The Enterprise Football League (), formerly known as the National Football League () or the National First Division Football League (), was the highest-ranked football league in the Republic of China (Taiwan). It was governed by the Chinese Taipei Football Association (CTFA) and considered semi-professional. The competition was ended in 2009 following a change in regulations and a merger into the Intercity Football League.
History The National Football League was founded by the Chinese Taipei Football Association (CTFA) in 1982 after popular interest motivated by 1982 FIFA World Cup. The CTFA planned to include it as part of the annual football season along with the other three cup competitions: Chung Cheng Cup (中正盃), Li Hui-tang Cup (李惠棠盃), and CTFA Cup (足協盃). The first league season featured 7 teams: Flying Camel, Taipei City Bank, Taiwan Power Company, Thunderbird, Lukuang, Taiwan Provincial College of Physical Education, and Taipei Physical Education College.There were actually 8 teams in Taiwan's first division football at the time. Besides the 7 participating teams, Loyal Camel was unable to register to for the competition due to a lack of funding.
After 2006, the CTFA changed the name of the league to the Enterprise Football League in an attempt to attract more attention and financial support from successful Taiwanese enterprises. Fubon Financial became the major sponsor, and therefore the league was also known as the Fubon Enterprise Football League (). The number of teams participating in the league was also reduced from eight to four by excluding college and high school teams in an attempt to make the league more professional. Nevertheless, there are currently only two semi-professional clubs remaining: Tatung F.C. and Taiwan Power Company F.C.
In November 2007, the CTFA announced that they would not hold further Enterprise Football League seasons after 2009. The Intercity Football League replaced the Enterprise Football League to become the top-ranked league in Taiwan.
Teams TeamLocationNumber of appearancesRecord streakFirst appearanceMost recent appearanceBest result (season)Chinese Taipei U-23 *2008 name: Fubon FinancialTsoying, Kaohsiung33200620083rd (2006, 2007)I-Shou University *2008 name: E-United GroupKaohsiung County1120082008-Ming Chuan University *2008 name: Bros SportsTaipei City542001-0220083rd (2001–02, 2004)National Sports Training Center *Tsoying District, Kaohsiung2525198320082nd (1984, 1991, 2007)National Taiwan College of Physical Education *2008 name: Molten Tso ITaichung City2322198320083rd (1997, 2002–03)Taipei Physical Education College *2008 name: Hun SingSongshan District, Taipei2322198320086th (2005)Taiwan Power Company F.C.Fongshan City, Kaohsiung County2525198320081st (1987, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004, 2007)Tatung F.C.Taipei City2121198620081st (2005, 2006) * Not a club team.
Results SeasonChampionRunner-upThird placeFourth place2008 DetailsTaipowerTatungTaiwan PE College(as Molten Tso I)Taipei PE College(as Hun Sing)2007 DetailsTaipowerNSTC (as Kenting Chateau)Chinese Taipei U-23 (as Fubon Financial)Tatung2006 DetailsTatungTaipowerChinese Taipei U-23 (as China Steel)NSTC (as Fubon Financial)2005 DetailsTatungTaipowerNSTCMing Chuan University2004 DetailsTaipowerTatungMing Chuan UniversityTaiwan PE college2002/03 DetailsTaipowerTatungTaiwan PE collegeMing Chuan University2001/02 DetailsTaipowerTatungMing Chuan UniversityTaiwan PE college2000/01 DetailsTaipowerTatungWei DanTaiwan PE College1999 DetailsTaipowerTatungLukuangTaiwan PE college1998 DetailsTaipowerTaipei City BankFlying CamelTaiwan PE College1997 DetailsTaipowerTatungTaiwan PE CollegeTaipei City Bank1996 DetailsTaipowerTatungTaipei City BankFlying Camel1995 DetailsTaipowerTatungTaipei City BankLukuang1994 DetailsTaipowerTaipei City BankLukuangFlying Camel1993 DetailsFlying CamelTaipowerTaipei City BankTatung1992 DetailsTaipowerTatungFlying CamelLukuang1991 DetailsTaipei City BankLukuangTaipowerTatung1990 DetailsTaipowerTaipei City BankLukuangTatung1989 DetailsTaipei City BankFlying CamelLukuangTaipower1988 DetailsFlying CamelTaipowerLukuangTaipei City Bank1987 DetailsTaipowerFlying CamelTaipei City BankLukuang1986 DetailsTaipei City BankFlying CamelLukuangTaipower1985 DetailsFlying CamelTaipei City BankLukuangTaipower1984 DetailsFlying CamelLukuangTaipei City BankTaipower1983 DetailsFlying CamelTaipei City BankTaipowerLukuang
Performance by team TeamWinnersRunners-upWinning yearsTaipower1541987, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004, 2007, 2008Flying Camel531983, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1993Taipei City Bank351986, 1989, 1991Tatung292005, 2006NSTC (Lukuang)03
Promotions and relegations YearPromotionsRelegations1983JinwenNone1986TatungJinwen1987Kun ShanTaiwan PE College1988Jing-feng, Taiwan PE CollegeTaipei PE College, Thunderbird1989Taipei PE College, JinwenJing-feng, Kun Shan1990Jing-feng, ThunderbirdTaipei PE College, Jinwen1991Maritime CollegeThunderbird, Taiwan PE College1993Thunderbird, Jun Li ConstructionNone1994Taiwan PE College, Hai SanJing-feng, Thunderbird1995Thunderbird, Ming ChuanTaiwan PE College, Hai San
See also Chinese Taipei Football Association Sport in Taiwan
Notes and references
External links Chinese Taipei Football Association official website Results at RSSSF
fr:Championnat de Taïwan de football it:Campionato di calcio taiwanese