Forbidden City FC 紫禁城足球俱乐部

“Creating an atmosphere of fun and friendship for footballers from all corners of the world in the spirit of competition that all players, past, present and future, can enjoy.”

Welcome ..

.. to Forbidden City and Summer Palace!

News

The season 2009-10, which kicked off in September, saw the Forbidden City team rule the IFFC Premier League. The team was crowned winter champion, managing a convincing 10 wins out of 11 league games with one loss. The Summer Palace team ranks mid table in the First Division having won many of their games. While the Summer Palace team got knocked out of the IFFC T. Marechal Cup after a tough fight, the Forbidden City team advanced to the quarterfinal, which will be played in February 2010. Thanks to the camaraderie on and off the pitch FCFC management is confident that a successful second half of the season is waiting for us.

FCFC City squad, September 2009 (from flickr)
“Forbidden City” Football Team Squad, September 2009

Top Left: Alex, Blythe, James, Andy, Barrie, Simon, Tom, Aaron, Jason.
Bottom Left: Ben R., Ben W., Ivan, Jochen, Adam, Edoardo, Inigo, Ton
Top Corner Left: Philippe, Rafa, Luca, Nick, Matt, Lee, Stefan, Fabio

Summer Palace” Football Team Squad Photo, November 2009
“Summer Palace” Football Team Squad Photo, November 2009

Top Left: Jason, Rowan, Paul, Ryan, Rob, Joey, Lee, Ben, Gordon.
Bottom Left: Lucho, Andy M., Jenne, Patrick, Jim, Jeffrey.

History

Forbidden City Football Club was established in Beijing in 2004 with the idea of a touring football side around China and rest of Asia and was formed from members from other amateur football clubs in Beijing. Our first tour was to Shanghai in August 2004 for the Shanghai Shooters Sevens where we beat HK Squadron 3-2 and won the plate! The club’s colours are yellow and red, reflecting the colours of the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City is also featured in the club’s crest.

Forbidden City FC joined Beijing’s International Friendship Football Club (IFFC) League in the 2004-05 season. After finishing in fourth place in the First Division in their inaugural season, we had a meteoric rise to the top becoming Champions of the Second Division in the 2005/06 Season and gained promotion to the Premier League. In their first Premier League season FCFC finished in a healthy mid table place.

In 2007, Forbidden City Football Club decided to form a second team as part of the club to accommodate the many players that joined the club and make sure that as many people as possible can be part of the fun and friendship. This B-Team was named after another truly Beijing landmark: Summer Palace.

2007-08 was the most successful season of the Forbidden City Football Club to date. The first team ‘Forbidden City’ finished in second place in the Premier League, leading the league for a good part of the season and only conceding the title on the finish line. The newly formed Summer Palace team finished third place in the First Division.

Since the club’s founding more than 150 players representing all six continents and 24 countries have played for Forbidden City Football Club; currently, there are about 45 players from more than ten countries playing for FCFC.

You can follow more league news and results on the IFFC Official website click.

Sponsors

Rouse and CoWe are proud to announce a new sponsor agreement with Rouse & Co, Intellectual Property Rights Specialists. They are now our main sponsors and you can see our new kit above, with their logo.

Kit and apparel sponsored by Rouse and Co, intellectual property rights
Webiste sponsored by Monkeyshrine, Trans-Siberian Train Travel.
Find us drinking in the The Tree, Belgian Beer Bar in Beijing.
Go to the Club Football web site for all things football in Beijing.

Management Report

Since we now have a sizeable, successful and growing club the management team decided it was time to formalise the management structure and responsibilities so that this is clear to everyone. When Chairman Mule left Beijing in summer 2009, we had some re-shuffling and the new club organizational chart will be uploaded soon.

About Us

Creating an atmosphere of fun and friendship for footballers from all corners of the world in the spirit of competition that all players, past, present and future, can enjoy.

While we do enjoy our football and play to a relatively decent standard, we are a club focused on fun and the finer points of Beijing life. If you are moving to Beijing or currently live in Beijing and have an interest PLAYING for Forbidden City (if you meet the stringent criteria that is!) or have some fan mail please contact us …