 post-season playoffs.
- The points and goals scored in the preliminary phase will not be carried forward to the next round.
- 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.
- The teams in last place in each group after the completion of the preliminary league will be demoted to the Division Two.
Division Two
Format
- All the teams in the division will be divided into six or more groups and shall play a preliminary phase of round-robin games.
- The top two teams from each group will advance to the post-season playoffs.
- The points and goals scored in the preliminary phase will not be carried forward to the next round.
- 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.
- All eight quarter-finalists will be promoted to the Division One
Division Three
Format
- All the teams in the division will be divided into eight or more groups and shall play a preliminary phase of round-robin games.
- The top two/three teams from each group will advance to the post-season playoffs.
- The points and goals scored in the preliminary phase will not be carried forward to the next round.
- 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.
League results by year
| Year | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1902 |  Oxfordshire Light Infantry |
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| 1903 | Royal Garrison Artillery |
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| 1904 | Cheshire Regiment |
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| 1905 | Yorkshire Regiment |
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| 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 |
|
| 1916–20 | None | Not held |
| 1921 | King's Shropshire Light Infantry |
|
| 1922 | King's Shropshire Light Infantry |
|
| 1923 | Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers |
|
| 1924 | West Yorkshire Regiment |
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| 1925 | West Yorkshire Regiment |
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| 1926 | South Staffordshire Regiment |
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| 1927 | Cheshire Regiment |
|
| 1928 | Royal Ulster Rifles |
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| 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 |
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| 1936 | Durham Light Infantry |
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| 1937 | Cheshire Regiment |
|
| 1938 | Cheshire Regiment |
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| 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 | Abandonded |
| 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. | ||
| The Harwood League / Mumbai Football League Elite Division | ||
| 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 | Karnatak Sporting Association (KSA) | [5] |
| 2020–21 | None | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in India. |
| 2021–22 | Ongoing | |
| Source: Mumbai (Bombay) League Champions | ||
See also
References
- "India - List of Mumbai (Bombay) League Champions". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
- "History: The Harwood League". wifa.in. Western India Football Association. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
- Neil Morrison. "India - List of Mumbai (Bombay) League Champions". rsssf.com. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
- "History". WIFA. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- "MDFA distribute trophies for Season 2019-20". Footballcounter. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
External links
| Major pro leagues | |||||
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| Other national tournaments |
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| Regional leagues |
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| Women's | |||||
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