United Sikkim F.C.

United Sikkim Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in Gangtok, Sikkim. Founded in 2011,[1][2] the club competes in the Sikkim Premier Division League. United Sikkim is the only club from Sikkim to play in the I-League, one of the top flights of Indian football. The club which is owned by former India captain Baichung Bhutia, was founded in order to give the people of the Indian state of Sikkim a team.[3]

United Sikkim
Full nameRoyal United Sikkim Football Club
Nickname(s)The Snow Lions
Sikkim People Club
Founded2011 (2011)
Dissolved2019 (2019)
GroundPaljor Stadium
Capacity30,000
OwnerBaichung Bhutia
ChairmanNicat Mehdiyev
ManagerArjun Rai
LeagueI-League 2nd Division
2014Final Round : 4th

In September 2019, Baichung Bhutia announced of shutting the club down due to some unavoidable circumstances.[4] During an emotional farewell event, Baichung Bhutia thanked all the players and support staff besides the fans who supported the club over the years.[5]

The club was revived again in January 2021 with aims to play in the Indian Super League.[6] Manager Arjun Rai said on Monday that besides inaugurating the senior and youth team, emphasis would be laid on bringing footballers from the villages.[7]

History

Foundation

The club was founded in 2011 by the Sikkim Football Association and Baichung Bhutia and would compete in the Sikkim Gold Cup and other All-India tournaments for the early years of their existence.[1] Then on 22 March 2011 the club was launched as a professional club which would be co-owned by Dubai-based Fidelis World, former India football captain Baichung Bhutia, and Indian singer Shankar Mahadevan.[3] The club then revealed that they would compete in the 2011 I-League 2nd Division in the quest for promotion to the I-League within the next three years.[3][8]

2011–2012: 2nd Division seasons

The club started their quest for the I-League on 27 February 2011 when the signed Liberian international Johnny Menyongar from NSC Minnesota Stars of the North American Soccer League in the United States. The club then played their first match of the 2011 I-League 2nd Division against Langsning F.C. on 31 March 2012 in which the club drew 2–2.[9] United Sikkim then won their first match of the season five days later on 5 April 2011 against North Imphal Sporting Association at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Assam by a score of 2–0.[10] The club finished in first place in Group A of the first round of the I-League 2nd Division and thus qualified for the 2011 I-League 2nd Division Final Round in which they only needed to finish in the top two for promotion. The club began the Final Round with three consecutive draws against Sporting Clube de Goa, Royal Wahingdoh, and Shillong Lajong before winning two matches in a row against Mohammedan and Southern Samity before a draw to Ar-Hima and a loss to Vasco officially knocked United Sikkim out of contention for promotion to the 2nd Division and forced them to settle for fifth place for the season.[11]

The season including the 2012 I-League 2nd Division did not start well for United Sikkim. On 11 June 2011 it was announced that Johnny Menyongar would leave the club to join I-League team Shillong Lajong as well as Indian internationals Renedy Singh and NS Manju in January 2012.[12][13] However, after firing coach Stanley Rozario, United Sikkim signed Belgian Philippe De Ridder as coach of the team.[14] The club the re-signed Nigerian Daniel Bedemi and Quinton Jacobs for the season. The club then began their charge for the I-League for the second season in a row with a 3–2 victory over Bhawanipore F.C. at the Satindra Mohan Dev Stadium in Assam on 2 February 2012.[15] The club went on to win three more matches during the first round of the I-League 2nd Division against Eagles, Southern Samity, and Ar-Hima in order to qualify for the 2012 I-League 2nd Division Final Round in which the club won promotion on the last day of the season on 17 April 2012 at the Paljor Stadium in Gangtok, Sikkim in front of 30,000 fans as United Sikkim drew Mohammedan 1–1, with Daniel Bedemi scoring the goal for United Sikkim.[16]

2014–2018: State league

On 18 December 2014, it was revealed by owner Baichung Bhutia that United Sikkim had decided to shut down as the future of I League was dim due to the formation of ISL, and thus the team would only participate in the local league.[17]

2018–2020: I league 2nd Division

2018–19 I-League 2nd Division participate the Club in Sikkim we will aim with fourth Northeast Football club in I-League

United Sikkim had decided to shut down as the future of I League was dim due to the formation of ISL.

2020–present: I league

The Indian FA were all set to invite bids for that vacant spot in the I-League and Gangtok-based United Sikkim Football Club were one of the front-runners to submit the bid 2020-21. But the bid was won by Sudeva FC from Delhi.

In 2021, Bhaichung Bhutia, the owner of the club announced that it will revive its junior and senior teams while aiming to bring the Indian Super League (ISL) into the state. The Sikkim's top club said it will also focus on its grassroots programme.[18]

Crest and colours

On 22 March 2011 the first kit and crest of United Sikkim were unveiled at a function held at the Taj Hotel in Kolkata.[19] The club crest had a picture of a snow lion on it, which is currently the club mascot, and the color of the kit was red with white shorts.[19] The club's away colors are dark and light blue.[20] On 29 August 2012 after gaining promotion to the I-League the club unveiled their new crest which is red and not orange like the crests from before. Instead of having "est. 2008" for the founding date, the crest has "est. 2011", which could stand for when the club professionalized itself.[21]

  • United Sikkim's first logo from 2011 to 2012.
  • United Sikkim's second logo from 2012.

Stadium
Paljor Stadium

For their first season in the I-League the club announced that they would play all their home matches at the 25,000 seater Paljor Stadium in the capital of Sikkim, Gangtok.[22] When the club were participating in amateur tournaments from 2008 to 2011 and the I-League 2nd Division from 2011 to 2012 in which they would play in neutral venues, the club used the Paljor Stadium as a training ground, holding the majority of their practices there.[23] However, despite the I-League 2nd Division being a neutral competition the Paljor Stadium was given the rights to host the 2012 I-League 2nd Division Final Round 2nd leg in which United Sikkim were also participating.[24] The ground was also the venue for the match in which United Sikkim gained promotion to the I-League after drawing Mohammedan 1–1.[25]

Seats in Paljor Stadium

Rivalry

Northeast India Derby
Opponent Played Wins Draws Losses
United Sikkim 2011
Shillong Lajong 2110
Total 2110

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Off-Field Uniform
2011 Nike EMTA none
2012 none
2012 URO
2013–2018 Kokkivo Clothing[26]
2018–2020 Officer's Choice
2020- Cosco Hero MotoCorp

First-team squad
As of 20 August 2018

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
10 FW  GHA John Ampong

Current technical staff
As of 5 January 2021
Position Name
Manager Arjun Rai
Head Coach Arjun Rai
Assistant coach None
Club physio None

Head coach's record
Further information: List of United Sikkim F.C. managers

Honours
Further information: List of United Sikkim F.C. seasons
Champion (1): 2012

Footnotes
  1. Bhutani, Rahul. "Chirag United and United Sikkim: The Two Extremes Of Indian Football". The Hard Tackle. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  2. Goalie365. "Sikkim Football Association released the fixture for 2018 Sikkim Premier Division League at football house in Gangtok". Goalie365. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  3. Sengupta, Rahul. "India: Dazzling Launch For United Sikkim As Bhaichung Bhutia Shows Indian Football Does Have Investors". Goal.com. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  4. "Indian football: Bhaichung Bhutia decides to shut down United Sikkim FC". Goal.com. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  5. Dichen Ongmu (24 September 2019). "Emotional farewell to players as United Sikkim FC shuts down". EastMojo.com. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
  6. "United Sikkim revived, Bhaichung Bhutia says aim is to bring ISL into state". Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  7. "Indian football: Bhaichung Bhutia-owned United Sikkim FC revived with aim to take part in ISL". Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  8. Sunam, Ashim. "United Sikkim qualification highlight of my career: Bhaichung Bhutia". Meri News. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  9. "I-League 2nd Division – Langsning vs United Sikkim – Soccer – Scoresway – Results, fixtures, tables and statistics". www.scoresway.com. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  10. "I-League 2nd Division – United Sikkim vs NISA – Soccer – Scoresway – Results, fixtures, tables and statistics". www.scoresway.com. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  11. "All India Football Federation, Football Development Programmes". www.the-aiff.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  12. "Menyongar signs with Shillong Lajong". India Blooms. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  13. "Shillong Lajong sign Renedy Singh". Times of India. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
  14. Choudhuri, Arunava. "Indian Football: Transfer Season 2011/12 – Version 13". Arunava Choudhuri. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  15. "I-League 2nd Div.: United Sikkim beats Bhawanipur 3–2". iSikkim. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  16. "USFC Top Group". The All India Football Federation. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  17. "India need better system, not big names as coaches: Baichung Bhutia". Zee News. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  18. https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/united-sikkim-revived-bhutia-says-aim-is-to-bring-isl-into-state/article33494082.ece
  19. "Jersey of USFC officially launched in Kolkata". iSikkim. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  20. Mangar, Nirmal. "Cheers at home fail to yield goals". Telegraph India. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  21. United Sikkim New Logo
  22. "Paljor Stadium, Sikkim to host I-League matches". Seven Sister Post. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  23. "USFC concludes training for Kalinga Cup & 2nd Div I-League". iSikkim. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  24. "How Bhaichung's United Sikkim FC qualified for the I league?". iSikkim. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  25. "United Sikkim qualify for next edition's I-League Football". iSikkim. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  26. http://isikkim.com/2013-10-united-sikkim-fc-kokkivo-apparel-tie-up-21-7/ United Sikkim FC, Kokkivo Clothing apparel tie-up

Official websites
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