Calcutta Football League

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Calcutta Football League
Calcutta Football League.svg
Organising body Indian Football Association (West Bengal)
Founded1898;126 years ago (1898)
CountryIndia
Divisions 7
Number of teams 26 (Premier Division)
160+ (overall)
Level on pyramid1-7 (State)
5–10 (National)
Promotion to I-League 3 (from CFL Premier Division)
Relegation toVarious
Domestic cup(s) IFA Shield
League cup(s) Trades Cup
Current champions Mohammedan (14th title)
(2023)
Most championships East Bengal (39 titles) [1]
TV partners InSports TV
Current: 2023 Calcutta Premier Division

The Calcutta Football League (CFL) is a ladder-based football competition in the Indian state of West Bengal, organised by Indian Football Association (WB) as part of the state leagues. It is the oldest football league in Asia. [2] [3]

Contents

Indian Football Association (IFA) conducts the CFL with more than 160 mostly Kolkata-based clubs and units. Started in 1898, this league is the oldest football league in Asia and one of the oldest football competitions in the world. [4] [5] CFL currently consists of a seven-tier pyramid system, [4] with more than 8,500 directly registered players of IFA participating in CFL every year, making it one of the biggest leagues in the country.

History

Early years (1890s–1910s)

In 1898, IFA introduced a two-tiered football league in Calcutta on the lines of English Football League in England and Wales. [6] Until 1937, CFL was a major tournament with participation open to every team across the nation but after the establishment of AIFF, CFL became a regional competition.

The British Indian Army garrison stationed at Fort William played an instrumental role in shaping the Calcutta Football League by putting forth numerous teams alongside other European settlers. [7] The Army teams won all but twelve of the titles until 1933. On eight of those twelve occasions the title was claimed by Calcutta and the rest by Dalhousie. Native teams were barred from participating for the first 15 seasons, and only clubs designated for civil servants, merchants, missionaries and other European nationalities made up the rest of the league, in a clearly designed exercise to exclude Indians of any religion. [8]

In 1914, IFA permitted only two native clubs, Mohun Bagan and Aryan, in the Second Division of CFL. Mohun Bagan had a successful campaign and earned promotion to the Premier Division in their debut season, whereas Aryan was promoted to the top division two years later. From 1917 to 1920, the Second Division was won by two other native clubs, namely Kumortuli Club (in 1917, 1918 and 1919) and Town Club (in 1920), but their promotions were denied due to the allowance of only two native clubs to play in each tier. [9] [10]

Uprise of native dominance (1920s–1947)

1921 saw the rise of East Bengal who began their CFL journey in the Second Division in place of Tajhat Club who had withdrawn from the league. Three years later East Bengal finished the Second Division as the joint-winners with Cameroons B and since Cameroons A was in the Premier Division, East Bengal got the opportunity for promotion. As two native clubs were already playing in the Premier Division, East Bengal's promotion was to be rejected as well. At this, the club called for amendments and in the following General Meeting of IFA, the nine British teams conveyed their approval, while Mohun Bagan and Aryan opposed it. Eventually the rule regulating the promotion of native clubs was abolished by majority. [10]

Mohammedan SC, the first native Indian team to win the league. 1940 league winning mohammedan sporting team.jpg
Mohammedan SC, the first native Indian team to win the league.

Even though the native clubs got more opportunities yet the British dominance continued till 1933. In 1934, Mohammedan won the title in their debut season and became the first native club to win CFL. [12] [13] The club went on to win the league six out of seven times from 1935 to 1941, with 1939 being the only exception when they did not participate and Mohun Bagan went away with their first league title that year. [9] [14]

Post-independence era (1947–1970s)

In the post-independence years, many other state leagues were introduced and various clubs from other states rose in glory, but CFL was still considered to be one of the top leagues in the nation and provided innumerable young talents. The league matches were mostly played in monsoon and matches involving the Big Three of Calcutta (Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan) regularly attracted more than 30,000 spectators. [9] From 1934 to 1981, Eastern Railway was the only club outside of the Big Three to win the title in 1958. [15] [16]

The CFL had a long history of crowd trouble, and the burgeoning fanfare exacerbated it. The rapidly increasing off-the-field rivalry between the respective fans of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal saw one of the darkest days of Indian football when 16 fans lost their lives because of a stampede and rioting during a Kolkata Derby in CFL on 16 August 1980 in Eden Gardens. Since then the day is celebrated every year as the Football Lover's Day. [17] [9]

Years of obscurity (1980s–2000s)

In the 80s and 90s, the league caught many eyes with the rivalry between the two of Indian football's finest tacticians— P.K. Banerjee and Amal Dutta, besides the decades old rivalry among the Big Three. [18] [9]

Due to the rise in financial demands and steady modernisation of the sport, the league became dominated by the Big Three clubs as the smaller clubs struggled to keep up with their economy. The league saw the beginning of a major downfall with the introduction of NFL (now I-League). The importance of regional competitions decreased as all the top clubs in the state were racing for the national honours. From the later 20th century, Mohammedan eventually lost its stronghold and, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal became the only dominant teams in the league. In the new century, the IFA revamped the competition into a six-tier competition with the seventh tier, called the nursery league, reserved for sub-junior teams. The top tier, Premier Division, was also divided into two groups so as to include more teams.

Resurgence (2010s–present)

Starting in 2010, East Bengal won a record eight consecutive titles until their arch-rivals Mohun Bagan broke the streak in 2018. In 2018, the league's popularity had a sudden upsurge and recorded more than 15,000 spectators even in matches involving small clubs. Most news reports in the local media reverberated the popular feeling— "The passion of the 70s is back." Small clubs like Peerless and George Telegraph introduced some of the foreign talents that later went on to become big names in the country. [9]

In 2019, Peerless clinched the honour and became the second team outside the Big Three after Eastern Railway to win the league since 1958. [19] Since the independence of India, the CFL was never cancelled until 2020 when after a lengthy delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic it was decided to cancel the then CFL season. [20]

Structure

With the season starting from 2023, the clubs/units were redistributed among the first six divisions and the last division was reserved only for youth teams. [4]

Calcutta Football League
TierDivision
1
(5 on Indian Football pyramid)
CFL Premier Division

↑promote (I-League 3) ↓relegate 4

2
(6 on Indian Football pyramid)
CFL 1st Division

↑promote 2 ↓relegate 2

3
(7 on Indian Football pyramid)
CFL 2nd Division

↑promote 2 ↓relegate 2

4
(8 on Indian Football pyramid)
CFL 3rd Division

↑promote 2 ↓relegate 2

5
(9 on Indian Football pyramid)
CFL 4th Division

↑promote 2 ↓relegate 2

6
(10 on Indian Football pyramid)
CFL 5th Division Group A

↑promote 2 ↓relegate 2

7
(11 on Indian Football pyramid)
CFL 5th Division Group B

↑promote 2

Starting from 2023, 26 teams participate in the Premier Division, divided into two groups at the same pyramid level and compete in a single-leg round robin tournament. [21] The top three teams in each 13-team group will compete in a single-leg round robin tournament and the group leaders will be declared the champions. The top two teams, not already in the ISL or I-League are promoted to the I-League 3. The bottom three teams in each 13-team group also compete in a separate single-leg round robin tournament and the bottom four teams are relegated to the First Division.

Apart from the Premier Division A, most other divisions are competed by about 20 teams, and the format of the tournaments in the lower divisions isn't always the same. The top teams in respective divisions are promoted to the division higher to it and the bottom teams get relegated to the lower one.

The most successful clubs participating in the top-tier of the league includes East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan. However, since 1982, the league has been won by either East Bengal or Mohun Bagan until 2019 when Peerless made history by winning their maiden league title and becoming the first team outside the Kolkata's Big Three to win the league after a gap of 61 years since Eastern Railway had won. [22]

Sponsorship

PeriodSponsorTournament name
1898–2004NoneCalcutta Football League
2005–2014 Sahara India Sahara Calcutta Premier League
2015–2020 Officer's Choice Blue Officer's Choice Blue Calcutta Premier League [23]
2021–2022 Sister Nivedita University SNU Calcutta Football League [24]

Media coverage

PeriodTV broadcaster
1898–2004None
2005 Tara Newz
2006 Kolkata TV
2007 Zee 24 Ghanta
2008 ABP Ananda
2009–2011 News Time
2012 Zee 24 Ghanta
2013–2015 Jalsha Movies
2016 News18 Bangla
2017 Kolkata TV
2018–2021 Sadhna News
2022–present InSports TV [25]

Teams

CFL Premier Division 2023 season clubs

All CFL division clubs

Champions of the top-most division

By year

Pre-independence era (1898–1947)

YearWinnerNote
1898 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gloucestershire Regiment
1899 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Calcutta
1900 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Irish Rifles
1901 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Irish Rifles
1902 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg King's Own Scottish Borderers
1903 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sutherland Highlanders
1904 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg King's Own Regiment
1905 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg King's Own Regiment
1906 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Highlander Light Infantry
1907 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Calcutta
1908 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gordon Light Infantry
1909 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gordon Light Infantry
1910 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Dalhousie
1911 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 70th Company Royal Garrison Artillery
1912 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Black Watch
1913 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Black Watch
1914 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Argyllshire Highlanders
1915 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 10th Middlesex Regiment
1916 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Calcutta
1917 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Lincolnshire Regiment
1918 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Calcutta
1919 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 12th Special Service Battalion
1920 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Calcutta
1921 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Dalhousie
1922 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Calcutta
1923 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Calcutta
1924 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
1925 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Calcutta
1926 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg North Staffordshire Regiment
1927 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg North Staffordshire Regiment
1928 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Dalhousie
1929 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Dalhousie
1930NoneCancelled due to nationwide Satyagraha movement. [26]
1931 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Durham Light Infantry
1932 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Durham Light Infantry
1933 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Durham Light Infantry
1934 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Mohammedan First all-Indian club to win the league. [14]
1935 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Mohammedan
1936 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Mohammedan
1937 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Mohammedan
1938 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Mohammedan
1939 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Mohun Bagan
1940 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Mohammedan
1941 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Mohammedan
1942 British Raj Red Ensign.svg East Bengal
1943 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Mohun Bagan
1944 British Raj Red Ensign.svg Mohun Bagan
1945 British Raj Red Ensign.svg East Bengal
1946 British Raj Red Ensign.svg East Bengal
1947NoneCancelled due to Indian independence movement.
Source: IFA (WB)

Post-independence era (1947–present)

YearWinnerNote
1948 Mohammedan
1949 East Bengal
1950 East Bengal
1951 Mohun Bagan
1952 East Bengal
1953NoneAbandoned midway due to riots in Calcutta. [27]
1954 Mohun Bagan
1955 Mohun Bagan
1956 Mohun Bagan
1957 Mohammedan
1958 Eastern Railway [28]
1959 Mohun Bagan
1960 Mohun Bagan
1961 East Bengal
1962 Mohun Bagan
1963 Mohun Bagan
1964 Mohun Bagan
1965 Mohun Bagan
1966 East Bengal
1967 Mohammedan
1968None Mohun Bagan had won the league but due to an injunction from the Calcutta High Court, the league was declared null and void. [29]
1969 Mohun Bagan
1970 East Bengal
1971 East Bengal
1972 East Bengal East Bengal didn't concede a goal in the tournament. [30]
1973 East Bengal
1974 East Bengal
1975 East Bengal
1976 Mohun Bagan
1977 East Bengal East Bengal had won every match in the tournament. [31]
1978 Mohun Bagan
1979 Mohun Bagan
1980NoneCalled off due to stampede and riot in Eden Gardens on August 16. [17]
1981 Mohammedan
1982 East Bengal
1983 Mohun Bagan
1984 Mohun Bagan [32]
1985 East Bengal [33]
1986 Mohun Bagan
1987 East Bengal
1988 East Bengal
1989 East Bengal
1990 Mohun Bagan
1991 East Bengal
1992 Mohun Bagan
1993 East Bengal
1994 Mohun Bagan
1995 East Bengal
1996 East Bengal
1997 Mohun Bagan
1998 East Bengal
1999 East Bengal
2000 East Bengal
2001 Mohun Bagan
2002 East Bengal
2003 East Bengal
2004 East Bengal
2005 Mohun Bagan
2006 East Bengal
2007 Mohun Bagan
2008 Mohun Bagan
2009 Mohun Bagan
2010 East Bengal
2011 East Bengal
2012 East Bengal
2013 East Bengal
2014 East Bengal
2015 East Bengal
2016 East Bengal East Bengal had won every match in the tournament.
2017 East Bengal
2018 Mohun Bagan
2019 Peerless
2020NoneCancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in India.
2021 Mohammedan
2022 Mohammedan
2023 Mohammedan
Source: IFA (WB)

By team

The list only contains the names of the teams that have won the top-most division of the Calcutta Football League more than once. [12]

ClubTitlesWinning years
East Bengal 391942, 1945, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1961, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Mohun Bagan 301939, 1943, 1944, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2018
Mohammedan 141934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1948, 1957, 1967, 1981, 2021, 2022, 2023
Calcutta FC 81899, 1907, 1916, 1918, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1925
Dalhousie 41910, 1921, 1928, 1929
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Durham Light Infantry 31931, 1932, 1933
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Black Watch 21912, 1913
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Gordon Light Infantry1908, 1909
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg King's Own Regiment 1904, 1905
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg North Staffordshire Regiment 1926, 1927
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Royal Irish Rifles 1900, 1901

CFL Premier Division

CFL Premier Division
Organising bodies Indian Football Association
Country India
Number of teams26
Level on pyramid1 (state)
5 (National)
Promotion to I-League 3
Relegation toCFL 1st Division
Current champions Mohammedan (14th title)
Current: 2023 CFL Premier Division

CFL Premier Division is the top-tier state level football league in the Indian state of West Bengal.

CFL 1st Division

CFL 1st Division
Organising bodies Indian Football Association
Country India
Level on pyramid2 (state)
6 (National)
Promotion toCFL Premier Division
Relegation toCFL 2nd Division
Current championsNew Alipore Suruchi Sangha
(2023)

CFL 1st Division is the 2nd tier state level football league in the Indian state of West Bengal.

SeasonChampionsRef.
2019Police AC [34]
2022 Army Red [35]
2023New Alipore Suruchi Sangha [36]

CFL 2nd Division

CFL 2nd Division
Organising bodies Indian Football Association
Country India
Level on pyramid3 (state)
7 (National)
Promotion toCFL 1st Division
Relegation toCFL 3rd Division
Current championsAdamas United Sports Academy
(2023)

CFL 2nd Division is the 3rd tier state level football league in the Indian state of West Bengal.

SeasonChampionsRef.
2023Adamas United Sports Academy [36]

CFL 3rd Division

CFL 3rd Division
Organising bodies Indian Football Association
Country India
Level on pyramid4 (state)
8 (National)
Promotion toCFL 2nd Division
Relegation toCFL 4th Division
Current championsSouthern Athletic Club
(2023)

CFL 3rd Division is the 4th tier state level football league in the Indian state of West Bengal.

SeasonChampionsRef.
2023Southern Athletic Club [36]

CFL 4th Division

CFL 4th Division
Organising bodies Indian Football Association
Country India
Level on pyramid5 (state)
9 (National)
Promotion toCFL 3rd Division
Relegation toCFL 5th Division Group-A
Current championsShyambazar United Club
(2023)

CFL 4th Division is the 5th tier state level football league in the Indian state of West Bengal.

SeasonChampionsRef.
2023Shyambazar United Club [36]

CFL 5th Division Group A

CFL 5th Division Group A
Organising bodies Indian Football Association
Country India
Level on pyramid6 (state)
10 (National)
Promotion toCFL 4th Division
Relegation toCFL 5th Division Group B
Current championsAriadaha Sporting Club
(2023)

CFL 5th Division Group A is the 6th tier state level football league in the Indian state of West Bengal.

SeasonChampionsRef.
2023Ariadaha Sporting Club [36]

CFL 5th Division Group B

CFL 5th Division Group B
Organising bodies Indian Football Association
Country India
Number of teams18
Level on pyramid7 (state)
11 (National)
Promotion toCFL 5th Division Group A
Current championsBeleghata Balak Brindo
(2023)

CFL 5th Division Group B is the 7th tier state level football league in the Indian state of West Bengal.

SeasonChampionsRef.
2023Beleghata Balak Brindo [36]

See also

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Further reading