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Mohun Bagan AC
Mohun Bagan A.C. logo.svg
Full name Mohun Bagan Athletic Club
Nickname The Mariners
Founded 15 August 1889; 135 years ago (1889-08-15) (as Mohun Bagan Sporting Club)
Colors      Green
     Maroon
President Swapan Sadhan Bose

Mohun Bagan Athletic Club is a famous Indian sports club. It is based in Kolkata, West Bengal. The club started in 1889. This makes it one of the oldest sports clubs in Asia. Mohun Bagan has many different sports teams. These include football, cricket, hockey, tennis, athletics, and eSports.

A Look at Mohun Bagan's History

Bhupendranath Bose
Bhupendra Nath Bose, the first president of Mohun Bagan Athletic Club.

The story of Mohun Bagan began in the 1880s. Young people in Shyambazar wanted to start a football club. They found a good spot at Mohun Bagan Villa. This was a large house owned by the Mitra family.

On August 15, 1889, a meeting took place. Three important families from North Kolkata were there. These were the Mitra, Basu, and Sen families. They decided to form the Mohun Bagan Sporting Club. Bhupendra Nath Bose became the first president. Jyotindra Nath Basu was the first secretary.

At first, the club used a small ground at the villa. They played their first match there. They lost 1–0 to students from Eden Hindu Hostel. The club wanted young people to join. They taught them to be good sportsmen. They also taught them good values.

A year later, the club had its first celebration. A professor named F. J. Rowe attended. He said the name "Sporting" was not quite right. He suggested changing it to "Athletic". This was because the club focused on sports like football. It did not do things like fishing or shooting. So, the club became Mohun Bagan Athletic Club.

In 1891, the club moved its ground. This was thanks to Maharaja Durga Charan Laha. Later, it moved again to Shyam Square. In 1900, Mohun Bagan teamed up with Presidency College. They shared the college's ground at Maidan for 15 years.

How Mohun Bagan is Organized

Chuni Goswami Gate of Mohun Bagan Athletic Club in right, and Gate of the Calcutta Football Club (CFC) of CC&FC, in Kolkata Maidan, West Bengal, India, photo taken on December 31, 2023
The new Chuni Goswami Gate at Mohun Bagan AC, built in December 2023.

Mohun Bagan is set up as a society. This means you cannot buy shares in the club. Instead, you can become a member. The members form the "Mohun Bagan Society." They vote for people to run the club. The club follows its own set of rules, called its "constitution." Changes to these rules are made at yearly meetings.

Sports Teams at Mohun Bagan

Football Team

The Mohun Bagan football team is the most famous part of the club. It was the first team when the club started in 1889. The team plays its home games at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. They also play at the Mohun Bagan Ground. They play in the Indian Super League. This is the top football league in India.

The team is famous for winning the 1911 IFA Shield. They beat a British team called the East Yorkshire Regiment. This was a very important win for Indian football. Mohun Bagan is one of the most successful teams in India. In 2019, they joined the "Club of Pioneers." This is a group of the oldest football clubs in the world.

Cricket Team

The Mohun Bagan cricket team plays in many tournaments. These are organized by the Cricket Association of Bengal. They play at Eden Gardens and Jadavpur University Campus Ground. The team has won over 100 major awards. Many famous players have played for the club. These include Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni. Even Sri Lankan player Chaminda Vaas played for them.

Hockey Team

The Mohun Bagan hockey team also plays in many tournaments. These are run by Hockey Bengal. They play at the SAI Sports Complex and the Mohun Bagan Ground. The team plays in the Calcutta Hockey League and the Beighton Cup. They have won 41 major state awards. This includes 25 CHL titles and 14 Beighton Cup titles.

Athletics Team

Mohun Bagan also has an athletics team. This team is part of the West Bengal Athletic Association. They compete in different events in West Bengal. The club also holds its own yearly athletics events at its ground.

eSports Team

Mohun Bagan also joined the first season of e-ISL. This is a competition where teams from the Indian Super League play the video game FIFA 22.

Club Awards and Celebrations

Since 2001, July 29 is a special day. It is called Mohun Bagan Day. This day celebrates the club's big win in the 1911 IFA Shield Final. On this day, the club gives out awards and has celebrations. The Mohun Bagan Ratna is a special award. It is given to great former players. It does not matter what sport they played. The first person to get this award was footballer Sailen Manna. Other awards are also given out each year. These often include awards for the best footballer and cricketer of the season.

Special Honors

  • Banga Bibhushan: 2022 (This is the highest award given to civilians in West Bengal by the government.)

See Also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Mohun Bagan AC para niños

  • Mohun Bagan SG
  • Mohun Bagan AC (cricket)
  • Mohun Bagan AC (field hockey)
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