Football in Taipei is back this weekend with the resumption of the Taipei International Football League (TIFL).
Here’s what you need to know.
The Teams
The TIFL is an amateur expat league with players from all over the world.
There are 14 teams in the league, which are split evenly into two divisions.
This season, the first division will consist of B52 Carnegies, B53 Carnegies, Red Lions, Daan, Vikings, Triangle, and of course, the Mighty Shane.
This will be Mighty Shane's fifth consecutive season in the top flight.
We kick off our season against TIFL Cup winners B53 Carnegies on March 3rd, with games running weekly until the summer break.
The Pitches
The TIFL schedules games on pitches all around the city, with some of them natural grass and some artificial turf.
This season, league pitches will include:
Fuhe Bridge
Sunshine Football Pitch
Xinzhuang Stadium
Dajia Yingfeng Football Pitch
Tianmu Sports Park
Jinhe Sports Park (pending)
All are located within Taipei and New Taipei and are easily accessible by MRT.
Dates & Times
Games are always played on Sundays.
The earliest kickoff is 09:00, with games scheduled throughout the day and ending with floodlit games at 20:00.
The 2024 TIFL season officially kicks off on February 25, 2024.
The Mighty Shane
After a disappointing 23/24 season in which we underachieved, the Mighty Shane will be looking to score more goals and improve on our fourth place finish.
Current Mood
The general vibe among the team is optimistic, as we know we can easily improve upon the season we've just had.
With some shrewd new signings and a bit more composure in front of goal, there's nothing stopping us from making a push for the league title.
Incoming manager, Danny Miller, is also ringing in the changes, giving players and onlookers alike cause for excitement.
Success Would Be
Mighty Shane have to be aiming for third or higher for the new season.
And with the players at our disposable, it's undoubtedly achievable.
Players to Watch
Nipping his only goal of the season in our last game, Alex Wyatt is one to look out for, as he'll surely have gotten used to the team, setup, and opposition. Expect goals and assists to flow.
Last season's rising star, Dave Jennings, will be looking to create even more danger down the left wing and score some (more) goals of his own.
Outgoing manager and last season's player of the season, Jack Snart, will finally be free of the burdens of club management. We expect even more big things from the Shane legend.
Lukas Tschojer has promised to score 15 goals this season – nearly double his tally from last season. The fans are dubious, but we can't wait to see what happens.
Yi Hsin Wei, the rock at the back, put in some absolutely monumental performances at the tail end of last season. Big things are expected from him as he'll look to get a full season under his belt.
And finally, if Dan Swift can start getting his crosses past the first defender, he'll easily lead the team in assists once more.
Get Involved
Mighty Shane FC is always looking for new players.
You can get involved here.
We welcome any player to try out for the team at our Thursday kickabout sessions.