Japan Football League (1992–1998)
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| Countries |  Japan |
|---|---|
| Confederation | AFC |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Folded | 1998 |
| Divisions | 2 (1992–1993) 1 (1994–1998) |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Levels on pyramid | 2–3 (1992–1993) 2 (1994–1998) |
| Feeder to | J. League |
| Relegation to | Japanese Regional Leagues |
| Domestic cup(s) | Emperor's Cup |
| Last champions | Tokyo Gas (1998) |
| Most championships | 7 clubs (1 title each) |
- For the league after 1999 (Nihon futtobōru Līgu (日本フットボールリーグ), referred to in this page as "the new JFL") see Japan Football League.
The former Japan Football League (ジャパンフットボールリーグ Japan Futtobōru Līgu) was an association football league that existed from 1992 to 1998. Also known as the JFL, it was the 2nd tier of the Japanese football hierarchy following J. League.
[edit] History
When the Japan Football Association decided to found a professional football league, the Japan Soccer League (JSL), the top-flight league until the 1991/92 season, was reorganised into two newly formed leagues. One was the Japan Professional Football League as known as J. League, the first-ever professional football league in Japan. The other was the former Japan Football League.
Out of twenty eight clubs who were the members of the JSL division 1 and 2, nine along with independent Shimizu S-Pulse formed J. League, one (Yomiuri Junior) was merged with their parent club, and the other eighteen chose not to be professional, at least at that time. They played the inaugural 1992 season of the former JFL together with Osaka Gas and Seino Transportation, the winners of the regional league play-offs. The initial configuration was two divisions of 10 clubs each, but from 1994, the format was changed to a single division of 16 clubs.
The former JFL ceased to exist at the end of the 1998 season when J. League Division 2 was formed. Out of 16 teams who played the last season of the former JFL, 9 decided and were accepted to play in J2 and the other 7 teams joined the new JFL.
[edit] Results
| Season | Champions | Runners-up | Promoted to J. League after the season | Promoted from Regional Leagues before the season | Relegated to Regional Leagues after the season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Div. 1-Yamaha Div. 2-Chuo Bohan Fujieda |
Div. 1-Hitachi S.C. Div. 2-Kyoto Shiko Club |
None | Toyota Higashifuji PJM |
Tanabe Pharmaceutical S.C. Osaka Gas S.C. |
| 1993 | Div. 1-Bellmare Hiratsuka Div. 2-Honda F.C. |
Div. 1-Jubilo Iwata Div. 2-PJM |
Hiratsuka Iwata |
NEC Yamagata S.C. | Toho Titanium S.C. NKK F.C. (disbanded) Toyota Higashifuji (disbanded) |
| 1994 | Cerezo Osaka | Kashiwa Reysol | Cerezo Kashiwa |
Brummell Sendai Fukushima F.C. |
None |
| 1995 | Fukuoka Blux | Kyoto Purple Sanga | Fukuoka Kyoto |
Nippon Denso F.C. Oita F.C. |
None |
| 1996 | Honda F.C. | Vissel Kobe | Kobe | Prima Ham F.C. Tsuchiura Jatco F.C. Sagan Tosu(Special step) |
Cosmo Oil Yokkaichi (disbanded) Tosu Futures (disbanded) |
| 1997 | Consadole Sapporo | Tokyo Gas F.C. | Sapporo | Albirex Niigata Sony Sendai F.C., Kokushikan Univ. S.C. (recommended by Univ. Assoc.) |
Fukushima F.C. (disbanded) Seino Transportation F.C. (disbanded) |
| 1998 | Tokyo Gas F.C. | Kawasaki Frontale | *The following clubs were accepted by J. League Div. 2: Brummell Sendai (Vegalta Sendai), Montedio Yamagata, Omiya Ardija, Tokyo Gas F.C. (F.C. Tokyo), Kawasaki Frontale, Ventforet Kofu, Albirex Niigata, Sagan Tosu, Oita F.C. (Oita Trinita) |
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[edit] see also
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Japan Soccer League Second Division |
Second tier of Japanese football 1992-1998 |
Succeeded by J. League Division 2 |
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