WHEN PIONEER MEETS PIONEERMohun Bagan vs Sheffield FC
Fourteen year ago today, Yuba Bharati Krirangan, drenched in apricity, witnessed the face off of two clubs, the bearers of hundreds of stories, myths, and legacies for ages, from two different continents of the world, when the city of Kolkata was just beginning to feel its winter vibes. Mohun Bagan and Sheffield FC, the oldest professional football club in the world, met in the city of joy after being invited to play in the "Mohammedan Sporting Platinum Jubilee Cup" by another century-old club, Mohammedan Sporting.
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| Mohun Bagan & Sheffield FC players with Officials |
Background:
Prior to discussing the match details, we need to have a look at the background of the two-day tournament — which requires us to travel back 89 years from the day this article is being published. It was neither Mohun Bagan nor East Bengal but Mohammedan Sporting Club who became the first native team to win the Calcutta Football League. Unlike any other football club, Mohammedan Sporting was not a mere local club of Calcutta. From its inception, the club held a pan-Indian outlook with a support base in every corner of the country. Other contemporary Muslim based clubs like Bangalore Muslims, Bangalore Crescents or Muslim Union of India were nowhere near to the popularity that Mohammedan Sporting earned after it's establishment in 1891.
It was 1934 and the day was July 5th when Mohammedan Sporting scripted history as they defeated Kalighat 4-1. With 27 points in 20 matches, the club achieved what Mohun Bagan for 18 years and East Bengal for nine years tried hard. They crowned the Champions of Bengal. To commemorate this amazing achievement, the club officials held a four-team competition called "Mohammedan Sporting Platinum Jubilee Cup" from November 12 to November 14, 2010, to mark the 75th anniversary of the win special. Along with Mohammedan Sporting, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Sheffield FC are the other three who participated.
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| Sheffield FC players warming up, before the game |
The Match Begins:
The participation of Sheffield FC was significant since it allowed them to bring their historic standing to a football-loving city like Kolkata. Fans anxious to witness a historic encounter that combined two different footballing traditions.
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| Mohun Bagan & Sheffield FC players entering the pitch |
In the presence of a decent crowd, both teams played a balanced game, with Mohun Bagan bringing a mixture of experienced players and promising young talent, under the coaching of Stanley Rozario, against the disciplined approach of Sheffield FC. Mohun Bagan shown strength and tenacity by defending strongly as Sheffield launched a few well-planned attacks. Each side looked to break the deadlock in the half, but defenses held firm, reflecting a tense and highly competitive atmosphere.
Second Half:
The match found its pace in the second half though the teams were unable to break the deadlock till it reached the last ten minutes. Sheffield FC got a golden chance to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty in the 66th minute after Kingshuk Debnath tripped Jordan William Eagers inside the box. But Sangram Mukherjee, as he had done many times before, stopped the spot kick of Ashlay Malcom Burbeary.
In the 81st minute, Mohun Bagan got a corner and Ashim Biswas struck the decisive goal from an inswing curler from Snehasish Chakraborty. Sheffield tried hard to find an equalizer but they couldn't break Mohun Bagan defence. Sangram Mukherjee, for his remarkable performance under the bar, was awarded the man of the match.
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| GOAL SCORER & ASSIST PROVIDER |
The victory was particularly significant for Mohun Bagan, as it highlighted their competitive spirit against a historic club like Sheffield FC. The game symbolized a blend of football heritage and the growing popularity of football in India, underscoring Kolkata's role as a stronghold of Indian football culture. For Sheffield FC, who received a standing ovation after the match by the Mohun Bagan fans, this match served as an opportunity to showcase their rich footballing history on Indian soil.
Later on, Mohun Bagan was invited to join the "Club of Pioneers," a group of the oldest football teams still in existence from various countries, which was started by Sheffield FC in honour of football's pioneers, Nathaniel Creswick and William Prest, who established the World's First Football Club on October 24, 1857 named Sheffield Football Club.
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| THE CLUB OF PIONEERS |
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