Gangtok Himalayan SC

Gangtok Himalayan Sporting Club, or simply Gangtok SC (formerly known as Sikkim Himalayan SC), is an Indian professional football club based in Gangtok, Sikkim,[5] that competed in the I-League 2nd Division,[6][7] the second tier of Indian football league system. It currently participates in Sikkim Premier Division League.[8][9]

Gangtok Himalayan SC
Full nameGangtok Himalayan Sporting Club[1]
Nickname(s)Himalayans[2]
Short nameGHSC
Founded2012 (2012) (as Sikkim Himalayan S.C.)[3]
GroundPaljor Stadium[4]
Capacity30,000
ManagerSantosh Kashyap
LeagueSikkim Premier Division League
20192nd, (Runners-up)

History

Formation and journey

Gangtok Himalayan SC was founded in 2012 in Gangtok,[10] the capital city of the Indian state Sikkim, and affiliated with Sikkim Football Association (SFA).[11][12][13][14] Since then, they have been participating in various domestic and amateur tournaments regionally.[15] The club was founded by Tenzing Lamtha.[16]

In October 2014, Gangtok Himalayan participated in Sikkim Governor's Gold and reached to the semi-finals, but their journey ended with a 2–1 defeat to ONGC FC.[17][18][19]

In January 2016, they were officially certified by the All India Football Federation to participate in the I-League 2nd Division,[20] the second tier of football in India, after finishing 2nd in the Sikkim Premier Division League. This move began a new chapter for Gangtok-based side as they became a professional football club from the North East India.[21]

2016 was the most successful season for Gangtok Himalayan, in which they participated in the I-League 2nd Division, Durand Cup,[22] Sikkim Gold Cup and Sikkim Premier Division League.

After finishing 2nd in the group A (Eastern conference) of the 2015–16 I-League 2nd Division,[23] Gangtok Himalayan qualified for the 2015–16 I-League 2nd Division Final Round. There they finished as 5th and failed to qualify in the I-League.[24]

Gangtok Himalayan players in training at the Paljor Stadium, Gangtok, in 2017.

In 2016 Durand Cup, the Himalayans finished 5th, behind Indian Navy in the group A with 6 points.[25][26]

In 2019, they reached to the final of 39th edition of the Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup final defeating Royal FC Siliguri 3–1,[27][28] but lost the title winning match to Mohammedan Sporting by 2–1 margin.[29][30] In that year, Gangtok Himalayan lifted Independence Day Football Tournament trophy defeating Sikkim Aacraman FC via penalty shoot-out.

I-League fate

The All India Football Federation were all set to invite bids for vacant spots in the I-League and Gangtok-based Sikkim Himalayan football club (now Gangtok Himalayan) were one of the front-runners to join, but it was not materialized.[31]

2020–present

In 2020, Gangtok Himalayan went to Nepal for participating in the 18th Aaha! Rara Gold Cup but their journey ended after a 3–0 defeat to Three Star Club in quarter-finals.[32][33]

Rivalry

Gangtok Himalayan has a rivalry with their fellow Sikkim based club United Sikkim FC,[34] whom they face in regional tournaments including Sikkim Premier Division League.[35] The rivalry is sometimes referred to as Sikkim Derby. Both the clubs use Paljor Stadium as their home grounds. One of their most memorable matches was on 9 November 2019 during Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup, and Gangtok Himalayan won by 3–1 margin.[36]

Stadium
Main article: Paljor Stadium
Aerial view of Paljor Stadium, home of Gangtok Himalayan FC.

For I-League 2nd Division, the club announced that they would play all their home matches at the 30,000 seater Paljor Stadium in the capital of Sikkim, Gangtok.[37][38] The club has also used Paljor stadium for matches of regional tournaments like Sikkim Premier Division League.[39] It was opened in 1943 and has Artificial turf.[40]

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2015—2020 Vamos[41] Organic Sikkim

Past internationals
  • The players below had senior or age-level international cap(s) for their respective countries or autonomous regions. Players whose name is listed, represented their countries before or after playing for Gangtok Himalayan SC.
  • Palsang Lama (2013–2015)
  • Tashi Samphel (2016–2018)[42]
  • Tashi Tsering (2009–2010)[Note 1][43]
  • Tsering Dhundup (2007–2008)[44]
  • Pema Lhundup (2018–2019)[45]
  • Yogesh Gurung (2013–2014)[46]
  • Karma Tsewang ((2015–2017)[Note 2]
  • Stephen Harry (2017–2018)

Honours

League

Cup
  • Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup
  • Independence Day Football Tournament
    • Champions (1): 2019[51]
  • Kohima Royal Gold Cup
    • Champions (1): 1996[52]
  • Darjeeling Gurkha Gold Cup
    • Runners-up (1): 2012[53]
  • DSK Cup (Pune)
    • Runners-up (1): 2015
  • Oodlabari Football Tournament
    • Runners-up (1): 2019

See also

Notes
  1. ^
    Besides Nepal national football team, Tashi Tsering also represented Tibet national football team in non-FIFA international matches.
  2. ^
    Karma Tsewang is an Indian-born footballer, who represents Tibet national football team in non-FIFA international matches.

References
  1. "GANGTOK HIMALAYAN SC". Soccerway.com. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  2. Gangtok Himalayan Sports Club Facebook. Retrieved 12 March 2021
  3. Sikkim Himalayan Sporting Club all set for Hero Junior League nenow.in. Retrieved 29 July 2021
  4. "Gangtok Himalayan SC". findglocal.com.Results, fixtures, squad and statistics. Retrieved 1 March 2021
  5. "Gangtok Himalayan SC". Khel Now. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  6. I-League 2nd Div: GHSC 0 – 1 Neroca FC Match Report Golie365. Retrieved 1 March 2021
  7. Change in format for I-League 2nd division Sportskeeda.com. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015
  8. "S-league kicks off today". Sikkim Express. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  9. "Sikkim Premier Division League 2019: Update". The Away End. 17 September 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  10. India - List of Foundation Dates RSSSF. Retrieved 17 August 2021
  11. Sikkim Football Association meet with Premier Sikkim clubs for development of game The Times of India. Retrieved 29 July 2021
  12. http://www.sikkim.nic.in/sfa/
  13. "Sikkim Himalayan boys have proved why they are the reigning Sikkim Premier League Champions". Goalie365.
  14. "Sikkim Premier Division League 2016 Fixture Released". Goalie365.
  15. "Gangtok Himalayan SC". Khel Now. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  16. Sikkim Himalayan SC starts pre-season training to focus on young players Sikkim Express. Retrieved 29 July 2021
  17. "Breaking News: MMC Beats Sikkim FA To Enter Finals In 35th Governor's Gold Cup". goalnepal.com. 20 October 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  18. "MMC Skipper Shiva Shrestha: We Want To Take Governor's Gold Cup Trophy To Nepal". goalnepal.com. 20 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  19. India tournaments 2014/15 RSSSF. Retrieved 8 October 2021
  20. "I-LEAGUE 2ND DIVISION: MOHAMMEDAN KEEN TO BUILD ON THEIR IMPRESSIVE START AGAINST GANGTOK HIMALAYAN SC". India Footy. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  21. Gangtok Himalayan Sporting Club fixtures in the I-League 2nd Division globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 1 March 2021
  22. "Rohit double helps DSK Shivajians overcome Gangtok Himalayan". The Times of India. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  23. Results & Fixtures: 2nd Division I-League I-League.org. Retrieved 1 March 2021
  24. "I-LEAGUE 2ND DIVISION: MINERVA BEAT GANGTOK HIMALAYAN TO KEEPS PRESSURE ON DEMPO". Indianfooty.com. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  25. "Durand Cup 2016: Minerva Academy FC Gets Direct Entry Along With 7 Other Clubs". Indian Football Network. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  26. "Durand Cup: Shivajians FC face 'Himalayan' task". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  27. India 2019/20: Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup RSSSF. Retrieved 3 October 2021
  28. "MSC confident ahead of Gold Cup final vs Sikkim Himalayan FC". The Times of India. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  29. "39th SIKKIM GOVERNOR'S GOLD CUP 2019 SEMI-FINALS AND FINAL". Kolkatafootball.com. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  30. Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup 2019 Final Soccerway. Retrieved 3 October 2021
  31. Gangtok Himalayan SC makes a flying start The Hindu. Retrieved 29 July 2021
  32. AAHA RARA GOLD CUP (2020) Nepal90.com. Retrieved 3 October 2021
  33. "Three Star advance to last four". The Himalayan Times. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  34. "United Sikkim revived, Bhaichung Bhutia says aim is to bring ISL into state". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  35. All you need to know about football league structure in Sikkim Goal.com. Retrieved 17 August 2021
  36. Gangtok Himalayan SC vs United Sikkim (Sikkim Gold Cup 2019) Soccerway.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021
  37. Dempo SC start final round against Gangtok Himalayan SC at Paljor Stadium in Sikkim i-league.org. Retrieved 7 May 2021
  38. "Sikkimese teams to face opponents at 2nd Division I-League prelims". iSikkim. 18 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  39. Goalie365. "Sikkim Football Association released the fixture for 2018 Sikkim Premier Division League at football house in Gangtok". Goalie365. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  40. "Paljor Stadium". soccerway. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  41. MSC confident ahead of Gold Cup final vs Sikkim Himalayan FC The Times of India. Retrieved 19 August 2021
  42. "Rohit double helps DSK Shivajians overcome Gangtok Himalayan". The Times of India. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  43. Tibetan National Sports Association (TNSA) at the Wayback Machine (archived May 30, 2007)
  44. Shaolin Soccer Foot au Tibet, team 2008 olympiquemidilirou.midiblogs.com. Retrieved 15 August 2021
  45. "Tibetan Football to debut in CONIFA 2018 World Cup". Tibetsun.com. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  46. Yogesh Gurung player info and statistics globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 2 September 2021
  47. "Sikkim Himalayan SC has technically won the Sikkim Premier League title with one more game to go". Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  48. "Sikkim Aakraman F.C. Sikkim Premier Division League Champions". www.indianfootballnetwork.com. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  49. "India – List of All India Governor's Gold Cup Winners (Sikkim)". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  50. "List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup". Indianfootball.de. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  51. Paljor Stadium Gangtok News localgymsandfitness.com. Retrieved 3 October 2021
  52. Arunava Chaudhuri. "List of winners and runners-up of the Kohima Royal Gold Cup". indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  53. 14th All India Darjeeling Gold Cup: PREVIOUS WINNERS Kolkatafootball.com. Retrieved 3 October 2021
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