Former Green & Maroon stars reunited for the traditional exhibition match as Mohun Bagan honoured its historic 1911 IFA Shield triumph and looked ahead to the future.
Kolkata, July 31: 115 years of pride, passion, and legacy. Mohun Bagan Day marks the anniversary of the historic 1911 IFA Shield victory over the East Yorkshire Regiment, a victory that became a defining chapter in Indian football history. While the celebrations began at the Green & Maroon club tent on 29 July, they will continue on 31 July at Netaji Indoor Stadium, honouring the club’s glorious legacy and the generations who have carried it forward.
To celebrate the historic barefoot victory over the British side, every year on Mohun Bagan Day an exhibition match is organised featuring Mohun Bagan’s former footballers who carried the weight of the club through the years. The historic Sibdas Bhaduri XI vs Bijaydas Bhaduri XI fixture continues to be one of the biggest traditions of the occasion.
This year was no different. At the Mohun Bagan Ground, around 135 former Mohun Bagan footballers were invited, and the exhibition match was played as part of the celebrations.
Legendary footballers like Shyam Thapa, Bidesh Bose, Manas Bhattacharya, Subrata Bhattacharya, Prasanta Banerjee and many others were present. Former players including Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Rahim Nabi, Sosthi Duley, Prasanta Chakraborty, Sangram Mukherjee, Dipendu Biswas, Denson Devadas and several other notable names took part in the match, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
West Bengal Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Dr. Indranil Khan, attended the Mohun Bagan Day celebrations and, along with the club officials, hoisted the Green and Maroon flag to mark the occasion. Later, in the ground greeted the former footballers, shaking hands with them after the traditional exhibition match.
Like every year, Green & Maroon supporters gathered at the club ground to be part of the celebrations. The galleries were filled with Green and Maroon colours as fans cheered for the former footballers during the traditional exhibition match and later in the day’s they showcased their activities.
“New year, new kick-off, but the resolution remains the same since the establishment of Mohun Bagan,” said club president Debashis Dutta. Speaking on the occasion of Mohun Bagan Day, Dutta said the club’s objective has always been to be the best football club in India, and that ambition continues to guide the Green and Maroon brigade.
Club secretary Srinjoy Bose also addressed the media and spoke about the possibility of Mohun Bagan launching a women’s football team again. He said the club is willing to revive its women’s team, but claimed that certain issues are currently preventing that from happening, though the matter is out of the field and. According to Bose, if those obstacles are resolved, Mohun Bagan will move forward with its plans to reintroduce the women’s team.
The celebrations will continue on Thursday evening at Netaji Indoor Stadium, where Mohun Bagan will honour several individuals with awards, including the Best Emerging Talent and Mohun Bagan Pride accolades, alongside a colourful cultural programme.
As the Green and Maroon club celebrates 115 years since its historic 1911 IFA Shield triumph, Mohun Bagan Day once again serves as more than just an annual celebration. It is a tribute to the legends who built the club’s legacy, a recognition of those carrying it forward today, and a reminder that the spirit of India’s oldest football institution continues to inspire generations.
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