Mohun Bagan's Historic IFA Shield win Mohun Bagan was the first Indian team to defeat a foreign team the East Yorkshire Regiment to lift the 1911 IFA Shield. They defeated the English team in thrilling a 2-1 match. The Mohun Bagan team consisted of: Hiralal Mukherjee, Bhuti Sukul, Sudhir Chatterjee, Manmohan Mukherjee, Rajen Sengupta, Nilmadhav Bhattacharya, Kanu Roy, Habul Sarkar, Abhilash Ghosh, Bijoydas Bhaduri and Shibdas Bhaduri (captain).

Jackson of East Yorkshire regiment scored the first goal from a free kick. In the second half, the skipper restored parity at the 65th minute. In the 87th minute, Abhilash Ghosh received a pass from the captain and his powerful shot went straight into the goal!

Within a few seconds the whole of Kolkata was filled with scenes of frenzied celebrations. Cries of “Bande Mataram" and "Mohun Bagan ki Jay" (Hail Mohun Bagan) filled the skies and there were celebrations all throughout the night.

An intersting incident is said to have occurred when the victorious Mohun Bagan team was returning to the club with the Shield. It is believed that a Brahmin pointed to the Union Jack atop the Fort William and queried - “When will that come down ?" Somebody amidst the crowd replied that “It will come down when Mohun Bagan will win the shield again." Intrestingly, Mohun Bagan won their next shield in 1947, the year India won her Independence!

The next day, newspapers around the world were full of reports of that legendary victory.The Reuter, London carried a story which went: “For the first time in the history of Indian Football, a core Bengali team, Mohun Bagan, won IFA Shield by defeating a competent White team. Though about 80,000 spectators were present on the ground, but most of them could not see the match. By noticing the flying of kites, they were following the actions of the match. And when they came to know about the win of their team, they started tearing off their shirts, waving them, tearing their hairs.”

The Manchester Guardian commented ‘The team comprising of the Bengalis won the IFA Shield by defeating three top military teams. 80,000 Indians will remain witness to this event. There is nothing to be surprised at. The team that is physically more fit, has sharp surveillance and intelligence, wins.’

In India, The Mussalman, Kolkata said: ‘The members of the Moslem Sporting Club were almost mad…rolling on the ground…on the victory of their Hindu brethren.’ ‘The Bengali’ published a poem on 30th of July in honour of Mohun Bagan which read:

‘Thanks my friends of football renown,
For bringing the British teams down,
A victory grand to behold,
Serene and noble-bright and bold’ –‘The Mohun Bagans.’

That year Mohun Bagan also won the Gladstone Cup and Asanulla Cup.

More information on Mohun Bagan’s IFA Shield win in 1911

History of Mohun Bagan Athletic Club