Mohammedan Sporting Club, founded in 1891 at Kolkata, is one of the oldest and one of the most popular football clubs in India, with a support base in all parts of the country. The club currently plays in the I-League 2nd Division and the premier division of the Calcutta Football League (CFL). In 1934, Mohammedan was the first Indian club to win the CFL and they continued their run until the 1938 season. Before Independence, numerous triumphs against British teams earned the club huge support from all India. Mohammedan Sporting Club became the entity against British oppression and the support continued even after Independence. It also became the first Indian club to win the Durand Cup in 1940. After Independence, it became the first Indian club to win on foreign soil by lifting Aga Khan Gold Cup in 1960.
The club was founded as "Jubilee Club" in 1887 under the leadership of Nawab Aminul Islam. Then this name was changed into "Crescent Club". Crescent club's name again changed into "Hamidia Club". Finally this "Hamidia Club" came to be known as "Mohamedan Sporting Club" in 1891.
Khan Sahib Syed Ahmed Rashid took a very keen interest in the social and sporting life of Bengal. He was unanimously elected and was a very successful Hony. Secretary of the Mohammadan Sporting Club, Calcutta from the year 1925 to 1932 when he resigned owing to pressure of his official duties. During his secretary ship, His Excellency the Governor, Sir John Stanely Jackson, accepted the patronage of the Mohammadan Sporting Club.
In 1930, during the Football boycott, Khan Sahib Syed Ahmed Rashid successfully organized the Monsoon League. His services were highly appreciated by the President, Major R.B. Langden, M.C, O.B.E, and the Council of the Cricket Board of Control, for the excellent help rendered to the Board at all times. Khan Sahib Rashid successfully conducted for two years (1930–31) the Calcutta Football League as its Hony. Secretary.
In March 1935 he was again unanimously elected as Hony. General Secretary, Mohammadan Sporting Club, Calcutta. In October 1935 he organized and took the well known Muhammadan Sporting Club Football Team on a successful tour to Rangoon, Mandalay, Maymo, Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Madras, Bangalore and Mysore.
A big public luncheon was given in his honour at the Great Eastern Hotel, presided over by the Honourable late Maharaja M.N. Roy of Santosh, when high tributes were paid by Sir Alfred Wetson, Honourable Khawaja Sir Nazimuddin and other leading men of Bengal for Khan Sahib's excellent services to sports and social activities in Bengal.
Khan Sahib Syed Ahmed Rashid was the first Muslim to be elected on all the important sporting Associations in Bengal. i.e. the Bengal Hockey Association, The India Football Association, The Football League, Calcutta, the Cricket Board of Control Bengal and Assam, The Indian School Cricket Committee, The Indian School Sports Association and The Bengal Gymkhana. Khan Sahib Syed Ahmed Rashid also represented Bengal on All India Hockey and Cricket Boards of Control in India.
Start of an era
Before the 1930s, Mohammedan's main success was in the Coochbehar Cup which they won in 1902, 1906 and 1909. In 1930, Mohammedan was allowed to stay in the Second Division despite finishing last, as EIR closed their club. During this time, C.A. Aziz acted promptly, concentrating on creating a strong team. The credit for turning them into a football power goes to Aziz, perhaps the first modern thinker in Indian football. Aziz, along with Aryan Club's Dukhiram Mazumdar, was one of the first native football officials who understood the importance of wearing boots. After an encouraging show in 1930, Aziz recruited Bagan rejects Kaleh Khan and Hafiz Rahid in 1931. Players from different parts of India were slowly brought in, often in the name of religion. Bit by bit, Aziz was building an unstoppable team.[1]
The Invincibles (1934–1942)
1940 league winning team
In 1933, Mohammedan qualified for the first division of Calcutta Football League for the first time in its history. Mohammedan had a truly cosmopolitan outfit, with players from different corners of India. Masum, Mahiuddin and Rahmat came from Bangalore, while Jumma Khan arrived from western borders. Under the captaincy of Khurshid Anwar, Mohammedan became the first native club to capture the CFL title in 1934, in their very first year in top division which was a rare feat. It was what Mohun Bagan had tried to win the distinguished "Calcutta League" for eighteen years and East Bengal additionally wanted for it for nine long years but they could not break the monopoly of British non-regimental groups. They became the first native club to win the CFL in 1934. They are also the only club date to have won the league title just after getting promoted to first division. From 1934 to 1938, Sporting won the league for five consecutive times – a record bettered by only East Bengal in the 1970s. Sporting continued their winning spree in the 1940s, winning the title in 1940 and 1941. Mohammedan missed out in 1939 because they had declined to play in CFL as a sign of protest against IFA – other teams like East Bengal and Kalighat also didn't participate. However, Mohun Bagan won the league in 1939.[2]
By 1935, the charismatic Abbas Mirza had taken over the captain's arm-band. He would lead Mohammedan to even greater heights. That year, Mohammedan would recruit an irreplaceable player from Delhi's Crescent Club – goalkeeper Osman Jan. According to the veteran Sailen Manna, Osman was the greatest ‘keeper he had ever seen. Standing at 5’6" Osman had a great leap and a powerful fist. He was almost unbeatable in one on one situations. Full-back Taj Mohammad was feared for his hard tackles; his partnership with Jumma Khan ensured Mohammedan had a water–tight defence in that era. Jumma Khan used to play for Sandemanians in Quetta before joining Mohammedan, and he was famous for his heading ability.
CFL League Table of MSC (1934–41)
Centre-half Noor Mohammad was an extremely industrious player with a strong tackle. He was complemented well by left-half Masum, who was the creative genius. In attack, the tro of Rahim, Rashid and Rahmat used to cause havoc in opponent defenses. Rehmat was the brain behind Mohammedan's attacking moves, while Rashid, with his brilliant left foot, was also good in the air. Left-out Bacchi Khan was notorious for his rough style of play. Rashid (16 goals) was the top scorer in Calcutta Football League in 1935, while Rahim (18 goals) achieved that feat in 1938 season.[1]
Their performances in Cup competitions were no less brilliant. In 1936, Sporting became the second Indian club to win IFA Shield.[3] In the final, they defeated Calcutta Club 2–1 with goals from Rashid (Jr.) and Rahim. That year they also became the first Indian club to do the League-Shield "double". In 1941, they became the first Indian club to win two Shield titles, when they beat KOCB in the final courtesy of goals from Rashid and Saboo. They also became the first Indian club to retain the Shield, when they saw off East Bengal's challenge in 1942 final with a goal from Noor Mohammad. Mohammedan Sporting created history in 1940 by becoming the first Indian club to win the Durand Cup' Under Masum's leadership, they defeated Royal Warwickshire 2–1 in the final. In same season they also captured the Rovers Cup by beating Bangalore Muslims 1–0, thus creating another unique record of holding both Durand and Rovers Cup in the same season, a domestic cup double.[1]
1943–1960
In 1956 MSC went on to win the "Rovers Cup" for the second time MSC beats MB 3–1 in the final. This Rovers Cup win paved the way again to get back those Golden Era. In 1957, MSC bagged the "Double" by winning both the League and IFA Shield. In the league, MSC defeated East Bengal by a point and defeated Railway Sports 3–0 in IFA Shield Final. They also became the first Indian side to win a trophy on foreign soil, the Aga Khan Gold Cup in Dhaka in 1960, beating Indonesia's Makassar 4–1 in the final.[4]
1961–2010
The next success came after exactly 10 years later. Mohammedan Sporting Club won the Calcutta League in 1967 without losing a single match. They were the unbeaten champion and registered their 10th league title. In 1971, MSC won the IFA Shield by defeating Tollygunge Agragami 2–0 in the final. MSC won that year's IFA Shield without conceding a goal. Mohammed Sher Khan was the honorary assistant secretary of the club during 1967–80.
In the 8th decade, the success came at the beginning. MSC won the Calcutta League in 1981 with a point clear from Mohun Bagan. MSC were the unbeaten champion in the 1981 league. This was the third time in the History of Mohammedan Sporting Club. In 1983 Mohammedan Sporting Club won the Federation Cup for the first time by defeating Mohun Bagan 2–0 and also in 1983 Mohammedan Won Peerless trophy in Calcutta by Beating Mohun Bagan 3–1 in the tie-breaker. In 1983 Mohammedan was runners up in the Rovers Cup by beating East Bengal 1–0 in Mumbai and became Runners up in the DCM trophy in Delhi. In the next year in 1984 MSC won the Federation Cup by defeating East Bengal 1–0.Also in the same year M.S.C. Won number of trophies including the consecutive Federation cup they won Nizam Gold Cup, Nagji trophy,Rovers Cup,Darjeeling Gold cup.
After a long Trophy drought 2013–14 season Mohammedan Sporting won two giant title in Indian football, Durand Cup and IFA Shield. In the final of IFA Shield 2014 they beat Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Fc of Bangladesh 5–4 in penalty shootout. They qualified to the 2013–14 I-League by being the runner-up in the 2013 I-League 2nd Division, but were again relegated to 2015 I-League 2nd Division, as they were placed last in the season.
2016–present
The club showed major signs of reformation in 2016, when Ghazal Uz Zafar, a Kolkata-based young businessman, took over as the General Secretary of the club. It was under his regime the club became runners-up in 2016 Calcutta Football League after 8 long years and also lifted the title in the 2016 All India Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup for the first time since 1980.
The Salt Lake Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Kolkata, West Bengal. The stadium is the second largest non-auto racing stadium in the world and the largest in India. It is currently used for mainly football matches. The stadium was built in 1984, has got a capacity of 85,000 people. The stadium has three tiers. The stadium includes a unique running track, long jump track, electronic scoreboard, natural turf, floodlighting arrangement, air conditioned VIP rest room and Conference Hall along with Medical Room & Doping Control Room. Other features of the stadium are boxes for TV along with several platforms for TV cameras, press boxes, air conditioned player's changing rooms.
The Salt Lake Stadium
The Salt Lake Stadium hosts the home games of Mohammedan Sporting in I-League.
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Narayanswami Ulaganathan is an Indian former footballer. He played for Mohun Bagan in three spells, East Bengal, Mohammedan and the Indian national team primarily as a winger, during his 12-year career as a professional footballer.
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Notes: The tournament was not held from 1914-19 (due to WWI), in 1939 (due to WWII), from 1941-49 (due to WWII and Partition), in 1962 (due to 1962 War) and in 2015 and 2017-2018 (due to unknown reasons)
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