Shillong Lajong FC

Shillong Lajong
Full nameShillong Lajong Football Club
Nickname(s)The Reds[1]
Short nameSLFC
Lajong
Founded1983; 41 years ago (1983) (as Lajong Sports Club)
GroundJawaharlal Nehru Stadium
SSA Stadium
Capacity30,000
5,000
OwnerShillong Lajong Pvt. Ltd.
ChairmanP. D. Sawyan
Head coachJosé Hevia
LeagueI-League
Meghalaya State League, Shillong Premier League (Reserves)
Current season

Shillong Lajong Football Club (founded as Lajong SC)[2] is an Indian professional football club based in Shillong, Meghalaya.[3][4] The club is currently competing in the I-League, the second tier of the Indian football league system, following promotion from the 2022–23 I-League 2.[5] Shillong Lajong also takes part in regional competitions.[6][7][8]

Shillong Lajong was incorporated in 1983,[9] with the prime objective of improving the declining standard of football in the state, and to spot, train and nurture local talent.[10] In the local Khasi language, Lajong translates to "our own".[11] Nicknamed "the Red Dragons",[12] Shillong Lajong briefly participated in I-League until their relegation in 2017,[13][14][15][16] then top flight Indian football.[17][18][19][20] They also appeared in the Indian Super Cup in 2018 and reached semi-finals.[21] They were nominated for 2022–23 I-League 2 qualifiers. Headquartered in Shillong,[22] Lajong has access to the largest student population in the North-East and hence the footballing talent right from a young age.[23][24] The club is four-time champion of the Shillong Premier League.[25][26]

Shillong Lajong was the first club from the North East region of India to rise to prominence in the country.[27] Before the 2012–13 I-League season began, it was officially announced that Shillong Lajong's academy lad Ajal raj had signed his first professional contract with Shillong Lajong after his impressive performance in the North East Super Series during pre-season.[28] Though Aizawl FC caught most of the attention after their I-League title in 2016, it was Lajong who were the torch-bearers of northeastern football for a large part of the decade.[29][30][31]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference NENow was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Nisanth V Easwar (10 September 2020). "I-League: How newly-promoted teams have performed". goal.com. Goal. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Shillong Lajong FC sign three players". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Shillong: The Times of India. Press Trust of India. 4 January 2016. Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  4. ^ Shillong Lajong Football Club profile and archives. Archived 11 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine. globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Shillong Lajong return to I-League after four years". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. New Delhi: The Times of India. PTI. 21 May 2023. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Lajong hit Umphrup hard in first division". theshillongtimes.com. The Shillong Times. 14 July 2013. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Two Sikkimese footballers in Shillong Lajong I-League Squad". Sikkim Express. 21 November 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  8. ^ "Shillong Premier League 2017: Shillong Lajong defeats Boys Sports Coy 58 GTC". SouthAsiaViews. 17 August 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  9. ^ Schöggl, Hans. "India – List of Foundation Dates". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  10. ^ Shillong Lajong FC club profile. Archived 5 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine. WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  11. ^ Agarwal, Atishay (24 July 2008). "India – Getting To Know Shillong Lajong FC". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  12. ^ "The Red Dragons will continue their journey on the road as they will be up against Mohun Bagan on December 23". goal.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  13. ^ "I-League 2017: Chennai City 1–4 Shillong Lajong – Singto and company register maiden away victory". Goal.com. 19 February 2017. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Sporting Goa vs. Shillong Lajong 5-1". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  15. ^ Nakashe, Mrunal. "Pailan Arrows 1–0 Shillong Lajong FC: Papas' side edge out Shillong in a tight contest". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  16. ^ Mukherjee, Soham (11 December 2018). "I-League 2018–19: Real Kashmir soar to third spot after thrashing Shillong Lajong 6–1". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  17. ^ Saha, Kaushik (10 January 2014). "I-League 2013–14 : Mid-Season Review". goaldentimes.org. Golden Times. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  18. ^ Sengupta, Somnath (8 July 2011). "Indian Club Football: How Financially Sustainable Is Football In India?". www.thehardtackle.com. The Hard Tackle. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  19. ^ "Fed Cup 2017: Ten man Shillong Lajong leave it late to defeat DSK Shivajians". 12 May 2017. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  20. ^ "Shillong Lajong 1–0 Gokulam Kerala". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  21. ^ "Mohun Bagan beat Shillong Lajong 3–1 to reach Super Cup semis". 11 April 2018. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  22. ^ Sarmah, Bhargab (20 September 2013). "Rangdajied United 2013/14 Season Preview: Survival Top Priority For Kashyapai??I??S Men". thehardtackle.com. The Hard Tackle. Archived from the original on 24 September 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  23. ^ "Shillong Lajong vs. Rangdajied United 1–1". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  24. ^ Bhutani, Rahul (10 May 2015). "Aizawl FC Champions". www.thehardtackle.com. The Hard Tackle. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  25. ^ "Shillong Lajong emerge champions of Meghalaya football league". nenow.in. North East Now. 22 December 2019. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  26. ^ "Lajong are Shillong Premier League 2019 champions!". thesportsroom.in. The Sports Room. 12 November 2019. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  27. ^ "Shillong Lajong FC Add Two Players To Their Squad". Shillong Lajong Football Club. Archived from the original on 18 November 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  28. ^ "SHILLONG LAJONG VS. MOHUN BAGAN 2 - 0". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  29. ^ "Aizawl v Shillong Lajong Starting XIs, 17/01/17, I-League | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  30. ^ "I-League 2018-19: Shillong Lajong relegated – 7 gifts to Indian Football from the Meghalaya side". Sportskeeda.com. 4 March 2019. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  31. ^ Bhattacharjee, Nilotpal (27 October 2015). "Japanese recruit for Aizawl FC". The Telegraph India. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.