Created by Billjones94
Last edited September 2, 2021

Gangtok Himalayan SC
Full nameGangtok Himalayan Sporting Club[1]
Nickname(s)Himalayans[2]
Short nameGHSC
Founded2012; 14 years ago (2012); (as Sikkim Himalayan S.C.)[3]
GroundPaljor Stadium[4]
Capacity30,000
ManagerSantosh Kashyap
LeagueSikkim Premier Division League
20192nd, (Runners-up)

Gangtok Himalayan Sporting Club, or simply Gangtok SC, is an Indian professional football club based in Gangtok, Sikkim,[5] that competed in the I-League 2nd Division,[6][7] the second tier of Indian football league system. It currently participates in Sikkim Premier Division League.[8][9]

History[edit | edit source]

Formation and journey[edit | edit source]

Gangtok Himalayan SC was founded in 2012 in Gangtok,[10] the capital city of the Indian state Sikkim, and affiliated with Sikkim Football Association.[11][12][13][14] Since then, they have been participating in various domestic and amateur tournaments regionally.[15] The club was founded by Tenzing Lamtha.[16]

In January 2016, they were officially certified by the All India Football Federation to participate in the I-League 2nd Division,[17] the second tier of football in India, after finishing 2nd in the Sikkim Premier Division League. This move began a new chapter for Gangtok-based side as they became a professional football club from the North East India.[18]

2016 was the most successful season for Gangtok Himalayan, in which they participated in the I-League 2nd Division, Durand Cup,[19] Sikkim Gold Cup and Sikkim Premier Division League.

After finishing 2nd in the group A (Eastern conference) of the 2015–16 I-League 2nd Division,[20] Gangtok Himalayan qualified for the 2015–16 I-League 2nd Division Final Round. There they finished as 5th and failed to qualify in the I-League.[21]

Paljor Stadium, Gangtok, Sikkim
Gangtok Himalayan players in training at the Paljor Stadium, Gangtok, in 2017.

In 2016 Durand Cup, the Himalayans finished 5th, behind Indian Navy in the group A with 6 points.[22][23]

I-League fate[edit | edit source]

The All India Football Federation were all set to invite bids for vacant spots in the I-League and Gangtok-based Sikkim Himalayan football club (now Gangtok Himalayan) were one of the front-runners to join, but it was not materialized.[24]

Rivalry[edit | edit source]

Gangtok Himalayan has a rivalry with their fellow Sikkim based club United Sikkim FC,[25] whom they face in regional tournaments including Sikkim Premier Division League.[26] The rivalry is sometimes referred to as Sikkim Derby. Both the clubs use Paljor Stadium as their home grounds. One of their most memorable matches was on 9 November 2019 during Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup, and Gangtok Himalayan won by 3–1 margin.[27]

Stadium[edit | edit source]

Aerial view of Paljor Stadium, home of Gangtok Himalayan FC.

For I-League 2nd Division, the club announced that they would play all their home matches at the 30,000 seater Paljor Stadium in the capital of Sikkim, Gangtok.[28] The club has also used Paljor stadium for matches of regional tournaments like Sikkim Premier Division League.[29] It was opened in 1943 and has Artificial turf.[30]

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors[edit | edit source]

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2015—2020 Vamos[31] Organic Sikkim

Past internationals[edit | edit source]

Honours[edit | edit source]

Domestic[edit | edit source]

Champions (1): 2014[34]
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runners-up (1): 2016[35]
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runners-up (1): 2019[36][37]
  • Kohima Royal Gold Cup
Champions (1): 1996[38]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "GANGTOK HIMALAYAN SC". Soccerway.com. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  2. ↑ Gangtok Himalayan Sports Club Facebook. Retrieved 12 March 2021
  3. ↑ Sikkim Himalayan Sporting Club all set for Hero Junior League nenow.in. Retrieved 29 July 2021
  4. ↑ "Gangtok Himalayan SC". findglocal.com.Results, fixtures, squad and statistics. Retrieved 1 March 2021
  5. ↑ "Gangtok Himalayan SC". Khel Now. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  6. ↑ I-League 2nd Div: GHSC 0 – 1 Neroca FC Match Report Golie365. Retrieved 1 March 2021
  7. ↑ Change in format for I-League 2nd division Sportskeeda.com. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015
  8. ↑ "S-league kicks off today". Sikkim Express. 24 August 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  9. ↑ "Sikkim Premier Division League 2019: Update". The Away End. 17 September 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  10. ↑ India - List of Foundation Dates RSSSF. Retrieved 17 August 2021
  11. ↑ Sikkim Football Association meet with Premier Sikkim clubs for development of game The Times of India. Retrieved 29 July 2021
  12. ↑ http://www.sikkim.nic.in/sfa/
  13. ↑ "Sikkim Himalayan boys have proved why they are the reigning Sikkim Premier League Champions". Goalie365.
  14. ↑ "Sikkim Premier Division League 2016 Fixture Released". Goalie365.
  15. ↑ "Gangtok Himalayan SC". Khel Now. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  16. ↑ Sikkim Himalayan SC starts pre-season training to focus on young players Sikkim Express. Retrieved 29 July 2021
  17. ↑ "I-LEAGUE 2ND DIVISION: MOHAMMEDAN KEEN TO BUILD ON THEIR IMPRESSIVE START AGAINST GANGTOK HIMALAYAN SC". India Footy. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  18. ↑ Gangtok Himalayan Sporting Club fixtures in the I-League 2nd Division globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 1 March 2021
  19. ↑ "Rohit double helps DSK Shivajians overcome Gangtok Himalayan". The Times of India. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  20. ↑ Results & Fixtures: 2nd Division I-League I-League.org. Retrieved 1 March 2021
  21. ↑ "I-LEAGUE 2ND DIVISION: MINERVA BEAT GANGTOK HIMALAYAN TO KEEPS PRESSURE ON DEMPO". Indianfooty.com. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  22. ↑ "Durand Cup 2016: Minerva Academy FC Gets Direct Entry Along With 7 Other Clubs". Indian Football Network. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  23. ↑ "Durand Cup: Shivajians FC face 'Himalayan' task". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  24. ↑ Gangtok Himalayan SC makes a flying start The Hindu. Retrieved 29 July 2021
  25. ↑ "United Sikkim revived, Bhaichung Bhutia says aim is to bring ISL into state". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  26. ↑ All you need to know about football league structure in Sikkim Goal.com. Retrieved 17 August 2021
  27. ↑ Gangtok Himalayan SC vs United Sikkim (Sikkim Gold Cup 2019) Soccerway.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021
  28. ↑ Dempo SC start final round against Gangtok Himalayan SC at Paljor Stadium in Sikkim i-league.org. Retrieved 7 May 2021
  29. ↑ Goalie365. "Sikkim Football Association released the fixture for 2018 Sikkim Premier Division League at football house in Gangtok". Goalie365. Retrieved 16 July 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ↑ "Paljor Stadium". soccerway. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  31. ↑ MSC confident ahead of Gold Cup final vs Sikkim Himalayan FC The Times of India. Retrieved 19 August 2021
  32. ↑ Shaolin Soccer Foot au Tibet, team 2008 olympiquemidilirou.midiblogs.com. Retrieved 15 August 2021
  33. ↑ Yogesh Gurung player info and statistics globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 2 September 2021
  34. ↑ "Sikkim Himalayan SC has technically won the Sikkim Premier League title with one more game to go". Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  35. ↑ "Sikkim Aakraman F.C. Sikkim Premier Division League Champions". www.indianfootballnetwork.com. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  36. ↑ "India – List of All India Governor's Gold Cup Winners (Sikkim)". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  37. ↑ "List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup:". Indianfootball.de. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  38. ↑ List of winners and runners-up of the Kohima Royal Gold Cup indianfootball.de. Retrieved 29 July 2021

External links[edit | edit source]