History

Punjab Football Association (an affiliated unit of All India Football Federation and Punjab Olympic Association) look-after, run, promote, manages and controls the sport of football in the State of Punjab.   It has 22 affiliated district units (DFAs) and 38 directly associated clubs directly managed by Punjab FA, which includes 18 Punjab Super League Clubs and 20 Punjab Football League Clubs.  There are about 250 indirectly associated clubs those are managed through respective District Football Associations.  Various Youth Development and Grassroots Centres are running across Punjab State which are directly associated with Punjab Football Association.   Mr.Samir Thapar being President of Punjab Football Association is the principal office bearer and legal representative of Punjab Football Association.

All the affairs inclusive of operations, funds, assets etc of Punjab Football Association are look-after, run, manage and control by PFA’s Secretariat established at JCT Limited, Phagwara under the steep guidance of President and other Office Bearers and EXCO Members of Punjab Football Association.  The Executive Committee of Punjab Football Association is formed by the elected office-bearers of its affiliated units, which is comprised of 20 members.  For smooth functioning and overall development of the sport of Football across Punjab, The Executive Committee has further constituted 12 other Standing Sub Committees which are functional and deal with the respective affairs of Punjab Football Association as autonomous units subject to control of Governing Body.

Punjab Football Association controls and manages the District Football mainly through respective District Football Associations.  Women Football and Grassroots Football is at present being managed through respective Sub-Committees.  Punjab Football Association run its State Leagues in both Men & Women categories for all age groups including other age group State Championships regularly.

The football was properly organised in Punjab in the year 1932 under North East India Football Association with Sir Sikander Hayat Khan as its First President and Mr.H.A.Soofi, Director of Physical Education, Govt. College, Lahore as its first Honorary Secretary. The Association was affiliated to the All India Football Federation in 1935.  After partition, the East Punjab Football Association, came into existence on 24^th February, 1948 and its first President was Mr.S.M.Sanyal of the All India Jat Heroes Memorial College, Rohtak and Mr.M.C. Jolly was its first Honorary Secretary.  The East Punjab Football Association was soon replaced by Punjab Football Association and Mr. M.C.Jolly became its first President and Prof. R.D.Bhalla became Honorary Secretary of Punjab Football Association. The Association was again affiliated to the All India Football Federation on 24^th April, 1951. Mr.D.D.Sehgal became Honorary Secretary on 6^th August 1967 and discharged his duty as Honorary Secretary till 06.05.1970.  In the year 1970 when Punjab Football Association was bifurcated, two separate Associations namely Punjab Football Association and Haryana Football Association were formed.  Mr.M.C.Jolly resigned from the Presidentship of the Association on May 19, 1970 and Mr.D.D.Sehgal took over the command of the Association as its President and remained till 19^th August 1978.  Mr.Hardayal Singh became its Honorary Secretary on 6^th May 1970 and remained till 6^th September 1973.  In the year 1970 Punjab Football Association had the honour to hold 27^th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy for the first time in Jalandhar (Punjab), which was won by Punjab Team beating Mysore 4-2 (tie-breaker) in the final.  Thereafter, Punjab’s legendary footballer Sh.Jarnail Singh became Honorary Secretary of Punjab Football Association on 27^th January 1974 and remained till 14^th October 1975.  Again in the year 1974, Punjab FA had the honour to host 31st National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy at Jalandhar, which was won by Punjab Team beating Bengal 6-0 in the finals.  Mr.N. L. Sehgal, Chief Executive of JCT Mills, Phagwara became its Honorary Secretary on 24^th August 1976 and remained till 1st October 1981.  Sh.Randhir Singh Cheema, P.W.D. Minister of Punjab, became President on 19^th August 1978 and remained till 10^th November 1980.  Mr.H.S.Ajnala, the then Education & Sports Minister of Punjab, became President on 10^th November 1980 and remained till 1st October 1981.   Mr.N.L.Sehgal took over the command of the Association as its President on 1st October 1981 and remained till 1st May 1986 and Mr.K. Kapoor became Honorary Secretary on 1st April 1981 and resigned on 20^th September 1992, which was accepted by the General Body of Punjab FA on 7^th October 1992.  In the year 1986 Punjab State Super Football League was started and the first edition of the league was held at Bassi Pathana under the aegis of District Football Association, Patiala.  Prior to the commencement of Punjab State Super Football League, all the affiliated units i.e. DFAs and Clubs were jointly participating in the State Senior Football Championship.  Punjab Junior Team won the 24^th Junior National Football Championship held at Coimbatore by beating Kerala 5-4 tie-breaker in the finals. Mr.P.S.Jassar became President of the Association on 1st May 1986 and remained till 10^th June 1993.  Mr.Samir Thapar was took over as Honorary Secretary of the Association w.e.f. 7^th October 1992 and remained till 10^th June 1993.  Punjab Junior Team won the 31^st Junior National Football Championship held at Jammu by beating Andhra Pradesh 4-2 (tie-breaker) in the finals. On 10th June 1993, Mr.Samir Thapar and Mr.G.S.Virk were unanimously elected as President and Honorary Secretary of Punjab Football Association.  In the two consecutive years 1995 & 1996, JCT Football Club from Punjab won the Federation Cup held at Calcutta and Kannur. JCT Football Club had also the honour to win Inaugural National Football League (1996-1997).  Mr.G.S.Virk discharged his duty as Honorary Secretary till 20^th November 2001 and on his sad and sudden demise, Mr.Inder Singh, Arjuna Awardee & Legendary Footballer, became Honorary Secretary of Punjab Football Association.  Punjab Senior Football Team had won the 31^st National Games Punjab 2001 held at Jalandhar/Ludhiana. In the year 2001-2002 Punjab Junior Team won the 38^th Junior National Football Championship held at Jaipur/Jodhpur by beating Goa 1-0 in the finals. In the year 2001, the General Body of Punjab FA decided to change the format of Punjab State Super Football League to home and away basis. Punjab Football Association had the honour to host National Football League matches at Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana, Hero Cycles 29^th Federation Cup 2007, Hero Santosh Trophy 2014-15 and 2018-2019, Hero Indian Women’s League 2018-2019 at Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana, Hero Senior Women’s NFC at Sant Baba Bhag Singh University, Khiala (Jalandhar), Junior NFC tier one twice for seasons 2014-2015 & 2017-2018 and Sub Junior NFC 2017-2018 at JCT Chohal.