Minerva Punjab

2005–2020

The club was established in 2005 as Minerva Academy. It was founded as a purpose of reviving the glory of the Minerva Club, a football team of Minerva Public School in Mohali, that emerged as one of the most formidable in the state of Punjab. Until 2013, it was operated as an amateur six-a-side team for local players, alongside appearing in age-grouped tournaments.

Minerva initially fielded players in various regional competitions in Punjab and beyond, while club's first major tournament at the national level was the I-League 2nd Division in 2015–16. On 22 November 2015, the club began league journey with a 2–0 win against Kenkre. Goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh maintained cleen-sheets as Minerva thrashed PIFA 3–0 on 11 December. They reached final round of the tournament and maintained good form, but ended campaign earning second place after a 3–1 defeat to Dempo. They were promoted to the I-League after an impressive stint at the 2nd Division. Minerva later took part in 2016 Durand Cup, getting the direct entry. They earned only point from a 2–2 tie with Army Green in the last group stage fixture, hence couldn't qualify for the semi-finals. Minerva along with Chennai City was promoted to the I-League, after the withdrawal of Dempo. The club ended its 2016–17 I-League season at the second last position. In December 2016, Minerva roped in Colm Joseph Toal as technical director. In October 2017, Bollywood actor Rannvijay Singha was unveiled as co-owner of the club.

Next season, surprising everyone, Minerva clinched the I-League title. It was their first ever top division title. They became the first club from North India to win the league since 1996. The title made the team qualify for their first-ever continental tournament. Minerva appeared in the group stage of the 2019 AFC Cup, alongside Chennaiyin, starting from the preliminary round 2. However, they lost to Iranian club Saipa in the qualifying play-offs of the 2019 AFC Champions League. On 3 April 2019, Minerva kicked-off their group stage campaign against Chennaiyin, which ended in a 0–0 stalemate. On 17 April, the club held Abahani Limited Dhaka of Bangladesh by 2–2 at Bangabandhu National Stadium. They maintained undefeated form, drew both home and away games with Nepali side Manang Marshyangdi. They drew another game with Chennaiyin, this time 1–1 in Guwahati. In the last group stage fixture, the club lost 0–1 to Abahani. Minerva was also placed in the round of 16 of the 2018 Indian Super Cup, in which they lost to Jamshedpur by 4–5.

In July 2018, Minerva roped in noted Indian manager Sukhwinder Singh as technical director. On 8 August 2018, Northern Irish manager Paul Munster was appointed by the club. The club won the Punjab State Super League for the first time after becoming undefeated in 11 games, and later went on to win the J&K Invitational Cup, jointly with Real Kashmir. In February 2019, Minerva signed a strategic partnership with Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach, aiming football development at grassroots level. On 8 February 2019, Minerva announced Munster's departure. In the 2018–19 I-League, the club managed to win four of their twenty fixtures and finished ninth in the league table. They were placed in the 2019 Indian Super Cup qualifying round, but refused to play protesting against uncertainty of the I-League clubs' future in Indian football. Thereafter, they were also not invited to play the 2019 Durand Cup. On 30 October 2019, announcement was made that after a partnership agreement with RoundGlass Sports Private Ltd., the club has been renamed as Punjab Football Club. From mid-2019 until May 2020, the club was coached by Yan Law. After losing the I-League spot, Minerva started playing football again in Punjab football league system with its youth age groups. It is the only Indian club to win all age group national titles in the same year, 2017–18, winning U13, U15, U18 and the senior I-League.

2020–present

This year we have changed the name of the club from Minerva Punjab FC to Punjab FC. I have sold Punjab FC and not Minerva FC. We are now registered with Punjab Football Association as Minerva Academy Football Club again.

RoundGlass Sports bought 50% of Minerva Academy's share earlier; In 2020, they bought remaining 50% from owners Ranjit and Heena Bajaj to form RoundGlass Punjab a year later.

In November 2020, Minerva Academy was accredited as Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE) by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The same year, Sports Authority of India (SAI) signed Memorandum of Understanding with Minerva for a period of four years under the "Khelo India Talent Identification and Development Program". The club became a regular participant in the Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh Memorial Tournament.