Churchill Brothers Sports Club is an Indian football club based in Margao, Goa. Churchill Brothers was founded in 1988 in Margao and in 1996 were a founding club of the new National Football League. In 2007, the club were also a founding club in the I-League. In the first decade of the 21st century the club won one League Championship title and three Durand Cups. The club then won the league title again after the 2012–13 season.
History
1988–2009
Churchill Brothers SC were started up in 1988 as Varca Club[2] After one season under the name Varca Club they renamed themselves Brothers Sporting Club. Later on they were bought out by Churchill Braz Alemao and renamed themselves Churchill Brothers SC. After the take over by Churchill the club went on to win the Durand Cup in 2007 and then they had their best year in 2008–09 by winning the 2008–09 I-League, 2009 Durand Cup, and the 2009 IFA Shield. Through their I-League win Churchill Brothers SC were able to play in the 2010 Asian Champions League qualifiers which they lost which meant that they would play in the 2010 AFC Cup. During the AFC Cup Churchill Brothers SC won two games against Al-Hilal and finished runners up in their group and advanced to the next round where they would lose 1–2 to Al-Qadsia at the Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium.
2010–present
For the 2010–11 season Churchill Brothers played in the I-League. Churchill Brothers had contracted manager Vincent Subramaniam for the 2010–11 season of the but midway through the season Vincent left his post as the manager and Churchill Brothers went the rest of the season with Croatian Drago Mamić as their caretaker manager who led them to fourth place that season. He also helped them win the IFA Shield that year. On 9 June 2011 Churchill Brothers announced they have signed former Portugal national football team assistant coach Manuel Gomes as permanent manager.[3] However on 15 February 2012 it was announced that Gomes had resigned and that former coach Carlos Roberto Pereira would be brought in on a caretaker basis.[4]
Then on 13 July 2012 it was announced that Mariano Dias had been signed by the Churchill Brothers to become their new full-time head coach.[5] After his first season in charge, Dias managed to lead Churchill Brothers to the I-League championship, their second one in history, after the 2012–13 season ended.[6]
Colours and crest
The colours of Churchill Brothers kits and flags have always been red and white but before the brand new crest the home colours were white while the away colours were red. Now after the new logo was shown the home kit is red while the away kit is blue.[7][8]
The crest of Churchill Brothers was originally green and yellow since 2011 the crest has been red and black. The first crest was a football on grass with yellow rays coming out acting as sun rays.
Churchill's first crest from 1988–2011
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
Years
Kit manufacturer
Sponsor
1988–2011
Unknown
2011–present
Nivia
Churchill
Stadiums
Stadiums:
Fatorda Stadium: Main stadium during the season. Capacity set at 27,300.
Churchill Brothers are known for the short-term managers who come in but barely manage to complete at least half a year on the job. Their current manager is Joseph Afusi from Nigeria
Notes: The tournament was not held from 1914-19 (due to WWI), in 1939 (due to WWII), from 1941-49 (due to WWII and Partition), in 1962 (due to 1962 War) and in 2015 and 2017-2018 (due to unknown reasons)
Churchill's first crest from 1988–2011
Odafe Onyeka Okolie
Henry Antchouet
Balwant Singh
