Hong Kong Sapling Cup ( Chinese : 菁英盃 ), currently known as JC Sapling Cup ( Chinese : 賽馬會菁英盃 ) for sponsorship reasons, is a Hong Kong domestic football competition contested by all the teams in the Hong Kong Premier League . The objective of the Cup is to provide more playing opportunities for youth players in Hong Kong.
12-509: HK$ 120,000 will go to the winners, with the runners-up getting HK$ 60,000. The two other losing semi-finalists will each receive HK$ 30,000, with the six remaining teams getting HK$ 15,000 each. Players will also be rewarded for their performances, with the best under-22 player from each team winning HK$ 3,000. The best of the best will earn an additional HK$ 5,000. The current Sapling Cup holder is Rangers . (Sponsorship from Henderson Land Development ) Top two teams in each group advance to
24-507: A few to name. More were to follow in the 1980s such as Steve Paterson , Jimmy Bone and Tommy Nolan . Winner of the Ballon d’Or at 22, European champion and dubbed “El Beatle” - George Best came just a year before he finally retired from the game and played once for Hong Kong Rangers in 1982. Since 12 October 2001, the club had been named after its sponsor, Buler, resulting in the name Buler Rangers up until summer 2006. On 15 September 2007,
36-768: The Hong Kong Premier League . They have won the Hong Kong First Division once, the Senior Shield four times, the Hong Kong FA Cup twice and the Sapling Cup once. The club was founded in 1958 by a Scottish expatriate from Glasgow named Ian Petrie. He named his club after Rangers . It was the first Asian football club with a modern football club managing system. In the early days, the club could not compete with
48-402: The 2016–17 season when the club was renamed as Lee Man Rangers due to sponsorship reasons). In the early part of the 2000s, Rangers' investment in youth player produced various Hong Kong internationals including Chan Wai Ho , Man Pei Tak , Lam Ka Wai and Lo Kwan Yee . However, this investment dried up in the later part of the 2010s resulting in lower budgets and declining performances of
60-1615: The Premier League season due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Hong Kong . In the 2022–23 season, Rangers finished 3rd within the Hong Kong Premier League in which they secured one of the two qualification play-off spots where they will make their AFC Champions League debut. In the 2023–24 season, Rangers became the champions of the Hong Kong Sapling Cup for the first time, which was also their first title in 29 years. Source: Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Remarks: These players are considered as local players in Hong Kong domestic football competitions. These players are registered as foreign players. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Note : 1st or Champions 2nd or Runners-up 3rd place Promotion Relegation Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules . Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. 2017%E2%80%9318 Hong Kong Premier League The 2017–18 Hong Kong Premier League (also known as BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League for sponsorship reasons)
72-504: The bigger clubs financially so Petrie relied on young players and the team was known as a breeding ground for young players. Kwok Ka Ming was the best known players discovered by Petrie in the 1960s. In 1970, the club brought three Scottish professional players to Hong Kong. They were the first European professional players to play in the Hong Kong league, opening a new chapter in Hong Kong's football history. Great players such as Ian Taylor, Joe Brennan, Jimmy Liddell , and Derek Currie were
84-487: The club announced that it has secured a large sponsorship from Bulova , a watch brand which used to fund a famous Hong Kong football team decades ago, and used Bulova Rangers as the team name. In 2011, the team changed their name as Kam Fung . They were the champions of the 2011–12 Hong Kong Second Division and were promoted to the Hong Kong First Division . The club has since renamed itself as Biu Chun Rangers due to being sponsorship by Biu Chun Watch Hands (except for
96-624: The club. Following a last place finish in the 2017–18 Hong Kong Premier League , Rangers were relegated back the First Division after a six-year stay in the top flight. Former Hong Kong international Wong Chin Hung was hired as the club's head coach. Despite a third-place finish in the 2018–19 season , Rangers were promoted back into the Hong Kong Premier League on 15 July 2019 following Dreams FC 's decision to self-relegate. In 2019–20, Rangers were one of four teams that withdrew from
108-492: The main stand is opened for football matches. The capacity of Yanzigang Stadium is artificially reduced from 2,000 to 1,000. The number of foreign players is restricted to six (including one Asian player) per team, with no more than four on pitch during matches. R&F must have at least eight Hong Kong players in the squad and is allowed to register a maximum of 3 foreigners for the season. To preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to
120-422: The semi-finals . (Sponsorship from R&F Properties ) (No sponsorship) Top two teams in each group advance to the semi-finals . Top team in each group advances to the final . Top two teams in each group advance to the semi-finals . (Sponsorship from Hong Kong Jockey Club ) Top two teams in each group advance to the semi-finals . Top two teams in each group advance to
132-495: The semi-finals . Bolded players still playing in Hong Kong Sapling Cup. Bold denotes players still playing in the Hong Kong Sapling Cup. Hong Kong Rangers FC Hong Kong Rangers Football Club ( Chinese : 香港流浪足球會 ), often abbreviated to Rangers , currently known as Biu Chun Rangers due to sponsorship reasons, is a Hong Kong professional football club which currently competes in
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#1732782412481144-514: Was the fourth season of the Hong Kong Premier League , the top division of Hong Kong football. A total of 10 teams will contest the league, including eight sides from the 2016–17 Hong Kong Premier League , one renamed team and one newly formed team. Primary venues used in the Hong Kong Premier League: Remarks: The capacity of Aberdeen Sports Ground is artificially reduced from 9,000 to 4,000 as only
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