Yongzhou players celebrate winning the Hunan Football League on December 27, 2025 in Changsha. Photo: VCG

"I feel incredibly fortunate to have accompanied the Yongzhou team all the way to the championship. This magical journey will surely be a shining highlight and a wonderful memory in my life. The title is the result of the collective efforts of all the people of Yongzhou," You Haoran, a member of the supporters' association of the Yongzhou team, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

After nearly four months of competition across 98 matches between 14 cities in Central China's Hunan Province, Yongzhou defeated Changde 1-0 to lift the championship trophy for the 2025 Hunan Football League (nicknamed the Xiangchao) on Saturday in Changsha, capital of Hunan.

"It feels like I've just woken up from a dream. I'm so happy to see the Yongzhou team rise from obscurity to nationwide fame after winning the title. By following the team throughout the journey, I also fell in love with football. The championship belongs to every person in Yongzhou," You said. 

This team, jokingly dubbed "beggars" in the local dialect by the fans, a self-deprecating nickname referring to the team's modest conditions, despite suffering three consecutive defeats in the early stages, charged all the way into the final by the virtue of its relentless fighting spirit. It not only accomplished a classic underdog comeback, but also showcased the vitality of Hunan football and the distinctive charm of local culture.

The inaugural tournament saw total on-site attendance reaching over 2.4 million. During the tournament, host cities received a combined 66.886 million tourist visits, and the matches generated a total of 13.679 billion yuan ($1.95 billion) in consumer spending, according to the statistics released by the league organizers on Monday. 

Huang Churu, head coach and player of the Yongzhou team, told the Global Times that the team's eventual championship victory was a miracle in itself. 

"Now, whether it's residents in the community or students on campuses, everyone is talking about Xiangchao and the Yongzhou team. This shared topic has given the entire city a much stronger sense of cohesion," Huang said. 

Impact on youth

In each team's 50-player roster, high school students aged 16 to 18 must make up 40 percent, university students 20 percent, and at least three high school players must remain on the field during a game, according to the league's regulations. 

A total of 262 student players participated in the tournament, 73 of whom scored 132 goals, accounting for 53.4 percent of the league's total. The league has sowed the "seeds of football" across the region, according to Titan Sports newspaper.

Among the Yongzhou team, 17 players came from the local Yongzhou Rising Sun School who were largely underestimated before the tournament. The coaching staff instilled in them the spirit of perseverance. Relying on tireless running, the players silenced all doubts and proved their worth.

You noted that never giving up and unity were the main reasons behind the team's success. "In the first away match against Zhangjiajie, they were still trailing 1-3 in the 80th minute, but managed to equalize in stoppage time. The team's fighting spirit moved me," he said.

"Every victory was earned through the players' extraordinary performances and the coaching staff and entire team working together as one. It is precisely this spirit of never giving up and the close-knit unity that allowed us to bring honor to the city," Huang said. 

The coach acknowledged that the biggest impact of the tournament has been on young people. 

"When we were kids, there was no football atmosphere like this. Now, many primary and secondary school students look up to the Yongzhou team players as idols. They go to the stadium to watch training sessions and ask for autographs. This close-up interaction teaches them that with hard work, they too can one day join the Yongzhou team and bring glory to their hometown," Huang noted. 

Yongzhou players greet the fans during the champions bus parade. Photo: IC

Ingenious and warm approach

This tournament not only won countless fans for the Yongzhou team, but also put the city firmly in the national spotlight. With a mix of humor and sincerity, Yongzhou showed the entire country its warmth and ingenuity. 

Built in 1992, the Yongzhou City Stadium had long fallen into disrepair. In response to jokes ­dubbing it the "beggar stadium," local authorities didn't shy away; instead, they launched a livestream, publicly sharing the stadium's renovation progress and allowing netizens to witness firsthand the revamp of the old venue.

After netizens joked that they might climb trees around the stadium to watch the match because they couldn't get tickets, the local government, together with the Yongzhou Football Association, came up with a creative response by introducing 18 officially approved "tree-hanging tickets" offering unobstructed views. 

A guide to using the "Tree Tickets" was also released, stipulating rules such as "no more than three people per tree," "individual weight limited to under 80 kilograms," "no shaking branches to celebrate after goals," and "no sloth-style upside-down viewing." 

In a thoughtful and humorous way, the initiative gave official recognition to grassroots creativity, said You.

"I was among the first group of tree ticket users. Watching the match from a tree branch was a very raw, back-to-basics experience, though not exactly comfortable for the backside. Later, the tree tickets were upgraded, with small stools added on the branches," You noted. 

As You said that the title belongs to every one of Yongzhou. The victory is a coronation for the relentless, proving that effort can surpass talent, and a tribute to the ordinary, showing that everyday people can also make history.