SUNIL NEGI
Garhwal Heroes FC has emerged champions of the I-League 3 North Zone Group – Group B played at Amenity Football Academy, Rudrapur – and qualified for the All-India Final Round. This season 19 clubs are playing I-League 3 in 4 groups from Oct 22 to Nov 9, with 4 group winners + 2 best second-placed teams going to the 6-team play-off, top 2 of which will be promoted to I-League 2. Garhwal is in Group B with Corbett FC, Techtro Swades United FC, Ghaziabad City FC and Sher-e-Punjab SC.
It is a huge achievement for a young brigade – nearly 90% players are Under-19 from its *BBFS Residential Academy* in Delhi. The academy model is the backbone of the club.
Garhwal Heroes is not a new name. Founded in February 1953 by Late Kesar Singh Negi for Garhwali youth in Delhi and formally registered with Delhi Soccer Association in 1953, it is one of Delhi’s most decorated clubs:
– 6-time Delhi champion: 1986, 2012-13, 2018-19, 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26. In the 2025-26 Delhi Premier League final on 31 May at Ambedkar Stadium, they drew 1-1 with Royal Rangers but won on points to lift the title for second successive year, taking Rs 2.5 lakh prize.
– First Delhi club to reach Durand Cup quarterfinal in 2010, beating Sporting Goa and JCT.
– Won UN Brahma Gold Cup 2026 in Udalguri, Assam 4-0 vs Baarhoonkha AC in final.
– Club was rebranded as Garhwal FC in 2013 to meet AFC licensing and has played I-League 2nd Division.
Meanwhile, the Garhwal United women’s team – Garhwal United FC – is already in the IWL main round. After winning IWL 2 2024-25 with a perfect 8 wins, 28 goals, 1 conceded, and striker Lhingdeikim top-scoring with 12 goals, they made their IWL debut in Dec 2025, beating Sesa FA 3-1. The IWL 2025-26 main round Phase-1 was played at AIFF National Centre of Excellence, Kolkata and Kalyani from Dec 20, Phase-2 from April 20, 2026. For 2026-27 season, they continue in top-flight.
Chief Patron Anil Baluni, MP Pauri Garhwal, along with MPs Mala Rajya Lakshmi Shah and Trivendra Singh Rawat, had recently felicitated the club, calling it a pride of Uttarakhand in Delhi.
