Hindustan FC

Formation and early history

Hindustan FC was founded in 1948 in New Delhi. Thus it, owned and run by Bengalis, became one of the oldest football clubs in the capital city of India. The club has been affiliated with Delhi Soccer Association (DSA), which is now known as Football Delhi, and participate in the DSA Senior Division league (now named Delhi Premier League). They for the first time lifted the regional league title in 2001–02 season, while club's goalkeeper Salim Ansari was presented the player of the year award.

In November 2002, Hindustan participated in the inaugural edition of Delhi Lt. Governor's Cup and reached to the semi-finals. The club later competed in the National Football League Second Division continuously in 2004–05, 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons, but were not granted the permission of joining the newly formed I-League II (then second-tier) for not fulfilling the AFC club licensing criteria. In 2007, Hindustan FC roped in their first foreign coach, Bernard Operanozie from Nigeria. Hindustan clinched their second DSA Senior Division title in 2009 season as co-winners with Indian National FC.

Present years

Hindustan Football Academy was started by the former club chairman D. K. Bose, and they roped in Spanish professional coach Óscar Bruzón on board for a period of two years to train Delhi's budding footballers in the age group of under-12 and under-16. Hindustan FC, founded just after the independence of India, have been the flag bearers from the capital in the second tier of Indian football, having participated for a record 14 times. They also participated in the 2014 I-League 2nd Division and moved to the final round of I-League Qualifiers, finishing on fifth position with four points in eight matches.

Though their biggest achievement is finishing as the runners-up in the 2017–18 I-League 2nd Division, under the coaching of Vikrant Sharma. In the 2018–19 I-League 2nd Division, Hindustan finished at the bottom of the Group A and bowed out of the tournament. The club has participated in the 2021 FD Senior Division, and finished as runners-up.