National Football League (India)
The National Football League (commonly known as the NFL) was an association football league competition in India between 1996 and 2007 which was organised into three divisions. The league is now transformed into the I-League and continues with that name. The Premier Division of the league was first introduced in 1996, though the country already had a long history in the sport thanks to the likes of the IFA Shield and the Federation Cup. In fact, the Santosh Trophy (started in 1941) was the top football competition in the country before the then National Football League started.[1][2]
A Second Division was added to the league in 1997, as Football in India grew to challenge cricket for the title of India's most popular sport. Between the divisions each year two teams were relegated and two teams were promoted. By 2006 a Third Division was added but that did not matter as by this time this would be the last year for the NFL; it was replaced in 2007 by the I-League which focuses on completely turning Indian football into a professional sport.
List of Champions
All-time NFL member clubs
Original 12 Clubs
Other First Division Clubs
In order of their promotion to the First Division.
References
 National sports leagues of India  |
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| | Other | |
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| | Proposed / former | | | Proposed | |
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| | | | National teams | |
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| | League system | |
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| | International tournaments | |
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| | Nationwide competitions | |
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| | Youth competitions | |
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| | State cups | |
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| | Defunct competitions | |
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| | | State and district leagues |
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| | State leagues | |
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| | District leagues | |
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League Champions by seasons:
- 1996/97 JCT Mills
- 1997/98 Mohun Bagan AC
- 1998/99 Salgaocar SC
- 1999/00 Mohun Bagan AC
- 2000/01 East Bengal Club
- 2001/02 Mohun Bagan AC
- 2002/03 East Bengal Club
- 2003/04 East Bengal Club
- 2004/05 Dempo SC
- 2005/06 Mahindra United
- 2006/07 Dempo SC
- 2007/08 Dempo SC
- 2008/09 Churchill Brothers SC
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| | | | Asia | | |
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| | Africa | |
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| North America,
Central America
and the Caribbean | |
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| | South America | |
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| | Oceania | |
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| | Europe | |
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| | Non-FIFA | |
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| | Games | |
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Philip Mensa
Igor Shkvyrin
Jose Barreto
Dudu Omagbemi