The Hong Kong U23 Football Team (Chinese: 香港U23足球隊) is a Hong Kong professional football team managed by the Hong Kong Football Association. Mainly formed by U23 local players, the team currently competes in the Hong Kong Premier League.
 | |||
| Full name | HK U23 Football Team | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Young Dragon | ||
| Founded | 2 September 2021 | ||
| Ground | Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground | ||
| Capacity | 2,200 | ||
| Chairman | Fok Kai Shan | ||
| Head coach | Szeto Man Chun | ||
| League | Hong Kong Premier League | ||
| 2022–23 | 10th of 10 | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
|
| |||
History edit
2021: Establishment edit
Following the withdrawals of Pegasus and Happy Valley from the 2021–22 HKPL season, the Hong Kong Football Association announced in August 2021 that a new HKPL team mainly formed by U23 local players will be established.[1]
On 2 September 2021, the HKFA confirmed the establishment of HK U23. The team's operation will be maintained for at least three years and no foreign players are allowed to be registered in the team. Meanwhile, the number of overaged players is restricted to five for the team, with no more than three on the pitch during matches. The rest of the players must meet the registration status of U23 local players. [2][3][4]
Ahead of the 2022–23 season, the club announced that they would move across town from Tsing Yi Sports Ground to Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground.[5]
Starting from the 2023–24 season, the number of overaged players allowed to play on the pitch during matches is changed from three to five.
Team staff edit
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Head coach |  Szeto Man Chun
|
| Assistant coach | Sin Ka Yu
|
| Goalkeeping coach | Chan Chun Yu
|
| Fitness coach | Cheng Sai Ming
|
Source: [citation needed]
Current squad edit
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Remarks:
OA These players are registered as overaged players.
Season-to-season record edit
| Season | Tier | Division | Teams | Position | Home Stadium | Attendance/G | FA Cup | Senior Shield | Sapling Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | 1 | Premier League | 8 | Cancelled | Tsing Yi Sports Ground | 260 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||
| 2022–23 | 1 | Premier League | 10 | 10 | Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground | 275 | First Round | Quarter-finals | Group Stage |
| 2023–24 | 1 | Premier League | 11 | TBD | Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground | First Round | First Round | Group Stage | |
Note:
1st or Champions 2nd or Runner-up 3rd place Promotion Relegation
Head coaches edit
Cheung Kin Fung (2021–2022)- Szeto Man Chun (2022–present)
See also edit
References edit
- ^ 【港超聯】足總料組青年隊參戰 港會升班外援限制「特事特辦」19 August 2021 HK01 (in Chinese)
- ^ 香港足球總會成立「香港U23」球隊啟動禮 2 September 2021 HKFA
- ^ 足總組「香港U23」3季班費過千萬 霍啟山斥資贊助 借用港腳黃威 2 September 2021 Ming Pao
- ^ "【香港U23】足總成立香港U23角逐港超聯 霍啟山出資過千萬 最少營運 3 年 2 September 2021 Stand News". Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2022. (in Chinese)
- ^ "新季港超8.27開鑼 南區香港U23打頭陣 恢復雙循環明年5.7完季". Ming Pao. Retrieved 12 August 2022. (in Chinese)