The North-West India Football Association (NWIFA), was a football governing body in British India, encompassing football control in Punjab, NWFP, Sind, Baluchistan and Delhi. It was headquartered in Lahore. It also sent state teams for the Santosh Trophy.
History A movement to form a separate football association in North Western India was initiated by Wing Commander Hamid Ali Soofi in November 1931, aiming to promote football activity in the region. In March 1932, the North-West India Football Association was established, headquartered in Lahore, and encompassing control in Punjab, NWFP, Sind, Balochistan and Delhi. Sikandar Hayat Khan was elected president and Hamid Ali Soofi was elected honorary secretary. On 23 June 1937, NWIFA became one of the nine regional football associations to become affiliated with the newly formed All India Football Federation.
Later on, several regions detached and formed their own associations. Sind Football Association was formed in July 1937, and the NWFP Football Association was founded in August 1937. After the partition of India and the subsequent division of Punjab between India and Pakistan, the East Punjab Football Association was established in India, and the West Punjab Football Association was established in Pakistan. The last honorary secretary of the North-West India Football Association since 1942, Khawaja Riaz Ahmed, continued his position as honorary secretary in the West Punjab Football Association in Pakistan. Hamid Ali Soofi also became the first honorary secretary of the Pakistan Football Federation.
State teams The North-West India Football Association (NWIFA) football team competed in the Santosh Trophy.
Office bearers
Presidents PresidentTermSikandar Hayat Khan1932 – 1935Khan Bahadur Nawab Muzaffar Khan1935 – 1938Dr. H.B. Dunnicliff1938 – 1939Khan Bahadur Muhammad Sheikh1939 – 1942Khan Bahadur Mian Afzal Hussain1942 – 1947 Honorary Secretaries Honorary SecretaryTermHamid Ali Soofi1932 – 1942Khawaja Riaz Ahmed1942 – 1947
Competitions
North-West India Football Championship The association organised several editions of the North-West India Football Championship, open to teams from Punjab, NWFP, Sindh, Balochistan and Delhi. The winners were awarded the Harper Nelson Challenge Cup, and the runners-up were awarded the Rambhajdatt Chaudhary Memorial Challenge Cup. EditionYearChampionScoreRunner-upRef.11932–1933Headquarter Wing, East Surrey Regiment1–1 N/A (replayed final)Shining Club (Kohat)21933–1934A Company, East Surrey RegimentN/AHeadquarter Wing, East Surrey Regiment31935Mozang Club3–2North-Western Railway Workshops41936United Hands FC3–0A Company The Royal Scots51937Shining Club (Kohat)1–0Government College (Lahore)619387193981940C Company DCLI2–1Government College (Lahore)91941Government College (Lahore)2–0B Company101942Olympians Club (Lahore)5–0Mozang Muslims111943Batapur Club/Bata Sports3–0Rangers FC121944Bata Sports Club1–1 3–2 (replayed final)DFA Jullundur131945141946151947
Lahore Football League A Lahore Football League was founded in 1936, which was won by the Old Boys Club. From 1937 onwards, it was divided in two divisions.
References