More than 3,000 football fans welcomed the first title of the local football season at Mong Kok Stadium today (29 September) when they saw reigning Premier League and FA Cup champions Kitchee beat Wofoo Tai Po, who were runners-up in both competitions 1-0 in an exciting match to win the Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Cup 2018. This is the fifth year running the Club has title-sponsored the Community Cup as it believes that encouraging people to take an active part in sports can bring many benefits to society, especially the younger generation.

Another highlight of the day’s programme was two Junior Cup games, offering some of Hong Kong’s up-and-coming young stars the valuable experience of playing at a professional venue in front of a large crowd. In the first match featuring two teams from the Jockey Club Girls League, Chelsea FC Soccer School (HK) defeated Kowloon Cricket Club 3-0, while in the second showcasing the Jockey Club U13 Youth League, Kitchee U13 beat Hong Kong Football Club U13 2-0.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Cup is a unique event that combines football with community engagement. Today’s winners received prize money of HK$250,000 and the runners-up HK$100,000, as well as sharing a further HK$150,000 to be donated to charities of their choice – namely United Christian Hospital, nominated by Kitchee, and Street Soccer Hong Kong, chosen by Wofoo Tai Po. A further HK$300,000 of the Club’s sponsorship money will be shared among the other eight Hong Kong Premier League teams to promote local football development, while match organisers the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) will donate a share of the net match proceeds to charities. Around one thousand students and less-privileged people were also invited by the Club to enjoy the match today.

The Club has been a long-time supporter of local football development. In particular, it has collaborated with Manchester United since 2012 on a number of programmes designed to develop the physical, mental and social capabilities of young people. These include the JC Elite Youth Football Camp, the JC School Football Development Scheme, the JC Youth Football Leadership Scheme, the JC Youth Football Fitness Assessment, the JC Youth Soccer Skills Challenge and the JC Youth Football Academy Summit. The Club also supports the Jockey Club Youth Football Development Scheme, whose summer scheme is the largest such programme in Hong Kong. In 2015, the Club announced a HK$120 million donation to support the Jockey Club HKFA 5-Year Football Development Programme, which is aimed at promoting football across the community, including futsal and women’s football. In terms of infrastructure, the Club has supported the rebuilding of Hong Kong Stadium, the construction of the Jockey Club Kitchee Centre and the soon-to-open Tseung Kwan O Football Training Centre, which will provide an outstanding venue for Hong Kong’s football development.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charity and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2017/18, the Club made a record return to the Government of HK$22.6 billion in duty and profits tax and contributed HK$1.2 billion to the Lotteries Fund. Approved charity donations were HK$4.2 billion. The Club is Hong Kong's largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is also one of the world's top ten charity donors. The Club is always "riding high together for a better future" with the people of Hong Kong.