hkfc_2024_05_mag

SPORTS
Peter Beardsley 2014
look in the opposite direction from
day one. “A lot of us were invited to
tournaments in Singapore, Thailand and
Malaysia as seven-a-side competitions
had already been created by clubs
such as Singapore Cricket Club,”
recalls Bratsanos. “We played in those
tournaments against some of the great
old stars like Alan Kennedy, Mario
Kempes and Didier Six. I was chairman
of the Soccer Section, and at our
AGM, I said we could stage our own
tournament because our facilities are
excellent, probably better than many
others. The then chairman, Alistair
McCleod, endorsed it, so off we went.
It was very much focused on the
Masters in those days, but our big trick
was going for the youth, so we started
inviting the academies over.”
According to Bratsanos, Blackburn
Rovers and Celtic were the big-name
draws at the inaugural event in 1999.
And it was the 1994-95 English Premier
League champions who would be the
first winners after they defeated the
Glasgow side in the final.
The following year local side Instant
Dict overcame Chelsea in the final as
they became the first winners from
Hong Kong, although English teams
would establish a dominance in the
ensuing years.
FORMAT OF THE COMPETITION
The men's competition is broken into two Competitions: the Main Draw,
which sees teams compete for the Cup, Shield, and Plate, and the
Masters Draw, with the Masters Cup at stake.
This year, we have eight teams competing in the Main Competition and
eight in the Masters Competition.
Main Teams*
HKFC 1 | HKFC 2 | Aston Villa
Newcastle United | Glasgow Rangers
Leicester City | Brighton and
Hove Albion | West Ham United
Fulham | HKFA U23
Singapore Cricket Club
Yau Yee League Select
Tai Po & Singapore Football Club
Masters Teams*
HKFC Masters
HKFC Chairmans Select
Rio Cricket | Havas Players
Singapore Cricket Club Masters
Wallsend Boys Club
Discovery Bay | KCC Vets
CRUSADERS
Our HKFC Crusaders will again
continue with their traditional
exhibition game on Saturday. This has
proven to be a fan favourite, and the
kids get a huge lift from the crowd
cheering every goal and save.
WOMENS TOURNAMENT
Following the success of their
exhibition game last year, we are
excited to introduce a Women’s
Competition this year with between
four and eight teams joining.
Subject to the number of eventual
teams in the competition, they will be
competing for the Women’s Cup and
Women’s Plate.
Women’s Teams*
HKFC | Kitchee | Chelsea
Grace Citizen | Shatin | 247 FC.
JUNIOR SOCCER
Junior Soccer wraps up its Junior 7s
Tournament over the weekend, with
teams having played most of their
games the previous weekend.
*Teams confirmed as at time of press.
Arsenal were crowned champions in
2001 after ending Instant Dict’s bid for
back-to-back titles, before the Gunners
were defeated by Aston Villa in the final
a year later as the Midlands side began
their love affair with the tournament.
This year, the now seven-time champions
Aston Villa return to Hong Kong to
defend their 2023 title, for the silver
anniversary of the tournament.
The HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer
Sevens is a labour of love for the
people who work tirelessly plan and
execute it. We are looking forward to
another hugely successful event and
hope to see you all there.
Scan the QR Code
View information
on tickets can be
found on the
Sevens Website
Marcel Desailly 2019
SPONSORS
OFFICAL WEBSITE
PARTERN
18 CLUB MAGAZINE