{{Short description|Multi-sports club based in Hong Kong}} {{About|the multi-sport club|the association football section|Hong Kong FC (football)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} {{use Hong Kong English|date=May 2024}}
'''Hong Kong Football Club''' ('''HKFC'''; {{zh|t=香港足球會}}), established in 1886, is a private members' club in Hong Kong. The name reflects its origins as a club for playing association football and rugby.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hkfc.com/media/w5gag0ef/06_13_mag_web.pdf|website=hkfc.com|publisher=Hong Kong Football Club|title=Oh Calcutta!!! — vandals 2013 tour|date=2 June 2013|access-date=26 September 2016|archive-date=10 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610141837/https://www.hkfc.com/media/w5gag0ef/06_13_mag_web.pdf|pages=14–16}}</ref>
Situated in Happy Valley, the club's facilities are located adjacent to the Happy Valley Racecourse. The 2,750-capacity Hong Kong Football Club Stadium serves as the venue for the club's rugby and football matches and hosts most of the Hong Kong Rugby Union's international fixtures. It is also the venue for the HKFC International Rugby Tens and HKFC International Soccer Sevens tournaments.
==History== thumb|left|The HKFC main entrance Hong Kong Football Club was founded in 1886 by Sir James Haldane Lockhart, following a meeting held at the Victoria Recreation Gymnasium on 12 February 1886.<ref name="redbook">{{cite book |last= Twydell |first= Dave |title= The Little Red Book of Chinese Football |publisher= Yore Publications |year= 1994 |isbn= 1-874427-80-1 }}</ref> The club played its first rugby union match on 16 February 1886, followed by its first association football match on 16 March 1886 against the Royal Engineers.<ref name="redbook" />
The Hong Kong Sevens, one of the most prestigious rugby sevens tournaments in the world, was founded by the club and hosted at its stadium from 1976 until it moved to the larger Hong Kong Stadium in 1982.<ref name="Denis Way">{{cite book |last= Denis |first= Way |title= Along the Sports Road. The Hong Kong Football Club, its environs and personalities |year= 2011 |isbn= 978-988-19772-1-2 }}</ref>
In 1995, as part of the Happy Valley Racecourse redevelopment, the club moved into a new 64,000 square metre facility. The main building is located outside the race track, while the sports pitches are situated within the infield.<ref name="redbook"/> In 2011, HKFC celebrated its 125th anniversary.
===Club officials=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left; font-size: 95%;" |- ! Position ! Staff |- | Chairman | {{flagicon|ENG}} Neil Jensen |- | President | {{flagicon|ENG}} Nick Hunsworth |- | Director of Operations | {{flagicon|HKG}} Mark Cameron |- | Head Physiotherapist | {{flagicon|AUS}} Tegan McNaughton |}
==Football section== {{Main|Hong Kong FC (football)}} The football section currently competes in the Hong Kong Premier League, the top tier of Hong Kong football. Unlike other clubs in the league which are fully professional, HKFC operates on a semi-professional model.
==Senior leadership== The club is led by a President and a Chairman. * '''President:''' Nick Hunsworth (2018–present) * '''Chairman:''' Neil Jensen (2022–present)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website}} * [https://www.hkfc.com/sports/soccer/ Hong Kong Football Club - Soccer Section]
{{Hong Kong Football Club}} {{Rugby union in Hong Kong}}
Category:Sports clubs and teams established in 1886 Category:Rugby union teams in Hong Kong Category:Happy Valley, Hong Kong Category:1886 establishments in Hong Kong