Delhi Football League
The Delhi Football League is a ladder-based football competition in the Indian union territory of Delhi, organised by Delhi Soccer Association as part of the state leagues. Delhi Premier League is the top division, started in 1948 as DSA Senior Division.
History
The first parent body of Delhi football was formed in 1926, with professor Mohammed Zubair Qureishi as secretary. There was no proper local league but the clubs used to participate in private tournaments organised by sport enthusiasts.Due to the violence and upheaval caused by the Partition of India, the Delhi League was suspended after 1946. It resumed in 1948 and the oldest club in the capital Young Men has won it that year. From 1948 onwards, the Delhi League took a particular shape. It had three divisions. The top 10 teams played in the A division, on a double-leg basis, with all matches being held at the Ambedkar Stadium, earlier known as the Delhi Gate Stadium. The B and C division matches took place at either the nearby Crescent Ground or the President's Estate Ground. Except for transport allowance, kit and refreshment, there was no payment to the players. However, club officials would strive to get their top players jobs in leading public sector concerns like Delhi Audit, Northern Railway, State Bank of India, Central Secretariat Service, Delhi Electric Supply Undertaking, Food Corporation of India and so on. A competitive institutional league was also held annually.
Structure
Delhi Premier League
Delhi Premier League, previously known as Football Delhi Senior Division League and DSA Senior Division, is the top state-level football league in Delhi and level 5 of Indian football league system. It is also the highest level inter-city league played in the capital. Competition is conducted by Delhi Soccer Association, official governing body of Delhi region under AIFF. Most players from this league are selected to represent Delhi for Santosh Trophy.Clubs
Eleven clubs competed in the first edition.| Clubs | Venues |
| Delhi FC | |
| Hindustan FC | |
| Royal Rangers FC | |
| Friends United FC | |
| Garhwal Heroes FC | |
| Tarun Sangha FC | |
| Rangers SC | |
| Sudeva Delhi FC | |
| Uttarakhand FC | |
| Amity Indian National FC | |
| Indian Air Force | |
| Vatika FC | |