Looking back at Mohun Bagan’s historic IFA Shield 1911 triumph

Mohun Bagan defeated East Yorkshire Regiment 2-1

Mohun Bagan set a major precedent for Indian football by providing that a homegrown side could outperform British teams back in the Pre-Independence period. The Mariners are one of the oldest clubs in Indian football and acted as a form of defiance and hope for the entire country back in 1911.

The club was just about 22 years old at that time and had already gone through a number of highs and lows in its short history. Before the historic year of 1911, the Mariners had won a number of trophies since the turn of the 20th century. They won the Trades Cup, the second-most prestigious tournament in India back then, on four consecutive occasions from 1906–1909. They also won the coveted Coochbehar Cup a few times before 1911.

But it was in that particular year that Mohun Bagan achieved something that would not only change Indian football forever but also fire a small shot of belief towards Independence from the British. The Mariners created a really strong team for the 1911 IFA Shield, roping in some of the most talented Indian footballers at the time.

How did Mohun Bagan fare in the initial stages?

Captained by Shibdas Bhaduri, the team also included Abhilash Ghosh, Hiralal Mukherjee, Nil Madhav Bhattacharya, Kanu Roy, Habul Sarkar, Abhilash Ghosh, Bijoydas Bhaduri and Sudhir Chatterjee. They started the tournament off strong, and their incredible backline was a key reason for their strong performances, with the likes of Hiralal Mukherjee, Habul Sarkar and Sudhir Chatterjee excelling.

Hiralal saved three penalties in their opening game against St. Xavier’s College to help his side start the competition with a win. That ended up acting as a driving point for the Mariners, who continued to scratch and claw their way to victories against challenging opposition sides that were filled with much more ‘experienced’ foreign footballers.

Mohun Bagan would go on to defeat the Calcutta Rangers Club as well as the Rifle Bridge (an infantry Rifle regiment of the British Army). They also defeated a competitive Middlesex Regiment side, with the barefoot Indian players outclassing and outwitting the British footballers. Interestingly, Mohun Bagan did not concede a single goal en route to the final thanks to their goalkeeper and defenders’ heroics.

The Mariners would go on to book a place in the IFA Shield final, becoming the first All-Indian club to do so. Excitement was at a fever pitch in Kolkata ahead of July 29, 1911, and the ticket demands for the final. People travelled from different states like Bihar and Assam, with the East Indian Railway Company running a special train and ferries also being used to help people reach Kolkata.

The epic IFA Shield Final where Mohun Bagan defied all odds

Due to the sheer hype for the final, tickets normally priced at Rs. 1 or Rs. 2 at the time were spiked to Rs. 15. An 80,000+ crowd assembled for the final between Mohun Bagan and the East Yorkshire Regiment, with the fans hoping for a miracle.

The Mariners took the early blow in the game, with Sgt. Jackson scored the opening goal for the East Yorkshire Regiment side in the first 15 minutes of the game. But, energized by the roar of the crowd, the Mohun Bagan players would go on to produce something truly heroic.

Mohun Bagan captain Shibdas Bhadhuri got them back in the game by scoring the equaliser in impressive fashion. Just as it looked like the game might be heading towards a draw, the Mariners’ captain would be the hero again. A few minutes before the final whistle, he set up a brilliant assist for Abhilash Ghosh to score with just two minutes on the clock.

The entire ground went into a frenzy as the East Yorkshire Regiment side was shocked. Mohun Bagan held on and became the first native team to win the IFA Shield on July 29, 1911. The Mohun Bagan players were treated like kings in the city, which envisioned this win as a major act of defiance against the British Raj and early proof that Indians could outperform them in any field. July 29 has since been named Mohun Bagan Day. 

Every year, the club holds a special ceremony in their tent in Maidan, Kolkata, to pay tribute to their heroes and also celebrate their best players from the previous football season. It is only fitting because, had Mohun Bagan not won the 1911 IFA Shield, they might have never acted as the platform to raise Indian football to a whole new level.