Introduction to Football Tournaments in West Bengal
Football is one of the most popular sports in West Bengal that promotes the athletes to play at national level to represent the country. Association football is two most popular sport in West Bengal, the other being Cricket. East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan are the heart of West Bengal football.
The rivalry between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, originating from the Calcutta Football League as the Kolkata derby, is one of the fiercest in the world and considered among the flagship events in the Indian footballing calendar. West Bengal is known to be the Mecca of Indian football, with the two most supported teams in the country being based within the city – Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.
The IFA had organised many historical tournaments like the Trades Cup, the Gladstone Cup, the Cooch Behar Cup and the coveted IFA Shield, prior to the incorporation of Calcutta Football League in 1898. The Trades Cup is the oldest tournament in Kolkata, being instituted in 1889.
History
Through the efforts of Nagendra Prasad Sarbadhikari who is known as the father of Indian football, A.R. Brown and B.C. Lindsay of Dalhousie AC, and Watson of Calcutta FC, the IFA was established in 1893. A.R. Brown was the first Secretary of the IFA. Norman Prichard, the first Indian to win an Olympic medal, was the Secretary of the IFA in 1900. The most remarkable person to head the IFA was the Maharaja of Santosh, Sir M.N. Roy Chowdhury. During his tenure the IFA played an instrumental role in the formation of the AIFF.
Football in West Bengal is administered by the Indian Football Association. It is the oldest football association in India and was founded in 1893. Among the founders was former English international Elphinstone Jackson.
Football Players from West Bengal
The state of West Bengal has contributed many legends to Indian football, such as:
Chuni Goswami
He is the first Padma Shri awardee, awarded best striker of Asia in 1962.
Gostho Pal
Gostho Pal is a footballer, who was member of the Mohun Bagan team that won the IFA shield against a British team in the pre-independence period.
Krishanu Dey
He is a footballer who known as the “Indian Maradona“.
Mohammed Salim
Salim is the first player from the Indian subcontinent to play overseas, in the year 1936 for the Scottish Club Celtic FC.
Pradip Kumar Banerjee
Pradip Kumar Banerjee, named Indian Footballer of the 20th Century by FIFA, and awardee of the FIFA Order of Merit.
Shailen Manna
Shailen Manna, the only Asian Footballer ever to be named among the 10 best Captains in the world by the English FA in 1953.
Subrata Paul
Subrata Pal, the member of Indian team who is the first Indian goalkeeper to play professionally for a foreign club in 1st division (Danish Superliga).
Sudip Chatterjee
Footballer from West Bengal, considered among the finest in Indian football, declared AIFF player of the decade in 1994.
West Bengal Football Team
The West Bengal football team, also known as IFA Bengal football team or earlier the Bengal football team, is an Indian football team representing West Bengal in Indian state football competitions including the Santosh Trophy.
The West Bengal football team is governed by the Indian Football Association (IFA) and is a member of the All India Football Federation (AFC) since 1937, the national governing body for indian football. There are other West Bengal football team for women’s also.
West Bengal Women’s Team
The West Bengal women’s football team, also earlier the Bengal women’s football team, is an Indian women’s football team representing West Bengal in the Senior Women’s National Football Championship.
Tournament Best performance
Senior Women’s Champions (1991-
National Football 92, 1996-97) Championship
National Games Silver (1999, 2002)
Junior Girl’s. Champions (2011-12)
National Footbal
Championship
Sub–Junior Girl’s. Champions (2010-11)
National Football
Championship
Conclusion
The football tournament in West Bengal stands as a testament to the rich history and passion for the sport in the region. The impact of tournament expands beyond the field, leaving a lasting legacy that resonates with fans and players alike, highlighting the continuing love for football in this energetic region of India.
West Bengal have the won the Santosh Trophy a record 32 times with their most recent victory being in the 2022-23 season which was memorable moment for the and inspiration for the players.