Global InformationAir India FC information
| Full name | Air India Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Pilots | ||
| Founded | 1952 | ||
| Ground | Cooperage Ground | ||
| Capacity | 5,000 | ||
| Owner | Air India Limited | ||
| Head coach | Godfrey Pereira | ||
| League | MFA Elite Corporate League | ||
| 2022–23 | Champions | ||
| |||
Air India Football Club is a football section of the same-named Indian institutional multi-sports club.[1][2][3][4] Founded by Anand Prajapati in 1952,[5] the club is based in Mumbai, Maharashtra.[6][7][8] Sponsored by Air India,[9] the club previously played in the Mumbai Football League, and now in the MFA Elite Corporate League.[10][11][12]
The club previously competed in the I-League,[13][14][15][16] then top tier of Indian football league system.[17][18] As multiple champions in various Mumbai competitions, Air India is best known for nurturing youngsters into big time players. Many of these boys have played with distinction for bigger teams in the later years.[19]
In 2005, the team qualified to the National Football League first division, and then 2007 saw Air India finishing 7th and were the Mumbai Harwood Champions in 2005.[20] Considered as one of the "giant killers" in Indian leagues,[21] Air India also appeared in corporate tournaments such as the All India Public Sector League, and ONGC Trophy.[22][23]
- ^ "Club information and statistics: Air India FC". besoccer.com. BeSoccer. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ "I-League: Air India Edge Past Salgaocar To Move Out Of The Drop Zone". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
- ^ Air India Football Club profile, statistics and seasons. Archived 26 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine. worldfootball.in. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ "Santosh Kashyap, lone Indian selected for FIFA/AFC Futsal Instructor Course". Kick off India. 18 October 2010. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
- ^ Schöggl, Hans. "India — List of Foundation Dates". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
- ^ "Air India strikes six to defeat ONGC". DNA India. 21 January 2016. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
- ^ "A look back into the dysfunctional clubs in the past decade of Indian football". The Bridge. 11 April 2019. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ Shukla, Kaudhal (5 December 2014). "Gritty ten men of ONGC overcome Air India on penalties to lift the 108th Nadkarni Cup". footballcounter.com. Mumbai: Football Counter India. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
- ^ "RCF Nadkarni Cup: Air India storm into semi-finals". FootballCounter. 14 February 2017. Archived from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
- ^ "MFA announce teams for Super Division". Football Counter. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- ^ Shetty, Chittu (4 November 2021). "MFA announce teams for Super Division". Football Counter. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
- ^ Bhutkar, Prasad (10 January 2016). "Spencer's hat-trick for Sea View sinks a helpless Naval Dockyard side". footballcounter.com. Mumbai. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "DEMPO VS. AIR INDIA 3–1". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
- ^ "PUNE VS. AIR INDIA 0 – 1". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
- ^ "AIR INDIA VS. SALGAOCAR 2 – 1". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
- ^ "JCT FC VS. AIR INDIA 0 – 2". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
- ^ Noronha, Anselm. "Dempo SC 1–0 Air India: Abranches' late strike grounds the Airmen". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
- ^ "I-League: How newly-promoted teams have performed". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "AIFF: About Club — Air India FC". the-aiff.com. All India Football Federation. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ ":::: The Aiff ::::". Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
- ^ Pawar, Vaibhav (26 August 2008). "Expecting a top-six finish: Bimal Ghosh". mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com. Mumbai: The Mumbai Mirror. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ^ Khan, M. M. Jafar (8 March 2016). "Departments' League — A solution to many problems". englisharchives.mathrubhumi.com. Kochi: Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 4 August 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
- ^ "Champions Air India finish season unbeaten". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Mumbai: The Times of India. TNN. 4 July 2023. Archived from the original on 12 July 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2018.