HBL F.C.

Habib Bank

Full name	Habib Bank Limited Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Bankers
Short name	HBL
Founded	1975; 50 years ago (1975)
Dissolved	2015; 10 years ago (2015)
Ground	People's Football Stadium
Capacity	40,000
Owner	Habib Bank Limited
Home colours Away colours

Habib Bank Limited Football Club, abbreviated as HBL F.C., served as the football section of Habib Bank Limited. Based in Karachi, Sindh, the club competed in the National Football Championship and Pakistan Premier League.

History

Early years

The club was formed in 1975 by Habib Bank, hence giving it the nickname, The Bankers.[1] In the 1982 National Football Championship, the club won its first national title after defeating Pakistan Railways in the final. They have also been runners up three times, in the next season, 1991 and 2000.[2]

HBL won the National Football Championship in 1985, beating Pakistan Railways into second place.[3] It also represented Pakistan at the Asian Club Championship (now the AFC Champions League) in 1986.[4]

Pakistan Premier League era

They were one of the founding members of the Pakistan Premier League. They were relegated in the 2006–07 season, but were elected to return, alongside Pakistan Airlines, following expansion of the league to 14 clubs.

Disbandment

The team was disbanded by the parental organisation in December 2015.[5]

Honours

• National Football Championship:
  • Champions (1): 1982

• Pakistan National Football Challenge Cup:
  • Winners (1): 1985

Performance in AFC competitions

Further information: Pakistani football clubs in Asian competitions

• Asian Club Championship: 1 appearance

1986 – Qualifying Stage

References

1. "Pakistan - Foundation Dates of Clubs". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
2. "Pakistan - List of Champions". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
3. "Pakistan - List of Cup Winners". RSSSF. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
4. "Asian Club Competitions 1986/87". RSSSF. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
5. "HBL football team disbanded". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-05-31.

External links

• HBL FC at Global Sports Archive