The Introduction of Football in Colonial Calcutta- Part 1

The expatriate writers and factors of the East India Company introduced the game of football in India for their exclusive enjoyment and fun in an alien soil beset with many vicissitudes. Although, it was claimed that the Christian Missionaries played an instrumental role in promoting football in India, but the contribution of the British rulers in patronizing the game cannot be denied.
The competitive football in India was first introduced in Bombay and Karachi and was gradually picked up by Calcutta, which became the capital of the British India in 1858. The first recorded football match was played in colonial Calcutta in 1858 between Calcutta Club of Civilians and Gentlemen’s of Barrackpore. A number of competitive matches were played thereafter in the Calcutta and Barrackpore regions. However, it should be noted that, unlike in England, the game of football in colonial Calcutta emerged as an elitist sport which was often an exclusive preserve of the British class.
The formal club system in football in colonial Calcutta was introduced with the setting up of the Calcutta Football Club in 1872. The Trades Club was set up in 1876.
Shri Nagendraprasad Sarbadhikari, who is considered as the ‘Father of Indian Football’, along with Shri Nagendranath Mallik of Mallik family of Chorebagan, played a prominent role in promoting football at the grassroots level in colonial Calcutta. As a result of his effort, a number of amateur clubs, involving the students of the Presidency College, Calcutta Medical College, Shibpur Engineering College, St. Xavier’s College and Hare School, were set up. However, the Bengali participation was limited to the teams of the Presidency College and Hare School only, which reflected the racial policy adopted by the colonial rulers in the game of football in Calcutta.
The Bengali participation in football was not confined to the teams at the schools and the college levels only, but a number of local clubs were set up to provide football playing opportunity to the youth of Bengal. Shovabazar, Kumartuli, Town, Sporting, Chandannagar, Chinsura, Aryans and Mohun Bagan were some of the prominent names. These clubs used to play with each other as no competition structure was available till the Trades Cup was introduced by the European traders in 1889.
The first competitive football tournament, which was introduced in colonial Calcutta, was the Trades Cup. This tournament was started by the European traders in 1889. Shovabazar was the only club which received invitation for participating in the inaugural edition of this tournament. No other Indian team was invited to take part in this tournament in its year of inception.
The Indian Football Association (IFA), which was the first administrative body of football in India, was set up in 1893 with the objective of organizing the IFA Shield. The IFA Shield was launched in 1893 and the Calcutta Football League was started in 1898. However, till 1914, the Calcutta Football League was confined among the European teams only. Even in 1914, only two teams from Calcutta, Mohun Bagan and Aryans were allowed to participate in the second division of the league. This racial approach by the colonial rulers in the game of football was adopted in other tournaments as well. For example, the Cadet Cup was limited to the European and the Anglo-Indian students.
Moreover, the Indian teams were not allowed to take part in many other tournaments introduced in other parts of the country, like the Durand Cup (1888) and the Rovers Cup (1891). In response to this racial approach, a nationalistic approach was adopted by the Maharaja of Cooch Behar who introduced the Cooch Behar Cup Football Tournament in 1893 only for the Indian teams. This nationalistic approach took a complete shape with the historic success of Mohun Bagan in the IFA Shield in 1911 which should be discussed in the context of the partition of Bengal.
In my next article, I shall write on the success of Mohun Bagan in the IFA Shield in 1911 and its impact on the movement against the partition of Bengal.
Feature / Interviews / Santosh Trophy
Arif Shaikh reflects on Maharashtra’s performance in Hero Santosh Trophy campaign
Arif Shaikh, the striker for Maharashtra in the Hero Santosh Trophy, in an exclusive chat with us speaks about his team’s performance in the campaign, his experience playing under coach…
Indian Super League / Transfer News
Defender Hardik Bhatt joins Mumbai City FC
Rajasthan United right-back Hardik Bhatt has reportedly joined Mumbai City FC on a loan deal for the rest of the season. According to reports, the deal involves a loan fee…
Mumbai Kenkre stun league leaders with late-winner
Mumbai Kenkre FC’s wait for their first points of the new year came to an end with a stunning 2-1 victory over Sreenidi Deccan FC at the Cooperage Stadium in…
MFA Elite Division Roundup: KSA maintains lead; India Rush earns first win of the season
The MFA Elite Division saw a flurry of action over the past couple of days, with several teams securing vital wins to keep their hopes of a top-three finish alive….
Lenny Rodrigues returns to FC Goa, Glan Martins leaves on loan
Goa, January 24, 2023: FC Goa have completed the signing of Lenny Rodrigues from fellow Hero Indian Super League (ISL) side ATK Mohun Bagan, the Club can confirm. The midfielder…
ATK Mohun Bagan and FC Goa agree swap deal for midfielders
ATK Mohun Bagan and FC Goa have reportedly agreed to a swap deal for midfielders Glan Martins and Lenny Rodriguez The exact opposite deal happened in January 2021 when Lenny…
Hero Super Cup / Indian Super League
Kerala to host Hero Super Cup in April
NEW DELHI: The 2022-23 Hero Super Cup, featuring 16 teams in the Group Stage, will take place from April 8-25, 2023, in Kerala. Two of the three cities among Kochi, Kozhikode…
India U-17 / Indian Women’s Football Team
A tale of two footballers and their fight against gender bias
CHENNAI: Sonali Soren is certainly not a showstopper, who will force people to take a break and wait eagerly to follow her next movement. She is a simple young girl with…
MFA Roundup: Late Goals, Comebacks and Table Shuffling
A late goal helps Atlanta FC keep the winning streak intact, Silver Innings pick 2nd win of campaign, and PIFA secure a stunning come from behind win. Ambernath United Atlanta…
Indian Women’s Football Team / Women Football
Emotional to be back in the national camp after so long, says Bala Devi
The city of Chennai is currently a true confluence of India’s best talents in women’s football – the National camps for both the Seniors and the Under-20 probables are running…
Opportunity to make the team: U.K.M. Kothrud FC conducts selection trials for girls team
Pune-based U.K.M. Kothrud FC has announced that they will be conducting selection trials for their girl’s team on 15th January 2023 The club welcomes all players to come and showcase…
The Sunday Football League Season 4 is back
The Sunday Football League is back with its fourth season, and it’s shaping up to be the best one yet. With eight talented teams competing at the Kes Kandivali turf, there…
BFC Soccer Schools Elite team trials in Feb
Bengaluru FC launched their Mumbai program last season with the Soccer Schools and Elite programs with its local partner Soccer Schools of Excellence (SSE). Bengaluru Football Club is a professional club…
India Khelo Football Season 2 Trials in Mumbai: A Chance to Kickstart Your Football Career
After conducting trials in 34 cities & villages across India, India Khelo Football is coming to Mumbai to hunt talent on 7th January. India Khelo Football kickstarted its season 2…
Elite Division / MDFA / Trials
Mumbai Customs to conduct trials for Elite League
Former champions Mumbai Customs will be holding open trials for the upcoming MFA Elite Corporate League (Elite Division) The 2019 MFA Elite Division champions Mumbai Customs are conducting open trials…
Sunday Boys to hold trials for MFA 1st Division
MFA 1st division side Sunday Boys FC will be conducting trials in the first week of November for the upcoming football season Sunday Boys Football Club was established in the…
Elite Division / MDFA / Trials
Millat FC to hold trials for MFA Elite Premier League
Millat FC – a club plying their trade in MFA Elite Division will be conducting open trials for their upcoming 2022-23 season Last season Millat had a decent run in…
Elite Division / MDFA / Trials
MFA Elite Division club KSA to conduct trials for the upcoming season
Karnataka Sporting Association (KSA) – a club plying their trade in MFA Elite Division will be conducting open trials for their upcoming 2022-23 season Last season KSA had an amazing…
3rd Division / MDFA / Trials
Young Guns Football Acadmey to conduct trials for their upcoming MFA 3rd Division Campaign
MFA 3rd Division club Young Guns Football Academy will be conducting open trials on October 9th for their upcoming season in Mumbai Football Young Guns Football Academy was founded in…
OSCAR SSE to conduct trials for Youth I League and YPL team in the U13 category in Mumbai
Mumbai-based OSCAR SSE will conduct trials for their Youth I League and YPL team on 16th and 17th July 2022 at Wings Sports Centre ground. Oscar SSE is a 2-star…