Express FC


Express Football Club, abbreviated as Express, is a Ugandan football club from Kampala, the largest city and capital of Uganda. The club play their home games at the Muteesa II Wankulukuku Stadium.

History

Express FC is popularly referred to by the club fans as the Red Eagles and has also been known as the Express Sports Club. The club is one of the oldest football clubs in Uganda, having been founded in October 1957 by managers of the Uganda Express Newspapers. The main architect of the club's foundation was Jolly Joe Kiwanuka, the owner of the newspaper, who was ably supported by Paul Ssengendo, Hannington Kiwanuka, Dr. Banabas Kiwanuka, Gaster Nsubuga and Bishop Dr. Dunstan Nsubuga.
The Red Eagles were among the first Ugandan clubs to use football boots and since the club was revived in 1979 they have ever been relegated from the top tier league. They are the only Super League side that has never featured in the promotional mini leagues. Hassan Mubiru finished the club and league's top scorer for three consecutive seasons from 2001 to 2003.
In total Express FC has won six league championships and ten Uganda Cup titles with the 'double' being achieved in 1995.

League History

Express joined the Kampala and District Football League and by 1964 had become a leading force in the competition by winning Division One championship, with the club's leading scorer Ali Kitonsa netting 54 goals in 18 appearances. In 1968–69 the club participated in the inaugural season of the National League First Division, finishing in fourth position.
The Red Eagles won their first Uganda National League championship title in 1974 and repeated the feat the following season in 1975. In the 1977 season Express defeated the Army side Simba FC 2–0 in a crucial league match and were subsequently banned for allegedly being involving in anti-government activities, by the Governor of the Central Province, Col. Abdallah Nasur, who was unhappy about his side's loss. In 1979 the ban was lifted after the regime of Idi Amin had ended and Express returned to the National League for the 1980 season.
The Red Eagles brief interlude from National League football had lasting consequences as it gave rise to the development of its youth side Nakivubo Boys. All officials of Express turned to Nakivubo Boys and engineered their new team to become a footballing force in Uganda. Nakivubo Boys changed its name to Nakivubo Villa and then later changed its name to Sports Club Villa.
It was not until the 1993 season that Express won the Super League championship and there followed the most successful period in the club's history with further league titles in 1995 and 1996. Then a match fixing scandal involving Express' arch rival Villa interrupted this successful period. The scandal climaxed in 2002–03 season. and at the end of this season seriously tainting Ugandan football with Villa scoring 22 goals past Akol FC and then going on to take league title on goal difference from Express.
Over the last ten years the club's league performance has diminished although in 2011–12 the Red Eagles secured the Super League championship title once more by finishing one point above Bunamwaya SC. The following season in 2012–13 the club finished in 11th place, their lowest top tier position. In 2018 a fundraising campaign was held in order to help save the team from relegation. Express barely survived relegation in the 2017-18 season, ensuring their spot only after defeating bottom club Masavu 1-0 in the final game of the season. Their 13th place finish became their lowest finish in the top flight.

Cups

In contrast to their league performances, Express have been the most successful club in the Ugandan Cup winning the competition on 10 occasions in 1985, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002–03, 2006 and 2006–07. They have also made numerous appearances in African cup competitions, including one appearance in the CAF Champions League, six appearances in the African Cup of Champions Clubs, two appearances in the CAF Confederation Cup, two appearances in the CAF Cup and five appearances in the CAF Cup Winners' Cup. In 1995 the Red Eagles reached the semi-finals of the African Cup of Champions Clubs before going out 2–1 on aggregate to South African club, Orlando Pirates, the eventual champions. In addition the club has twice finished runners-up in the CECAFA Clubs Cup, the regional club competition covering East and Central Africa, in 1994 and 1995. Another success was winning the East African Hedex Super Cup in 2001–02.

Record in the top tier

SeasonTierLeaguePos.Pl.WDLGSGAPts
1968–691Uganda National First Division4th14824321718
19691Uganda National First Division2nd181224642426
19701Uganda National First Division4th10613221313
19711Uganda National First Division4th14725202016
1972Competition abandoned
1973Competition abandoned
19741Uganda National League1st14941291222
Champions
19751Uganda National League1st181152351527
Champions
19761Uganda National League2nd221624471434
19771Uganda National League
Expelled
1978–79Not permitted to participate
19801Uganda National League5th3014610464134
19811Uganda National League3rd321598633739
19821Uganda Super League3rd18963322024
19831Uganda Super League4th281657543937
19841Uganda Super League3rd301497493437
19851Uganda Super League2nd261934502341
19861Uganda Super League8th289910252827
19871Uganda Super League2nd211182381430
19881Uganda Super League
Not available
19891Uganda Super League2nd221471372135
19901Uganda Super League4th221147261726
19911Uganda Super League4th201352391031
19921Uganda Super League2nd261772431941

SeasonTierLeaguePos.Pl.WDLGSGAPts
19931Uganda Super League1st282071601547
Champions
19941Uganda Super League2nd282053641465
19951Uganda Super League1st282422731674
Champions
19961Uganda Super League1st302361611575
Champions
19971Uganda Super League3rd302262681872
19981Uganda Super League
Nile SL Serie A		2nd211353441744
19991Uganda Super League2nd382882851592
20001Uganda Super League3rd302055532465
20011Uganda Super League3rd281477372549
20021Uganda Super League2nd282134622066
2002–031Uganda Super League2nd27233155972
20041Uganda Super League3rd291694472057
20051Uganda Super League
Group C		1st852110417
Qualified for KO phase
- reached semi-finals
20061Uganda Super League3rd281594321654
2006–071Uganda Super League9th328159223039
2007–081Uganda Super League6th3412157302051
2008–091Uganda Super League8th3414119282453
2009–101Uganda Super League2nd342194441572
2010–111Uganda Super League7th269107181437
2011–121Uganda Super League1st281594392154
Champions
2012–131Uganda Super League11th3081210313136
2013–141Uganda Super League

African cups history

Achievements

;Head coach:
Since the formation of the club a total of 44 men have been appointed as head coach of Express. The coaches that have served Express are detailed below: