| Martyr's Memorial A-Division League | |
| Organiser: | ANFA |
| Teams: | 14 |
| Relegation: | Martyr's Memorial B-Division League |
| Confed Cup: | AFC Challenge League |
| Levels: | 1 |
| Top Goalscorer: | Santosh Sahukhala (104 goals) |
| Champions: | Church Boys United (1st title) |
| Most Successful Club: | Manang Marsyangdi (8 titles) |
| Tv: | Space 4K Television (YouTube) |
Martyr's Memorial A-Division League (Nepali: शहीद स्मारक ए- डिभिजन लिग; formerly known as the Kathmandu League Championship) is the top tier of football in Nepal. Contested by 12 to 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Martyr's Memorial B-Division League. The season usually runs from November to March with each team playing every other team twice. It is officially known as the Qatar Airways Martyr's Memorial A-Division League.
A new Nepal National League was created in 2011 to give a chance to compete at A level tournaments to the clubs outside Kathmandu valley. There were 9 clubs competing in the National League, 5 of which are teams of Martyr's Memorial A-Division League.[1] [2]
The following 14 teams will compete in the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League in the 2022–23 season, with two teams promoted from the B-Division.
| Club | Location | 2021–22 position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Church Boys United | Lalitpur (Balkumari) | 1st (B-Division) | |
| Friends Club | Lalitpur (Kupondole) | 12th | |
| Himalayan Sherpa Club | Kathmandu (Hattigauda) | 10th | |
| Jawalakhel YC | Lalitpur (Jawalakhel) | 9th | |
| FC Khumaltar | Lalitpur (Khumaltar) | 2nd (B-Division) | |
| Machhindra Football Club | Kathmandu (Jana Bahal) | 1st | |
| Manang Marshyangdi Club | Pokhara, Kaski | 5th | |
| Nepal APF Club | Kathmandu (Halchowk) | 8th | |
| Nepal Police Club | Kathmandu (Maharajgunj) | 11th | |
| New Road Team | Kathmandu (New Road) | 3rd | |
| Sankata BSC | Kathmandu (Te Bahal) | 7th | |
| Satdobato Youth Club | Lalitpur (Satdobato) | 4th | |
| Three Star Club | Lalitpur (Patan) | 4th | 6th |
| Tribhuvan Army F.C. | Kathmandu (Bhadrakali) | 2nd |
Since the start of the league, 17 clubs have won the title in 45 tournaments. Manang Marshyangdi Club have the most (8 titles) under their belt. Church Boys United are the current champions.[3]
| S.N. | Season | B.S. | Winner | Top scorer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1954–55 | 2011 | Mahabir Club | ||
| 2 | 1955–56 | 2012 | Police Force | ||
| 3 | 1956–57 | 2013 | Police Force (2) | ||
| 4 | 1957–58 | 2014 | Army XI | ||
| 1958–60 | 2015–16 | League not held | |||
| 5 | 1960–61 | 2017 | New Road Team | ||
| 6 | 1962–63 | 2019 | New Road Team (2) | ||
| 7 | 1963–64 | 2020 | Bidya Byama | ||
| 1964–66 | 2021–22 | League not held | |||
| 8 | 1966–67 | 2023 | Mahabir Club (2) | ||
| 9 | 1967–68 | 2024 | Friends Union | ||
| 10 | 1968–69 | 2025 | Deurali Club | ||
| 11 | 1969–70 | 2026 | Mahabir Club (3) | ||
| 12 | 1970–71 | 2027 | Deurali Club (2) | ||
| 13 | 1971–72 | 2028 | Ranipokhari Corner Team | ||
| 14 | 1972–73 | 2029 | Ranipokhari Corner Team (2) | ||
| 15 | 1973–74 | 2030 | Ranipokhari Corner Team (3) | ||
| 16 | 1975 | 2032 | Boys Union Club | ||
| 17 | 1976 | 2033 | Sunakhari Athletic Club | ||
| 18 | 1977 | 2034 | Annapurna Club | ||
| 19 | 1978 | 2035 | New Road Team (3) | ||
| 20 | 1979 | 2036 | Ranipokhari Corner Team (4) | ||
| 21 | 1980 | 2037 | Sankata Boys Club | ||
| 22 | 1981–82 | 2038 | Ranipokhari Corner Team (5) | ||
| 23 | 1982 | 2039 | Annapurna Club (2) | ||
| 24 | 1983 | 2040 | Sankata Boys Club (2) | ||
| 25 | 1984 | 2041 | Ranipokhari Corner Team (6) | ||
| 26 | 1985 | 2042 | Sankata Boys Club (3) | ||
| 27 | 1986 | 2042–43 | Manang Marsyangdi Club | ||
| 28 | 1987 | 2043–44 | Manang Marsyangdi Club (2) | ||
| 1988 | 2045 | League not held | |||
| 29 | 1989 | 2046 | Manang Marsyangdi Club (3) | ||
| 1990–1994 | 2047–51 | League not held | |||
| 30 | 1995 | 2052 | New Road Team (4) | ||
| 1996 | 2053 | League not held | |||
| 31 | 1997 | 2054 | Three Star Club | ||
| 32 | 1998 | 2055 | Three Star Club (2) | ||
| 1999 | 2056 | League not held | |||
| 33 | 2000 | 2057 | Manang Marsyangdi Club (4) | Nirajan Rayamajhi (15 goals) | |
| 2001–02 | 2058–59 | League not held | |||
| 34 | 2003–04 | 2060 | Manang Marsyangdi Club (5) | Surendra Tamang (15 goals) | |
| 35 | 2004 | 2061 | Three Star Club (3) | Basanta Thapa (20 goals) | |
| 36 | 2062 | Manang Marsyangdi Club (6) | Junior Obagbemiro Rishi Rai (27 goals) | ||
| 37 | 2063 | Mahendra Police Club (3) | Anil Gurung (31 goals) | ||
| 2007–09 | 2064–66 | League not held due to conflicts between ANFA and the clubs[4] | |||
| 38 | 2010 | 2066–67 | Nepal Police Club (4) | Santosh Sahukhala (19 goals) | |
| 39 | 2011 | 2068 | Nepal Police Club (5) | Ju Manu Rai (21 goals) | |
| 2011–12 | 2068 | Nepal National League was held instead | |||
| 40 | 2012–13 | 2069 | Three Star Club (4) | Santosh Sahukhala (17 goals) | |
| 41 | 2013–14 | 2070 | Manang Marsyangdi Club (7) | Karna Limbu (11 goals) | |
| 2014–15 | 2071 | Nepal National League was held instead | |||
| 2015–18 | 2072–74 | League not held due to aftermath of the 2015 Nepal earthquake | |||
| 42 | 2018–19 | 2075 | Manang Marsyangdi Club (8) | Afeez Olawale Oladipo Bharat Khawas Ranjit Dhimal (7 goals) | |
| 43 | 2019–20 | 2076 | Machhindra Football Club | Aashish Lama (9 goals) | |
| 2020–21 | 2077 | League not held due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||
| 44 | 2021–22 | 2078 | Machhindra Football Club (2) | Jomoul Francois Messouke Oloumou (7 goals) | |
| 45 | 2023 | 2079 | Afeez Olawale Oladipo (23 goals) | ||
| Club | Winners | Winning Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Manang Marshyangdi Club | 8 | 1986, 1987, 1989, 2000, 2003, 2005–06, 2013–14, 2018–19 |
| Ranipokhari Corner Team | 6 | 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1979, 1981–82, 1984 |
| Nepal Police Club | 5 | 1955–56, 1956–57, 2006–07, 2010, 2011 |
| New Road Team | 4 | 1960–61, 1962–63, 1978, 1995 |
| Three Star Club | 1997, 1998, 2004, 2012–13 | |
| Mahabir Club | 3 | 1954–55, 1966–67, 1969–70 |
| Sankata Boys Club | 1980, 1983, 1985 | |
| Annapurna Club | 2 | 1977, 1982 |
| Deurali Club | 1968–69, 1970–71 | |
| Machhindra Football Club | 2019–20, 2020–21 | |
| Nepal Army Club | 1 | 1957–58 |
| Bidya Byama | 1963–64 | |
| Boys Union Club | 1975 | |
| Friends Union | 1967–68 | |
| Sunakhari Athletic Club | 1976 | |
| Church Boys United | 2023 |
Martyr's Memorial A-Division clubs participated in the AFC President's Cup from its foundation in 2005 till its dissolution in 2014. Since 2015, the winners of the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League qualify for the AFC Cup. A-Division clubs could also qualify for the Asian Club Championship before 2004.
See also: AFC President's Cup.
| Season | Team | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Three Star Club | Semi-Final | |
| 2006 | Manang Marshyangdi Club | 3rd in Group Stage | |
| 2007 | Mahendra Police Club | Runner-up | |
| 2008 | Nepal Police Club | Semi-Final | |
| 2009 | Nepal Police Club | 4th in Group Stage | |
| 2010 | New Road Team | 3rd in Group Stage | |
| 2011 | Nepal Police Club | 4th in Group Stage | |
| 2013 | Three Star Club | 3rd in Final Stage | |
| 2014 | Manang Marshyangdi Club | 2nd in Final Stage |
See also: AFC Cup.
| Season | AFC Cup | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Manang Marshyangdi Club | DNP | |
| Manang Marshyangdi Club | 4th in Group Stage | ||
| Preliminary round 2 | |||
| Machhindra F.C. | Preliminary round 1 | ||
| 2023–24[5] | Machhindra F.C. | Preliminary round 2 |
See also: Asian Club Championship.
| Season | AFC Cup | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985–86 | New Road Team | 5th in Qualifiers | |
| 1987 | Manang Marshyangdi Club | 4th in Qualifiers | |
| 1990–91 | Ranipokhari Corner Team | 3rd in Qualifiers | |
| 1996–97 | New Road Team | First Round | |
| 1997–98 | Mahendra Police Club | First Round | |
| 1998–99 | Three Star Club | First Round |