From The First Indian Football Club To The Golden Era: History Of Indian Football Explained

I’m often asked how a sport that has such a passionate following in Kolkata, Goa and the north-east could remain on the fringes of global football. The answer is in its history.

The history of Indian football is a tale of early promise, glorious highs and frustrating stagnation. Football arrived with British soldiers in the 1870s, Calcutta’s first club switched from rugby to football in 1894 and the national team won two Asian Games golds in the 1950s and 1960s.

Yet politics and poor governance repeatedly derailed progress. In this article I take you through the journey from the first club to the golden era and ask: is Indian football finally growing or is it still entangled in off-field intrigue?

Birth of the Game: Calcutta FC, Nagendra Sarbadhakari and the Roots of the History of Indian Football

The story begins in colonial Calcutta. British soldiers introduced football to Calcuttans in the 19th century, but it was Nagendra Prasad Sarbadhakari – often called the father of Indian football – who persuaded classmates to play in his school compound.

European teachers encouraged his efforts, and soon clubs sprouted across the city.

• 1872 – Calcutta FC: Recognised as the first Indian football club, Calcutta FC was originally a rugby outfit and only exchanged to football in 1894.
• 1888 – Durand Cup: India’s first football competition began in Shimla in 1888. The Durand Cup, still running today, rewards winners with three trophies.
• 1889 – Mohun Bagan: Mohun Bagan Athletic Club started and would later be a sign of pride for the nation. Their 1911 IFA Shield win against British teams, done without shoes, got people excited about their country.
• 1892 – Sovabazar Club: The first all-Indian team to win a trophy, Sovabazar’s Trades Cup triumph signalled that native teams could beat British sides.

These first clubs helped start the story of Indian football. In 1893, the Indian Football Association (IFA) started in Calcutta, but it didn’t have Indian members at the beginning.

In 1899, the RB Ferguson Club in Thrissur, South India, became part of the movement, showing that football was growing beyond Bengal.

Nagendra Prasad Sarbadhakari born in Calcutta (1869) is known as the Father of Indian Football. Nagendra forced his friends in school to get involved in this game after he saw some british soldiers practicing the game which led to the movement of Indian Football. pic.twitter.com/vF4GpvXRDU

— IFTWC – Indian Football (@IFTWC) March 10, 2021

The Rising Tide of Nationalism

In the fight for freedom, football was a quiet way to stand against oppression. Also, games set up by Mahatma Gandhi’s Passive Resisters Soccer Club in South Africa showed peaceful protest.

Also, Mohun Bagan’s 1911 IFA Shield win and Mohammedan Sporting’s 1940 Durand Cup victory against British teams showed that Indians could beat their colonial rulers.

Golden Era: The Age of Barefoot Warriors and Legendary Indian Football Players

Between 1948 and 1970 – commonly called the golden era of Indian football – the national team competed at four Olympic Games and won two Asian Games gold medals.

Coach Syed Abdul Rahim’s tactical brilliance and a squad of gifted Indian football players produced memorable results.

Remembering former #BlueTigers 🐯 captain and Padma Shri Sailendra Nath ‘Sailen’ Manna on his 9️⃣6⃣th birth anniversary 🙏

The former defender led India 🇮🇳 to gold 🥇 at the 1951 Asian Games and also captained the Indian team at the 1952 Helsinki @Olympics 🙌#IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/fMMA3fYLtY

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 1, 2020

A Miracle in Melbourne and Asian Games Glory

In 1948, India’s first Olympic match against France captured headlines. Playing mostly barefoot, the team lost 2-1 but impressed European crowds.

Four years later at the Melbourne 1956 Olympics, India stunned hosts Australia and reached the semi-finals, becoming the first Asian team to do so. The 1951 and 1962 Asian Games brought gold medals, while the 1964 AFC Asian Cup saw India finish runners-up.

East Bengal also made history by winning the IFA Shield three times in a row between 1949 and 1951.

On this day, 73 years ago, the #BlueTigers 🐯 played their first International match as citizens of an independent India 🇮🇳, when they took on France 🇫🇷, narrowly losing the match 1-2, at the 1948 London @Olympics 🙌#Olympics #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/wZ1OxsAcXD

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 31, 2021

The Holy Trinity and Other Greats

Reports say that PK Banerjee, Chuni Goswami, and Tulsidas Balaram – called the “holy trinity” – led India’s success. Banerjee was very fast and could score from anywhere, making him a goal scorer.

He was the captain of India at the 1960 Rome Olympics and scored in a 1-1 tie with France. Goswami was truly good at dribbling.

Likewise, he led the team to triumph gold at the 1962 Asian Games and chose to remain with Mohun Bagan rather than going to Tottenham Hotspur. Balaram, guided by coach Rahim, mixed dribbling and scoring; experts compare his complete style to today’s total football. Defenders and goalies also did great.

Also, Jarnail Singh, a strong player from Punjab, led India and played while hurt at the 1962 Asian Games. Peter Thangaraj could jump high and kick the ball far, which made him the best goalkeeper in Asia in 1958.

Captain Sailen Manna helped India win at the 1951 Asian Games and was known for his calmness and skill in set plays. This group of Indian football players made moments that people still remember today.

Why Did the Golden Era End?

Even with these good times, the golden era ended after the 1970 Asian Games bronze. India pulled out of the 1950 FIFA World Cup after qualifying because the All India Football Federation (AIFF) had issues with picking the team and not enough time to practice.

After coach Rahim passed away in 1963, the team had a hard time getting used to new strategies. Less money for investment, not enough good facilities, and old ways of coaching caused many years of no progress.

In this time, India got into only one Asian Cup from 1968 to 2008, and local events like the Nehru Cup became less important.

Decline and Revival: Jerseys, Leagues and Vision 2047

The post-golden era saw the sport lose its sheen, but new initiatives have revived interest. Indian football’s jerseys tell part of this story.

In the early years, players wore in-house kits; the 1948 Olympic team donned white buttoned shirts with coloured collars and plackets. By 1961 they switched to polo shirts with embroidered crests.

Babua was the first kit sponsor in 1984, bringing a saffron shirt that was inspired by the national flag. Also, Umbro (1996) and Adidas (2002-2006) had good designs before Nike’s long time working together (2006-2018) brought new materials and airflow.

Six5Six (2018-2023) emphasised tiger stripes, while current sponsor Performax’s 2024 kit features an all-blue strip with tiger-claw marks. These evolving Indian football team jerseys symbolise an effort to modernise and market the team.

Domestic Leagues and the Indian Super League

The National Football League began in 1996 and changed its name to the I-League in 2007. But, it had a hard time getting people to watch and find money.

The Indian Super League (ISL) started in 2014 and brought excitement and business support. Franchise teams brought in players from other countries and made stadiums better.

The AIFF and its marketing partner, Football Sports Development Limited, made the ISL the best league by the 2022-23 season. Bengaluru FC reached the AFC Cup final in 2016, and Mumbai City FC was the first Indian team to win a match in the AFC Champions League.

These wins show that the sport is returning to the spotlight.

Vision 2047: Ambitious Roadmap or Pipe Dream?

In 2023, the AIFF shared Vision 2047, a plan for the next 25 years. The plan aims for India to be one of the top four countries in Asia, have a strong league, and build a vibrant football community.

Programs will assist 35 million children in 100 villages, and there will be a new women’s league with four levels. The plan shows better roads and more money for projects.

The plan says there will be 55 games for each player each season, five levels of men’s leagues, more coaching choices, and a national center for the best training. It tells all state groups to follow good rules and include more women.

But it will be tough to keep these promises. People who know a lot say that plans like the Lakshya 2022 plan did not succeed because they were not carried out properly.

Also, eleven out of thirty-six state groups do not have main leagues, and there are not many tools for coaching. Everyone needs to work together and learn new skills for Vision 2047 to succeed.

Evolution of Indian Football Kit Sponsors

Politics vs Progress: Is Indian Football Growing or Mired in Intrigue?

Is Indian football getting better now? The straight answer is not so. Yes, the ISL, nicer jerseys, and Vision 2047 show that things are improving.

But there are still problems with how things are run. FIFA stopped the AIFF in August 2022 because of outside pressure, mainly from the government, and said that India might lose the U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Even though the ban was taken away after new leaders came in, it showed how politics can hurt the trust in the sport. Experts say that doing well relies on state groups using good rules and making local management better.

A football writer might compare Indian football to a good striker stuck between two defenders: one called Progress and the other called Politics. Vision 2047 shows a way to reach a goal, but red tape and fighting among groups are waiting to cause trouble.

The AIFF needs help from state groups, clubs, business partners, and fans to reach its goals. If there is no unity, Indian football might keep making big plans but end up feeling let down.

There is real improvement: the success of Sunil Chhetri’s team, more people coming to ISL games, and local programs in places like Mizoram and Manipur show that, if supported, the sport can grow.

Amit Mishra’s Thoughts

From Nagendra Sarbadhakari encouraging schoolboys to kick a ball in colonial Calcutta to PK Banerjee’s Olympic achievements and Vision 2047’s big goals, the story of Indian football is one of hope and challenges. In the same way, the golden time showed that Indian football players could compete with the best in Asia.

The years since have been full of ups and downs, with times of being forgotten and times of coming back to life. Also, as I think about the future, I feel hopeful but careful.

If we have good rules, put in money, and focus on helping from the bottom up, the Blue Tigers could still shine in the world. But the 2022 FIFA suspension showed us that politics can be tricky.

FAQs

1. What was the first Indian football club?
   Calcutta FC, founded in 1872, is recognised as India’s first football club. It began as a rugby club and switched to football in 1894.

2. Who is the “holy trinity” of Indian football?
   The great trio has been credited to PK Banerjee, Chuni Goswami and Tulsidas Balaram. They assisted India to win two gold medals at Asia games and played a significant role during the great period.

3. Why did India withdraw from the 1950 World Cup?
   India reached the 1950 FIFA World Cup without playing a single match although AIFF did not attend due to various reasons that included the inability to select the team and lack of sufficient time to prepare.