Panther FC

{{Infobox football club

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| founded = {{Start date and age|2004}}

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| stadium = Panther Ground, Faisalabad

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Panther Football Club is a Pakistani football club based in Faisalabad, Punjab. The club was one of the founding members of the Pakistan Premier League, established in 2004. The club also contained youth teams.{{Cite web |date=2006-06-28 |title=Muzaffar helps NA beat Faisalabad |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/199035/muzaffar-helps-na-beat-faisalabad |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} It has produced notable players, such as Samar Ishaq, a former captain of the Pakistan national team.{{Cite web |date=2006-03-29 |title=Football squad for Dhaka |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/185331/football-squad-for-dhaka |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2006-03-16 |title=Zeshan back for AFC Cup |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/183357/zeshan-back-for-afc-cup |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2005-08-12 |title=SOCCER: Panther Club face PWD today |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/151994/soccer-panther-club-face-pwd-today |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} The club competes at the Panther Ground in Chak 41-JB in Satiana, Faisalabad.{{Cite web |date=2007-11-30 |title=NBP lose priceless point, draw 0-0 with Railways |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/278184/nbp-lose-priceless-point-draw-0-0-with-railways |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2005-06-01 |title=Challenge Cup soccer |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/141647/newspaper/newspaper/column |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}

History

In 2004, Panther Club became one of the founding members of the Pakistan Premier League, making its professional debut in the 2004–05 Pakistan Premier League, finishing the season in relegation zone at 11th position with 30 points, but avoiding relegation due to Allied Bank, which had finished in 8th position, dissolving their team at the end of the season.{{Cite web |title=Pakistan 2004 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/paki04.html |access-date= |website=www.rsssf.org}}{{Cite web |date=2005-07-20 |title=Twelve teams to compete in National League |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/amp/148619 |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}

The team got relegated in the following season, finishing 11th again, with 20 points.{{Cite web |title=Pakistan 2005 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/paki05.html |access-date= |website=www.rsssf.org}}{{Cite web |date=2005-10-19 |title=Soccer: Wapda regain top spot |url=http://beta.dawn.com/news/161876/soccer-wapda-regain-top-spot |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} The team participated in the 2005 National Challenge Cup,{{Cite web |date=2005-05-25 |title=Challenge Cup kicks off on June 1 |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/140716/challenge-cup-kicks-off-on-june-1 |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} finishing first in group C, which also comprised Railways, Wohaib and City FC from Lahore. In the second stage, the club finished last behind KRL, WAPDA, KESC, Navy and Police.{{Cite web |date=2005-07-15 |title=Panther Club grab spot in final stage |url=http://beta.dawn.com/news/147935/panther-club-grab-spot-in-final-stage |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}

In the 2006 PFF National League, the club failed to qualify for the second stage where it was grouped with Pakistan Television, HEC, and Dera XI.{{Cite web |title=Pakistan 2006/07 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/paki06.html |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=www.rsssf.org}} In the next 2007–08 PFF League, the club finished 4th in the group A comprising seven teams, failing to qualify for the next stage.{{Cite web |title=Pakistan 2007/08 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/paki07.html |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=www.rsssf.org}}

Rivalry

Panther Club had a rivalry with Lahore club Wohaib. During the 2005–06 season, match referee Abdul Jabbar was manhandled by angered Wohaib club players after he gave a goal to Panthers Club in the 87th minute. Under pressure, the referee reversed the decision and disallowed the goal but was beaten again by spectators.{{Cite web |date=2005-10-02 |title=PFF president to meet Bahrain’s top sports official |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/amp/159270 |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} The first leg of the season saw Wohaib winning by 3–1.{{Cite web |date=2005-10-20 |title=Crucial win for Panthers |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/162036/crucial-win-for-panthers |access-date=2024-08-14 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}} On 19 October 2005, Panther recorded a crucial win against Wohaib in the relegation battle by a lone goal.

Competitive record

The club's competitive records since the 2004–05 season are listed below.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Season

!{{abbr|Div|Division}}

!{{Abbr|Tms|Number of Teams}}

!{{abbr|Pos|Position in League}}

!National Challenge Cup

! colspan="1" |AFC President's Cup

! colspan="1" |AFC Cup

align="center" |2004–05

| align="center" |Pakistan Premier League

| align="center" |16

| align="center" |11

| align="center" |DNP

2005–06

|Pakistan Premier League

|12

|11

|Second stage

|DNP

2007–08

|Football Federation League

|13

|Group stage

|DNP

Notable players

The players below had senior international cap(s) for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed, represented their countries before or after playing for Panther Club.

{{flagicon|PAK}} Samar Ishaq

References

External links

[https://globalsportsarchive.com/team/soccer/panther-club/12924/ Panther Club] at Global Sports Archive

Category:Football clubs in Pakistan