Cheung Chi Doy


Cheung Chi Doy is a Hong Kong former professional footballer. Started his career in native Hong Kong, in the British Empire, he also played for English side Blackpool. In international level, he represented Republic of China.
Cheung was the first Asian and Hong Kong football player to play in Europe. He began his career in the Hong Kong First Division at 14 years of age. In 1960, he went to play for English club Blackpool, where he was a teammate of Jimmy Armfield. He became the first ethnic Chinese player to appear in the top flight of English football. He made two appearances for Blackpool's first team and scored one goal, against Sheffield Wednesday on November 25, 1961. In 1968, he and his brother Cheung Chi Wai joined the Vancouver Royals, playing under Bobby Robson in the North American Soccer League. While he began the season in Vancouver, he finished it with the St. Louis Stars. He also played for Tung Wah, Kitchee and Jardine SA in the Hong Kong First Division.
Following Cheung's stint at Blackpool in 1962, he was the only Hong Kong-born football player to have played for a top-flight European club until Michael Udebuluzor signed with Estonian top-flight side Tallinna Kalev. Cheung remains the only Hongkonger to have played professional football in England.
In the 1963-64 season, he scored a record number of 42 goals playing for Kitchee SC.

Personal life

Cheung Chi Doy's father, Chang King Hai, and brother Cheung Chi Wai were also footballers.
Cheung Chi Doy's son, Nelson Cheung Hok-yun, nicknamed Nel Nel, was an actor and fashion designer. Nelson committed suicide on 18 May 2023.
In 2011 Cheung Chi Doy was arrested for shoplifting in a supermarket. He was fined HK$2,000 by the court.

Honours

Kitchee
Sing Tao
Individual