Home Kit: | Away Kit: | ||
Club Name: | R&F (HK) Football Club | Founded: | 2016 |
Position in 2016/17: | 10th | Coach: | Li Zhihai |
Chairman: | Huang Shenghua | Home Ground: | Yanzigang Stadium (CHN) |
The R&F team in Hong Kong is a youth development squad of the Guangzhou-based CSL team of the same name. In summer 2016, HKFA and R&F agreed on special conditions that would allow a Chinese team to participate in the Hong Kong Premier League. Aside from a 7-digit sponsorship fee, R&F also had to sign 8 local players, 4 of which have to be fielded in every game. The rest of the team will solely consist of youth players from Mainland China, as R&F also won’t be allowed to sign any other foreign aid. In addition, the team will not be eligible to represent Hong Kong in any AFC tournaments. The history of the main club, Guangzhou R&F, is also a relatively short one. Originally founded in Shenyang in 1986, the team moved to the capital of Guangdong as late as 2011, following the take-over by the real-estate company R&F (or in pinyin: “Fuli”). However, despite their young age, Guangzhou R&F have done fairly well in the league and also impressed with ambitious signings. In 2014, former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson led the team into the AFC Champions League after finishing 3rd in the CSL. Guangzhou R&F are based at the very picturesque Yuexiushan Stadium, but have a considerably smaller supporter group than city rivals Guangzhou Evergrande. The Hong Kong version of the club finished 10th in their first season in the Premier League, just one place above relegation. For this season, they will play their home games at Yanzigang Stadium, based in Guangzhou, Mainland China.
① A mainstay of the Chinese Super League, fans of Guangzhou R&F and the league itself now have the perfect opportunity to see the club being represented in the Hong Kong Premier League.
② With Mainland Chinese players not counting as foreigners for R&F, fans can expect to see some of the emerging talent at the club with a view to eventually appearing for the CSL team.
③ Now based in Guangzhou, the club offer a great reason for fans to visit the mainland to support local football.
Tickets can be purchased on the match days, usually priced at $60 dollars.
R&F do not have a club membership scheme this season.