{{Short description|Pakistani football club}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Use Pakistani English|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Panther Club | image = File:Panther FC logo.jpg | image_size = 200px | fullname = Panther Football Club | nickname = | short name = | founded = | dissolved = | ground = Panther Ground, Faisalabad | capacity = | coordinates = | owntitle = | owner = | mgrtitle = | manager = | league = | season = | position = | website = | current = }}
'''Panther Football Club''' is a Pakistani football club based in Faisalabad, Punjab. The club was one of the founding members of the Pakistan Premier League, established in 2004. The club also contained youth teams.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-06-28 |title=Muzaffar helps NA beat Faisalabad |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/199035/muzaffar-helps-na-beat-faisalabad |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=Dawn|location=Pakistan |language=en}}</ref> It has produced notable players, such as Samar Ishaq, a former captain of the Pakistan national team.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-03-29 |title=Football squad for Dhaka |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/185331/football-squad-for-dhaka |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=Dawn|location=Pakistan |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-03-16 |title=Zeshan back for AFC Cup |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/183357/zeshan-back-for-afc-cup |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=Dawn|location=Pakistan |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-08-12 |title=SOCCER: Panther Club face PWD today |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/151994/soccer-panther-club-face-pwd-today |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=Dawn|location=Pakistan |language=en}}</ref> The club competes at the Panther Ground in Chak 41-JB in Satiana, Faisalabad.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-11-30 |title=NBP lose priceless point, draw 0-0 with Railways |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/278184/nbp-lose-priceless-point-draw-0-0-with-railways |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=Dawn|location=Pakistan |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-06-01 |title=Challenge Cup soccer |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/141647/newspaper/newspaper/column |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=Dawn|location=Pakistan |language=en}}</ref>
== History == Panther Club made its professional debut in the 2004–05 Pakistan Premier League, finishing the season at 11th position with 30 points, but avoiding relegation due to Allied Bank dissolving their team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pakistan 2004 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/paki04.html |access-date= |publisher=RSSSF}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-07-20 |title=Twelve teams to compete in National League |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/148619 |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=Dawn|location=Pakistan |language=en}}</ref> The club got relegated in the following season, finishing 11th again, with 20 points.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Pakistan 2005 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/paki05.html |access-date= |publisher=RSSSF}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-10-19 |title=Soccer: Wapda regain top spot |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/161876/soccer-wapda-regain-top-spot |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Dawn|location=Pakistan |language=en}}</ref> The team participated in the 2005 National Challenge Cup,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-05-25 |title=Challenge Cup kicks off on June 1 |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/140716/challenge-cup-kicks-off-on-june-1 |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=Dawn|location=Pakistan |language=en}}</ref> finishing first in group C, which also comprised Railways, Wohaib and City FC from Lahore.<ref name=":1" /> In the second stage, the club finished last behind KRL, WAPDA, KESC, Navy and Police.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-07-15 |title=Panther Club grab spot in final stage |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/147935/panther-club-grab-spot-in-final-stage |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Dawn|location=Pakistan |language=en}}</ref> In the 2006 PFF National League, the club failed to qualify for the second stage where it was grouped with Pakistan Television, HEC, and Dera XI.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pakistan 2006/07 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/paki06.html |access-date=2024-02-18 |publisher=RSSSF}}</ref> In the next 2007–08 PFF League, the club finished 4th in the group A comprising seven teams, failing to qualify for the next stage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pakistan 2007/08 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/paki07.html |access-date=2024-02-18 |publisher=RSSSF}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PFF super six league to start from December 31 – Business Recorder |url=https://fp.brecorder.com/2007/12/20071228669544/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Rivalry == Panther Club had a rivalry with Lahore club Wohaib. During the 2005–06 season, match referee Abdul Jabbar was manhandled by angered Wohaib club players after he gave a goal to Panthers Club in the 87th minute. Under pressure, the referee reversed the decision and disallowed the goal but was beaten again by spectators.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-10-02 |title=PFF president to meet Bahrain’s top sports official |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/159270/pff-president-to-meet-bahrain-s-top-sports-official |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=Dawn|location=Pakistan |language=en}}</ref> The first leg of the season saw Wohaib winning by 3–1.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2005-10-20 |title=Crucial win for Panthers |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/162036/crucial-win-for-panthers |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=Dawn|location=Pakistan |language=en}}</ref> On 19 October 2005, Panther recorded a crucial win against Wohaib in the relegation battle by a lone goal.<ref name=":0" />
== Competitive record == The club's competitive records since the 2004–05 season are listed below. {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" !Season !{{abbr|Div|Division}} !{{Abbr|Tms|Number of Teams}} !{{abbr|Pos|Position in League}} !National Challenge Cup ! colspan="1" |AFC President's Cup ! colspan="1" |AFC Cup |- | align="center" |2004–05 | align="center" |Pakistan Premier League | align="center" |16 | align="center" |11 | align="center" |DNP | align="center" |DNP | align="center" |DNP |- |2005–06 |Pakistan Premier League |12 |11 |Second stage |DNP |DNP |- |2007–08 |Football Federation League |13 |Group stage |DNP |DNP |DNP |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://globalsportsarchive.com/team/soccer/panther-club/12924/ Panther Club] at Global Sports Archive
Category:Football clubs in Pakistan
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