Fan Chun Yip

Fan was born in Hong Kong into a 7-member family. He is the youngest son. As a child, his 2nd oldest brother, who was tragically murdered in 2006, invited him to a 7 a-side match. Because he was the smallest, he was picked to be the goalkeeper. He surprised everyone with his agility and goalkeeping prowess, and even dived to save shots from the opponent on the hard concrete "pitch". After this, Fan would regularly play in goal, which built his interest in football. In 1985, Fan joined the Hong Kong football promotional program, and was picked for the Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation training team. After being picked for the Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation training team, Fan was picked to join the Hong Kong Sports Institute because his potential was recognised. From amateur, Fan was promoted to the junior team, then promoted to the youth team. Because of his average height, it was not easy for him to proceed and become the first choice keeper of the youth team. After Fan's promotion to the youth team, he started off his 4-year long accommodated training. Because Fan was professionally trained by the Hong Kong Sports Institute, he eventually was selected to represent the Hong Kong youth team. Rangers is the First Division club Fan first joined. In a Reserve League match, he injured his index finger and was forced to rest for a couple of months. After recovering from this injury, he was named in the Hong Kong Olympic squad. After a year at Rangers, he was loaned to Happy…

On 17 November 2004, China played against Hong Kong in Guangzhou in a World Cup 2006 qualifying match. Fan performed numerous saves, and saved Zheng Zhi's crucial penalty kick. The save ended China's hope of reaching the 2006 tournament on goal difference, with Kuwait finishing above them in the group by virtue of one goal. After the match, the Mainland Chinese press named Fan 'The Bane of China', and Fan received some personal attack and threats; though fans of Hong Kong supported and honoured him as the Hero of Hong Kong, Pride of Hong Kong, etc. This has somewhat ironically led to his popularity in China, and Fan has attracted some Chinese clubs' interest. In 2005, Chinese Super League team Changsha Ginde were interested in Fan and wanted to sign him from Happy Valley, and he verbally accepted the offer. The transfer was called off however, due to the sudden murder of his brother. Fan had no choice but had to stay in Hong Kong to take care of his family. In the meantime, he has promised that he will not join any team in the future except Changsha Ginde, and indicated that he will join them after the painful transition. On 1 July 2007, a Reunification Cup was held in Hong Kong to celebrate the re-merging of Hong Kong with China anniversary. A China-Hong Kong XI (Chinese national team including six Hong Kong international players) played a World Star XI. Fan was given the captain's armband by the Chinese national team's head coach. He took part in the first half of the…

In 2005, Fan again impressed in his second appearance in the East Asian Cup, his excellent performances impressing foreign press and football fans alike. Indeed, he was eventually awarded the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament. Fan is now recognized as one of the best goalkeepers in Asia (along with the Japan national Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi and the R.O. Korean national Lee Woon-Jae). On 6 September 2006, Hong Kong were playing against Uzbekistan in the Asian Cup Qualification Group stages. Fan was the star player for the Hong Kong, he consistently made excellent saves, infuriating the Uzbekistan's forwards, to the extent that one of them spat at him, though the matter was resolved. At last, Fan was noted the man of the match.

On 10 May 2020, it was reported that Fan would return to Pegasus as a goalkeeping coach after working at the club between 2015 and 2018.