Li Tiansheng

Li Tiansheng was allegedly born under the name of Chen. As a young apprentice in a machine factory, he was adopted by the Li family and changed his name accordingly. Li joined the South China Athletic Association (SCAA) with the famous Li Huitang. He stayed with the team when most of the players left in 1926 and was promoted to become the A-team’s left-back. Two years later he moved to the right-back position. In 1930 he was one of the players who joined the Guangzhou Police on the China mainland opposite of Hong Kong. On the weekend Li continued to play for the SCAA, which dominated Hong Kong’s football for the next decade.

For the national team, Li played in the 1930 and 1934 Far Eastern Games, winning both tournaments, and the 1936 Olympics. Even though he was considered the best defender in the first half of the 20th century, his shortness and, therefore, lack of heading ability, were clear disadvantages. When the system was changed in 1938, he was not able to adapt and his star began to decline.

For the 1940-41 season Li left the SCAA to join the newly founded Sing Tao club. During this time, Li owned a rice shop and worked part time as a mechanic. After the fall of Hong Kong, in August 1942, he went to Shanghai to participate in the last season of the Western Division. After the war he returned to Hong Kong in 1947 and played one more season, at the age of 41, for Kowloon Motor Bus and subsequently retired. Li also worked as the stationmaster in Kowloon City for KMB before he retired in 1964. His son also became a decent football player.