7 August 2005
India’s first city football website www.DehradunFootball.com makes a humble beginning on the Internet.
Year 2013
DehradunFoootball.com completes eight successful years on web, ‘doing simple things sincerely’ to promote local football and provide platform to local clubs and footballer.
Some of the noteworthy achievements
Establishing network with people involved in football promotion to set up a support group.
Creating new opportunities for local team and players: Through the effort of DehradunFootball.com, Uttarakhand Police football team managed to feature in the prestigious Durand Cup (Delhi) twice- 2010 and 2012. Similarly, Dehradun district team took part in Sikkim Governor’s Gold Cup (Gangtok) after a gap of 30 long years in 2009.
This year, young local footballer Nitin Jayal went to FC Metz Academy (France) for attending a 21-day free camp. The all expenses paid sports tour was made possible through football portal worked out Delhi based EduKick. Created openings for junior team from Dehradun in open/invitational tournament in Kolkatta and conducted tour of Mohun Bagan SAIL Academy in Dehradun twice. Now working for establishing football exchange between Chandigarh Football Academy and Maharana Pratap Sports College (Dehradun).
Worked out scientific restoration of a 70-year-old heritage painting of Pavilion Ground in association of District Football Association (Dehradun). On the move football historian and commentator Novy Kapadia says, “It is the first case of restoration of football or football ground related painting in North India. I think maybe even in India. I have not heard of any football painting being restored in either Calcutta or Goa.”
Published the first ever research paper on Dehradun football in a sports research journal. The paper got published in ’90 Minutes football journal’ in Kolkatta in 2010. We have collected all the rare photographs and documents related to Dehradun football and have uploaded them on our portal.
The All India Football Federation was so impressed by the innovation of the website that it asked the DehradunFootball.com to send daily match report of Dehradun League to be posted on AIFF website (www.the-aiff.com). Dehradun league became the first district league of the country to feature on AIFF website in 2009 and 2010.
The portal also began India's first daily football SMS service, the website in June 2009, the website created ripples in Indian football. The SMS service had to be suspended after December 2011 due to new Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, but the innovation was praised widely by football lovers.
Using Facebook to reach bigger community.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Uttarakhand-Football-Dehradun-Football/15...
With 1021 followers the Dehradun-Football FB group is growing with each passing day.
Using RTI for transparency in football.
DehradunFootball.com has filed a number of RTI applications with All India Football Federation to obtain information/documents about the functioning of Indian and Uttarakhand football. Uttarakhand being a new state, many vested interests are operating different sports federations without conducting district and state level activities in the hill state. By obtaining information and documents through RTI we have created pressure on AIFF and Uttarakhand State Football Association. The information gathered through RTI has created greater awareness among football fans about the existing law and other aspects of football governance.
Appreciation!
Allow me to congratulate dehradunfootball.com for the excellent effort to promote football. Such is the kind of sporting spirit required in India. My best wishes are with all of you.
Rajvardhan Rathore, Olympic Silver Medalist
Eminent Historian RAMACHANDRA GUHA praises DehradunFootball.com in Hindu (May 21, 2006)
THE World Wide Web is a global and universal technology, but not necessarily a globalising and universalising one. To the contrary, the Web can and has been used to promote local pride and the appreciation of local themes, processes, institutions, and individuals.
In recent weeks, I have made the acquaintance of two websites that focus on the history and lore of two of the loveliest towns in India. The first site is located in the town I was born and raised, Dehradun. The Doon is known to some as a home of elite public schools, and to others as a military centre. But to the more sporting minded, it is known for having produced a stream of outstanding footballers. The site I speak of (www.dehradunfootball.com) focuses on them, on men such as Ram Bahadur and Bir Bahadur, Shyam Thapa and Bhupinder Singh Rawat. Yet, its promoters have also shown an interest in other aspects of their valley's history, in its association with the freedom movement, for example.”
Motivation
27th June 2009 should be recorded with golden letter in the history of football in India when DehradunFootball.com with the special initiative of dedicated football lover like Mr. Raju Gusain and members of his team started " Football SMS Service" on daily basis that also free of charge.Especially person like me who would all the time like to be in touch with the latest football news, this sms service has done a yeoman job to fulfill such an aspiration (.) Hope in days to come this service will grow and one day DehradunFootball.com becomes a household name in the country and abroad.I, on my personal level and on behalf of Sikkim F.A. wish all the very best to everybody at DehradunFootball.com for thier future ventures.
MENLA ETHENPA
Secretary
Sikkim Football Association
Naresh Chandra, Sports Teacher of Atomic Energy Central School (Mumbai) says, “One day just I was searching net for the lesson plan for my students in sports and I found details about Dehradun Football. I was born and brought in Dehradun. I was a Footballer represented Doon Heroes, Gypsy young, Doon Boys and other clubs of Dehradun. Visiting your site I recollected all and went back to the old memories. I am really thankful to you people for a wonderful job."
Famous football commentator and expert Novy Kapadia says, "I enjoyed going through the site www.DehradunFootball.com. It was good to read about Ram Bahadur, Bhupender Rawat, ShyamThapa and others."
