The sport was introduced in the Valley by Christian missionaries and educationist Tyndale Biscoe in 1908 as affordable entertainment for the people.

With the state’s players doing well, the game has maintained a loyal following in Kashmir. “You see, no Kashmiri cricket player has ever made it to the national team. Only two were selected for the IPL (Indian Premier League) but sent back later. In contrast, more than a dozen of our footballers have represented India. This has helped add to the popularity of the game as young players see a ray of hope,” says Mohammad Shafi Nari, who has played for India.

However, there has been some waning of interest lately. While earlier J-K had more than 20 teams representing different government departments — the state government requires all its departments to set up soccer teams — today the number is a mere four. The Santosh Trophy, coming to the state after 30 years, may have been just the kick the game needed.