Uttarakhand Super League

The Uttarakhand Super League (USL) is a semi-professional football league, sanctioned by both the All India Football Federation and the Uttarakhand State Football Association, that represents the sport in the state of Uttarakhand.[1] Founded in 2016, the league is organized by the Uttarakhand Adventure Sports Pvt Limited with the goal of promoting football throughout the state.[2] The league began in July 2016 with fourteen teams and is based on the Indian Super League, the franchise based football league for India nationally.[2][1]

Uttarakhand Super League
Founded2016
CountryIndia
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams14
Level on pyramid3
Current championsPauri Platoons (1 title)
Websiteuksuperleague.com
Current: 2020 USL season

History

In early March 2016 it was announced that Uttarakhand Adventure Sports Pvt Limited, with permission from the All India Football Federation and the Uttarakhand State Football Association, would launch a franchise-based football league based on the Indian Super League.[1] Virendra Singh Rawat was announced as the first technical director of the league while former India international Baichung Bhutia was announced as the brand ambassador for the league.[1] According to Rawat, the league would help footballers from Uttarakhand develop: "Uttarakhand footballers will be biggest beneficiary of the USL as they will get chance to play with foreign football players. The sport will be promoted in a professional manner and each player playing in the tournament will be paid money".[1]

In June 2016 it was announced that the fourteen teams were finalized for the league, as well as the squads for the teams after a bidding process. The first edition of the USL would kick off from 10 July 2016.[3]

After the first season, Pauri Platoons emerged as the inaugural winners, defeating Nainital FC Lakes on penalties, 3–2, on 9 August 2016.[4]

Competition format

Ran like the Indian Super League, the fourteen teams will be divided into two groups of seven and play each other before the top four teams from each group qualify for the finals. The qualified teams will then play in the quarter-final before playing in the semi-finals and grand final to determine the champion.[5]

Teams

The following teams will be participating in the Uttarakhand Super League in 2016.[6]

Group A District Group B District
Chamoli Bugyal FC Chamoli Almora Burans Almora
Dehradun Capital Rangers Dehradun Bageshwar FC Kafals Bageshwar
Haridwar Ganges Haridwar Champawat Hills Champawat
Pauri Platoons Pauri Garhwal Corbett Tigers Nainital
Rudraprayag Monals Rudraprayag Nainital FC Lakes Nainital
Tehri Lions Tehri Garhwal Pithoragarh Panthers Pithoragarh
Uttarkashi Glaciers Uttarkashi Udhamsingh Nagar Warriors Udham Singh Nagar

Finals results
Season Date Winner Score Runners–up Venue Golden boot Semi-finalists
2016 9 August Pauri Platoons 2–2 (3–2 pen) Nainital FC Lakes Pavilion Ground Chepko (12) Dehradun Capital Rangers, Pithoragarh Panthers

See also

References
  1. Talwari, Gaurav (7 March 2016). "On the lines of ISL, Uttarakhand Super League to start in June". Times of India. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  2. "About Us". Uttarakhand Super League.
  3. "Football tourney USL to kick-start on July 9, finals to be on Aug 9". DailyPioneer. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  4. "Pauri Platoons defeats Nainital FS in USL". Times of India. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  5. "Rules and Regulations", uksuperleague.com, retrieved 2 July 2016
  6. "Standings". Uttarakhand Super League.
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