Cheung Chi Doy
Encyclopedia
Cheung Chi Doy (born July 30, 1941 in Hong Kong
) is a Chinese
former professional football
er. He played for Blackpool
and the Republic of China
(now Chinese Taipei). During the era, Republic of China
team was represented by players from Hong Kong
.
Cheung was one of the first Asia
n players to play in Europe
. He began his career in the Hong Kong First Division
at 14 years of age. In 1959, he went to play for English
club Blackpool
, where he was a teammate of Jimmy Armfield
. He became the first ethnic Chinese player to appear in the top flight of English football. He made two appearances for Blackpool's first team and scored one goal, against Sheffield Wednesday
on November 25, 1961. In 1968, he and his brother Cheung Chi Wai
joined the Vancouver Royals
, playing under Bobby Robson
in the North American Soccer League
. While he began the season in Vancouver, he finished it with the St. Louis Stars. He also played for Tung Wah, Kitchee and Jardine SC in the Hong Kong First Division.
Ever since the end of Cheung's stint at Blackpool FC in 1962, he remains the first, and thus far, only Hong Kong-born football player to have ever played for a European club.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
) is a Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
former professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er. He played for Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
and the Republic of China
Chinese Taipei national football team
The Chinese Taipei national football team is the official name given by FIFA to the national association football team of the Republic of China ....
(now Chinese Taipei). During the era, Republic of China
Chinese Taipei national football team
The Chinese Taipei national football team is the official name given by FIFA to the national association football team of the Republic of China ....
team was represented by players from Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
Cheung was one of the first Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n players to play in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. He began his career in the Hong Kong First Division
Hong Kong First Division League
Hong Kong First Division League is the top division football league in Hong Kong which was established in 1908, the oldest in Asia. It does not affiliate to any football leagues in the People's Republic of China.-Competition format:...
at 14 years of age. In 1959, he went to play for English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
club Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, where he was a teammate of Jimmy Armfield
Jimmy Armfield
James Christopher "Jimmy" Armfield, CBE, DL is an English former professional football player and manager who currently works as a football pundit for BBC Radio Five Live. He played the whole of his Football League career at Blackpool, usually at right back...
. He became the first ethnic Chinese player to appear in the top flight of English football. He made two appearances for Blackpool's first team and scored one goal, against Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
on November 25, 1961. In 1968, he and his brother Cheung Chi Wai
Cheung Chi Wai
Cheung Chi Wai was a professional footballer from Hong Kong who spent the 1968 season in the North American Soccer League, playing for the Vancouver Royals. His brother was fellow footballer Cheung Chi Doy.-External links:*...
joined the Vancouver Royals
Vancouver Royals
Vancouver Royal Canadians were an association football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada that played in the United Soccer Association. The league was made up of teams imported from foreign leagues. The Vancouver club was actually Sunderland A.F.C...
, playing under Bobby Robson
Bobby Robson
Sir Robert William "Bobby" Robson, CBE was an English footballer and manager, who coached seven European clubs and the England national team during his career....
in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. While he began the season in Vancouver, he finished it with the St. Louis Stars. He also played for Tung Wah, Kitchee and Jardine SC in the Hong Kong First Division.
Ever since the end of Cheung's stint at Blackpool FC in 1962, he remains the first, and thus far, only Hong Kong-born football player to have ever played for a European club.