FAO League explained

FAO League
Country:India
Organiser:Football Association of Odisha (FAO)
Divisions:2
(FAO First Division,
FAO Second Division)
Teams:24 (total in all 3 groups)
Promotion:I-League 3
Relegation:Various
Levels:5–8
Domest Cup:Kalinga Cup
League Cup:FAO Super Cup
Champions:Sunrise Club
(6th title)
Most Successful Club:Sunrise Club
(6 titles)
Tv:FA Odisha
SportsKPI
(YouTube, Facebook)
Current:2024 FAO League

The Football Association of Odisha League is the top state football league of the Indian state of Odisha, organised by Football Association of Odisha (FAO) in association with Department of Sports & Youth Services (DSYS), Government of Odisha.[1] [2]

History

The major domestic league in the state held at Cuttack was known as Cuttack Football League until 2010 when FAO decided to restructure the league as FAO league. It continues as the top tier competition for Cuttack based football clubs.[3]

The FAO League was brought up as Siddhartha Odisha First Division League in 2010 as Odisha's premier level football league. FAO introduced the league system to provide the footballing talents of the state a platform to showcase their abilities. The league system continued with the same format for seven years, until its revamp in 2018.Since the inception of the FAO League, a total of five clubs have been crowned champions. Sunrise have won the most titles in league history, being crowned champions four times. Odisha Police have won the league twice whereas East Coast Railway, Sports Odisha, Radha Gobinda Club, and Radha Raman Club have each won it once.

In a total competition revamp, FAO League was converted to a threeptier first division highest level footballing league of the state in 2018. The First Division League currently has three tiers, Diamond, Gold and Silver leagues, followed by the Second Division.[4] [5]

League structure

FAO League
TierDivision
I
(Level 5 on Indian Football Pyramid)
FAO First Division Diamond League
↑promote (to I-League 3) ↓relegate
II
(Level 6 on Indian Football Pyramid)
FAO First Division Gold League
↑promote ↓relegate
III
(Level 7 on Indian Football Pyramid)
FAO First Division Silver League
↑promote ↓relegate
IV
(Level 8 on Indian Football Pyramid)
FAO Second Division League
↑promote

Venues

Bhubaneswar

Cuttack

Diamond League

FAO Diamond League
Country:India
Organiser:Football Association of Odisha (FAO)
Teams:8
Promotion:I-League 2nd Division
Relegation:FAO Gold League
Levels:4
Domest Cup:Kalinga Cup
League Cup:FAO Super Cup
Champions:Sunrise Club
(6th title)
Most Successful Club:Sunrise Club
(6 titles)

Clubs

Champions

SeasonWinnerRunners–up
2010East Coast RailwayRising Student's Club
2011Odisha PoliceRadha Gobinda Club
2012Odisha PoliceJobra Durga Club
2013Radha Gobinda ClubJobra Durga Club
2014Sunrise ClubEast Coast Railway
2015Sunrise ClubRising Student's Club
2016Sunrise ClubEast Coast Railway
2017Radha Raman ClubSunrise Club
2018Sunrise ClubOdisha Police
2019Sports OdishaRising Students Club
2022Sunrise Club, Radha Raman Club (joint-champions)
2023Sunrise ClubSports Odisha
2024align=center colspan="2"Ongoing

Championships by team

ClubTitlesRunners-UpWinning Seasons
Sunrise Club612014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2022, 2023
Odisha Police212011, 2012
Radha Raman Club202017, 2022
East Coast Railway122010
Radha Gobinda Club112013
Sports Odisha112019
Rising Student's Club03
Jobra Durga Club02

Gold League

FAO Gold League
Country:India
Organiser:Football Association of Odisha (FAO)
Teams:7
Promotion:FAO Diamond League
Relegation:FAO Silver League
Levels:5
League Cup:FAO Super Cup

Clubs

Winners

Season Champion Runners-up
Eleven Gun Club
Rovers Club Rising Star Club
Bidanasi Club Rising Star Club
Rising Star Club Kishore Club

Silver League

FAO Silver League
Country:India
Organiser:Football Association of Odisha (FAO)
Teams:8
Promotion:FAO Gold League
Relegation:FAO League 2nd Division
Levels:6
League Cup:FAO Super Cup

Clubs

Silver A

Silver B

Winners

SeasonWinnerRunners–up
Sunshine Club SAI-STC
Club-n-Club
Kishore Club Town Club
Independent Club Sunshine Club

FAO Second Division League

Season Champion Runners-up
2010 Kishore Club Town Club
2011 Yuva Vandhu Cultural Group (YVCG) Lalbagh Club
2012 Town Club Royal Club
2013 Jay Bharat Cultural Club Uday Club
2014 Lalbagh Club Royal Club
2016 Club 'N' Club Royal Club
2017 Chauliaganj Club Royal Club
2022 Eleven Gun Club Uday Club
2023 Junior Gallant Club YAFC, Choudwar

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FAO First Division League. Orisports. 28 August 2011. 16 May 2018. 17 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180517082059/http://orisports.com/SheduleDetails.aspx?cId=NTU2. live.
  2. Web site: FAO First Division League 2022. Orisports. 3 July 2022. 3 July 2022. 3 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220703091855/http://orisports.com/SheduleDetails.aspx?cId=Mjg5NA. live.
  3. Web site: Schedule. Orisports. 2011. 29 September 2022. 3 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220703091854/http://orisports.com/SheduleDetails.aspx?cId=NTU2. live.
  4. Web site: FAO to start Super Cup, Revamp FAO League. Orisports. 9 May 2018. 2 October 2022. 1 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221001190509/http://orisports.com/NewsDetails.aspx?nId=NTM3NA. live.
  5. News: FAO restructures domestic football. Football Association of Odisha. 10 May 2018. 16 May 2018. 16 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230116084153/https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F225325417530085%2Fphotos%2Fa.529996197063004.1073741827.225325417530085%2F1847586815303929%2F%3Ftype%3D3%26theater. live.