𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝗙𝗔 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗘𝗟𝗗 𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟵𝟭𝟭
The year 𝟏𝟗𝟏𝟏, is very iconic for Indian football. It's a matter of great pride for the Mohun Bagan fans all over the world. This is the year when Mohun Bagan won the first IFA Shield and created history.
It all started on 10th July, 1911 against Saint Xavier's in the First Round. At that time, Saint Xavier's was full of British students. They used to play very physical football. But Mohun Bagan defeated them and reached to the Second Round.
On 14th July, 1911, in the Second round, Mohun Bagan faced the Rangers club in the Customs ground. It was a rainy day. So the Rangers players got the advantage for wearing boots. On the other side, all players of Mohun Bagan were playing barefooted except Sudhir Chatterjee.
Despite of all this difficulties, Mohun Bagan scored 2 goals in the first half.
In the second half, Mohun Bagan was more busy in defending rather than attacking. With the advantage of rain, Rangers scored one back. The goalkeeper Hiralal Mukherjee saved a penalty.
Because of his heroic performance, Mohun Bagan emerged victorious and reached the quarter final.
The quarter final was played in the Dalhousie ground, on 19th July,1911. It was against the Rifle Brigade. In that match Mohun Bagan was not comfortable. Rifle Brigade was playing long pass and it was difficult for Mohun Bagan side backs to adjust in that game.
But luck favoured the team. At the end of the second half, Bijaydas scored a goal by beating the goalkeeper Norton. Mohun Bagan won the match by a narrow margin.
24th July, 1911. Mohun Bagan faced First Middlesex in the Semi Final. The match started at 5:33 pm in the Dalhousie ground. Everybody expected Middlesex to win the match as they were very strong side.
Also the goalkeeper and captain Piggott was very sharp. He played professional football in England's Portsmouth FC before coming to India.
He proved as the biggest obstruction for Mohun Bagan in that match. The match finally ended as a draw courtesy of Piggott's brilliant performance.
The Semi Final replayed for the second time on 26th July, 1911. In that game, Piggott collided with Abhilash and injured his eye. Mohun Bagan won that match by three goal and reached to the final for the first time.
29th July, 1911 The day finally arrived. The final match of the 1911 IFA Shield started in the dry Calcutta ground. The game was going fast. Bare-footed Bengali boys were playing against the British East Yorkshire team.
Suddenly, Rajen jumped up to head the ball with six feet tall Jackson. But he fouled him and East Yorkshire got a free-kick.
Hiralal, the Goalkeeper removed everyone from the front goal. But Sukul stood in front. Jackson rushed and kicked and the ball. It deflected Sukul and entered into the goal. Mohun Bagan fell behind by a goal.
From the start of the second half, Mohun Bagan started to attacked. Ten minutes left before the last whistle. Bijayadas and Shibdas changed their positions to fool the British (The were twin brother).
Suddenly Shibdas got a ball and dribbled passed the players. Then he came in front of the goal and kicked the ball with great power, the ball went into the net. Mohun Bagan equalised.
Before the two minutes of the last whistle of the game, Mohun Bagan scored another goal. Shibdas assisted Abhilash who scored the winning goal. History created. Mohun Bagan emerged victorious.
The Next day, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 reported:
𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕸𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖍𝖊𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕲𝖚𝖆𝖗𝖉𝖎𝖆𝖓
reported on 4th August, 1911:
The 𝐃𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐥 of London also reported:
Subedar Major Shailen Bose was the club secretary in that time who instilled discipline and emphasized physical fitness to put together a team that began to overcome the British clubs with regularity soon thereafter. That was one of the reason for the triumph.
The 29th July celebrated as 𝐌𝐎𝐇𝐔𝐍 𝐁𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐍 𝐃𝐀𝐘 every year in the memory of the Immortal XI.
Written by Krishnendu Bannerjee