1965–66 Iraq Central FA Premier League

The 1965–66 Iraq Central FA Premier League was the 18th season of the Iraq Central FA Premier League (the top division of football in Baghdad and its neighbouring cities from 1948 to 1973), and the first under the name of Premier League. It kicked off on 15 October 1965 with its last match being held on 2 June 1966.

Iraq Central FA Premier League
Season1965–66
ChampionsAl-Firqa Al-Thalitha
(1st title)
Top goalscorerNouri Dhiab
Mahmoud Assad
(7 goals each)
1964–65
(Iraq Central FA First Division)

Al-Firqa Al-Thalitha became champions for the first time with a two-point lead over Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya and a realistically unassailable superior goal average. On 11 July 1966, the Iraq Central Football Association decided to end the league with two matches left to play following a meeting with clubs two days earlier. This was the first season that featured a double round-robin format where each team was scheduled to play all the other teams in the league twice, once home and once away.[1]

Al-Firqa Al-Thalitha's Shidrak Yousif won the best player award while their duo Nouri Dhiab and Mahmoud Assad shared the top scorer award with seven goals each. Al-Firqa Al-Thalitha also beat Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 1–0 in the Iraq Central FA Perseverance Cup on 9 June 1966.[2]

League table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification
1 Al-Firqa Al-Thalitha 9 5 4 0 25 6 4.167 14 League Champions
2 Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 9 5 2 2 19 13 1.462 12
3 Maslahat Naqil Al-Rukab 10 3 4 3 14 13 1.077 10
4 Aliyat Al-Shorta 10 3 2 5 15 21 0.714 8
5 Al-Kuliya Al-Askariya 8 2 2 4 9 15 0.600 6
6 Al-Firqa Al-Khamisa[a] 10 2 2 6 9 23 0.391 6
Source: Ali Al-Sabti Archive
Notes:
  1. ^ Al-Firqa Al-Khamisa (Fifth Division) were also known by the name Fawj Tadrib Baghdad (Baghdad Training Battalion).[3]

Results edit

Home \ Away FKH FTH ASH KUL QWJ MAS
Al-Firqa Al-Khamisa[a] 1–1 2–1 0–4 1–1 1–2
Al-Firqa Al-Thalitha 6–0 0–0 4–0 2–2 2–2
Aliyat Al-Shorta 2–1 1–4 1–2 3–5 3–2
Al-Kuliya Al-Askariya 0–3 1–2 1–1
Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 3–0 0–4 3–1 3–0 1–2
Maslahat Naqil Al-Rukab 3–0 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–1[b]
Source: Ali Al-Sabti Archive
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Notes:
  1. ^ Al-Firqa Al-Khamisa (Fifth Division) were also known by the name Fawj Tadrib Baghdad (Baghdad Training Battalion).[3]
  2. ^ The Maslahat Naqil Al-Rukab–Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya match was awarded as a 1–0 win to Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, as Maslahat Naqil Al-Rukab did not turn up for the game.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ Al-Sabti, Ali (2018). Iraqi League History 1956-1974. Iraq.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ Iraq 1962/63-1972/73
  3. ^ a b "P.T.S. edge Fifth Div. (2–1)". Baghdad News. 27 December 1965.
  4. ^ Al-Ahmad, Abu Baqir (11 February 2007). "حكاية الدوري العراقي الكروي". Kooora Forums.

External links edit