The 2012–13 Hong Kong First Division League, also known as 2012–13 Red MR Hong Kong First Division League for sponsorship reasons, was the 101st since its establishment.
Kitchee were the defending champions, won their 5th Hong Kong title in the previous season. The season featured 8 teams from the 2011–12 Hong Kong First Division League and two new teams promoted from 2011–12 Hong Kong Second Division League: Kam Fung, which then renamed as Biu Chun Rangers, and Southern District who replace relegated Sham Shui Po and Hong Kong Sapling.
Teams
A total of 10 teams contested the league, including eight sides from the 2011–12 season and two promoted from the 2011–12 Hong Kong Second Division League.
Stadia and locations
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
1 Renamed Biu Chun Rangers, previously known as Kam Fung.
2 The capacity of Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground can be increased to 5,000 if the temporary stand is opened.
3 After successfully gaining the right to play in the 2012–13 Hong Kong First Division League on 8 April 2012, Southern plan to continue using Aberdeen Sports Ground as their home ground in the First Division League.
4 The capacity of Aberdeen Sports Ground is originally 9,000, but only the 4,000-seated main stand is opened for football match.
5 Renamed as Sun Pegasus, previously known as TSW Pegasus.
6 Renamed as Yokohama FC Hong Kong, previously known as Biu Chun Rangers.
Personnel and kits
Managerial changes
Foreign players
The number of foreign players was restricted to six per team.
League table
Positions by round
As there is a special fixture arrangement for rounds 7 and 8, in order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for round 7, but then played between rounds 8 and 9, it will be added to the standings for round 8.
Results table
Fixtures and results
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
Round 11
Round 12
Round 13
Round 14
Round 15
Round 16
Round 17
Round 18
Remarks:
1 The capacity of Aberdeen Sports Ground is originally 9,000, but only the 4,000-seated main stand is opened for football match.
2 Yokohama FC Hong Kong's home matches against Kitchee and South China are played at Mong Kok Stadium instead of their usual home ground Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground.
3 Biu Chun Rangers's home matches against South China and Kitchee are played at Mong Kok Stadium instead of their usual home ground Sham Shui Po Sports Ground.
4 South China's home matches against Biu Chun Rangers will be played at Mong Kok Stadium instead of their usual home ground Hong Kong Stadium.
5 The match was abandoned after 28 minutes due to adverse weather and bad pitch conditions.
6 Since the 3,500-seated main stand was all full, the 1,500 temporary stand was opened and therefore the capacity of Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground was 5,000 in the home match against South China.
Season play-offs
The play-off semi-finals were played in one match each, contested by the teams who finished in 2nd and 3rd in the 2012–13 Hong Kong First Division League table, the champions of Senior Challenge Shield and the winners of FA Cup. The winners of the semi-finals went through to the finals, with the winner of the final gaining 2014 AFC Cup participation.
Season statistics
Top scorers
Hat-tricks
- 5 Player scored 5 goals in the match.
Scoring
- First goal of the season: Ng Wai Chiu for Sun Pegasus against Wofoo Tai Po (31 August 2012)
- Fastest goal of the season: 0 minute and 50 seconds, Ng Wai Chiu for Sun Pegasus against Wofoo Tai Po (31 August 2012)
- Widest winning margin: 6 goals
- Biu Chun Rangers 2–8 Sun Pegasus (Week 18, 4 May 2013)
- Highest scoring game: 10 goals
- Citizen 7–3 Wofoo Tai Po (Week 8, 11 November 2012)
- Biu Chun Rangers 2–8 Sun Pegasus (Week 18, 4 May 2013)
Discipline
- Most yellow cards (player): 7
- Eugene Mbome (Sun Pegasus)
- Mauricio Correa Da Luz (Tuen Mun)
- Most yellow cards in a match (club): 6
- South China (Week 4, South China 1–0 Kitchee)
- Most yellow cards in total (club): 46
- Sun Pegasus
- Most red cards in a match (club): 2
- Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei (Week 4, Sunray Cave JC Sun Hei 2–2 Biu Chun Rangers)
- Yokohama FC Hong Kong (Week 5, Yokohama FC Hong Kong 1–4 Kitchee)
- Most red cards in total (club): 5
- Yokohama FC Hong Kong
Clean Sheets
- Most clean sheets: 5
- South China
- Citizen
- Fewest clean sheets: 0
- Biu Chun Rangers
- Wofoo Tai Po
Awards
Monthly awards
The monthly awards are organised by the Hong Kong Sports Press Association. 20 journalists who specialise in football in Hong Kong will vote their best player of the month. Player with the highest number of votes wins the award.
References
