Cheung Chi Doy
Quick Facts
Biography
Cheung Chi Doy (Chinese: 張子岱; Jyutping: zoeng1 zi2 doi6; born July 30, 1941 in Hong Kong) is a Chinese former professional footballer. He played for Blackpool and the Republic of China (now Chinese Taipei). During the era, Republic of China team was represented by players from Hong Kong.
Cheung was one of the first Asian players to play in Europe. He began his career in the Hong Kong First Division at 14 years of age. In 1960, he went to play for English club Blackpool, where he was a teammate of Jimmy Armfield. He became the first ethnic Chinese player to appear in the top flight of English football. He made two appearances for Blackpool's first team and scored one goal, against Sheffield Wednesday on November 25, 1961. In 1968, he and his brother Cheung Chi Wai joined the Vancouver Royals, playing under Bobby Robson in the North American Soccer League. While he began the season in Vancouver, he finished it with the St. Louis Stars. He also played for Tung Wah, Kitchee and Jardine SA in the Hong Kong First Division.
Ever since the end of Cheung's stint at Blackpool in 1962, he remains the first and, thus far, only Hong Kong-born football player to have ever played for a top-flight European club.