Calcutta Football League

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]

Calcutta Football League
Organising bodyIndian Football Association (West Bengal)
Founded1898 (1898)
CountryIndia
Divisions6
Number of teams26 (Premier Division)
160 + (overall)
Level on pyramid5–10
Promotion toI-League 3 (from CFL Premier Division)
Relegation toVarious
Domestic cup(s)IFA Shield
League cup(s)Trades Cup
Current championsMohammedan (14th title)
(2023)
Most championshipsEast Bengal (39 titles)[1]
TV partnersInSports TV (live streaming)
Current: 2023 Calcutta Premier Division

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 regarded as one of the oldest football competitions in the world.[4][5] CFL currently consists of a seven-tier pyramid system[4] and there are 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 on the consent of the majority.[10]

Mohammedan SC, the first native Indian team to win the league.[11]

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] 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 didn't participate and Mohun Bagan went away with their first league title that year.[9][13]

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.[14]

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.[15][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.[16][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 break 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.[17] 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.[18]

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
Tier Division
1
(5 on Indian Football pyramid)
Premier Division

↑promote (I-League 3) ↓relegate 4

2
(6 on Indian Football pyramid)
First Division

↑promote 2 ↓relegate 2

3
(7 on Indian Football pyramid)
Second Division

↑promote 2 ↓relegate 2

4
(8 on Indian Football pyramid)
Third Division

↑promote 2 ↓relegate 2

5
(9 on Indian Football pyramid)
Fourth Division

↑promote 2 ↓relegate 2

6
(10 on Indian Football pyramid)
Fifth Division Group A

↑promote 2

NA
(Age level league)
Fifth Division Group B

(Age group: 13 to 16)

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.[19] 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.[20]

Sponsorship

Period Sponsor Tournament name
1898–2004 None Calcutta Football League
2005–2014 Sahara India Sahara Calcutta Premier League
2015–2020 Officer's Choice Blue Officer's Choice Blue Calcutta Premier League[21]
2021–2022 Sister Nivedita University SNU Calcutta Football League[22]

Media coverage

Period TV broadcaster
1898–2004 None
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[23]

Teams

CFL Premier Division 2023 season clubs

All CFL division clubs

Champions of the top-most division

Pre-independence era (1898–1947)

Year Winner Note
1898 United Kingdom Gloucestershire Regiment
1899 British Raj Calcutta
1900 United Kingdom Royal Irish Rifles
1901 United Kingdom Royal Irish Rifles
1902 United Kingdom King's Own Scottish Borderers
1903 United Kingdom Sutherland Highlanders
1904 United Kingdom King's Own Regiment
1905 United Kingdom King's Own Regiment
1906 United Kingdom Highlander Light Infantry
1907 British Raj Calcutta
1908 United Kingdom Gordon Light Infantry
1909 United Kingdom Gordon Light Infantry
1910 British Raj Dalhousie
1911 United Kingdom 70th Company Royal Garrison Artillery
1912 United Kingdom Black Watch
1913 United Kingdom Black Watch
1914 United Kingdom Argyllshire Highlanders
1915 United Kingdom 10th Middlesex Regiment
1916 British Raj Calcutta
1917 United Kingdom Royal Lincolnshire Regiment
1918 British Raj Calcutta
1919 United Kingdom 12th Special Service Battalion
1920 British Raj Calcutta
1921 British Raj Dalhousie
1922 British Raj Calcutta
1923 British Raj Calcutta
1924 United Kingdom Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
1925 British Raj Calcutta
1926 United Kingdom North Staffordshire Regiment
1927 United Kingdom North Staffordshire Regiment
1928 British Raj Dalhousie
1929 British Raj Dalhousie
1930 None Cancelled due to nationwide Satyagraha movement.[24]
1931 United Kingdom Durham Light Infantry
1932 United Kingdom Durham Light Infantry
1933 United Kingdom Durham Light Infantry
1934 British Raj Mohammedan First all-Indian club to win the league.[13]
1935 British Raj Mohammedan
1936 British Raj Mohammedan
1937 British Raj Mohammedan
1938 British Raj Mohammedan
1939 British Raj Mohun Bagan
1940 British Raj Mohammedan
1941 British Raj Mohammedan
1942 British Raj East Bengal
1943 British Raj Mohun Bagan
1944 British Raj Mohun Bagan
1945 British Raj East Bengal
1946 British Raj East Bengal
1947 None Cancelled due to Indian independence movement.
Source: IFA (WB)

Post-independence era (1947–present)

Year Winner Note
1948 Mohammedan
1949 East Bengal
1950 East Bengal
1951 Mohun Bagan
1952 East Bengal
1953 None Abandoned midway due to riots in Calcutta.[25]
1954 Mohun Bagan
1955 Mohun Bagan
1956 Mohun Bagan
1957 Mohammedan
1958 Eastern Railway
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
1968 None Mohun Bagan had won the league but due to an injunction from the Calcutta High Court, the league was declared null and void.[26]
1969 Mohun Bagan
1970 East Bengal
1971 East Bengal
1972 East Bengal East Bengal didn't concede a goal in the tournament.[27]
1973 East Bengal
1974 East Bengal
1975 East Bengal
1976 Mohun Bagan
1977 East Bengal East Bengal had won every match in the tournament.[28]
1978 Mohun Bagan
1979 Mohun Bagan
1980 None Called off due to stampede and riot in Eden Gardens on August 16.[15]
1981 Mohammedan
1982 East Bengal
1983 Mohun Bagan
1984 Mohun Bagan [29]
1985 East Bengal [30]
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
2020 None Cancelled 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]

Club Titles Winning years
East Bengal391942, 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 Bagan301939, 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
Mohammedan141934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1948, 1957, 1967, 1981, 2021, 2022, 2023
Calcutta FC81899, 1907, 1916, 1918, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1925
Dalhousie41910, 1921, 1928, 1929
United Kingdom Durham Light Infantry31931, 1932, 1933
United Kingdom Black Watch21912, 1913
United Kingdom Gordon Light Infantry1908, 1909
United Kingdom King's Own Regiment1904, 1905
United Kingdom North Staffordshire Regiment1926, 1927
United Kingdom Royal Irish Rifles1900, 1901

See also

References

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