Eastern Railway Football Club[1] (formerly known as both East Bengal Railway FC and Eastern Bengal Railway FC)[2][3][4] is an Indian institutional
multi-sports club based in
Kolkata,
West Bengal. The club was incorporated in 1882.[5] Its widely known
football team has mostly competed in CFL Premier Division B.[6][7]
Founded as "Eastern Bengal Railway Sports Club" in 1882, Eastern Railway began its journey as the recreational arm of
Eastern Bengal Railway, and was operated predominantly by the British railwaymen and officials.[12][13] In 1890s, they first participated in second division of the Calcutta Football League, and soon emerged as one of the dark horses in the competition, after gaining promotion to first division in 1913.[12] It was a trend that only white-skinned players were allowed to don in club jerseys; Churchill, D'Silva, Joe Galbraith, and Curvy brothers were notable players at that time.[12] In mid-1920s, Indians have been allowed to play in the club.[12] After becoming fully Indian club, Eastern Railway emerged as one of the strongest sides of the CFL, with players including Jamini Bandyopadhyay, Bechu Dutta, Pakhi Sen, Tulsi Das, Mohini Bandyopadhyay, and later Sahu Mewalal, Santosh Nandy, Ajit Nandy, Neelu Mukhopadhyay, and Karuna Majumder.[12] They reached final of
Durand Cup in 1927.[12][14]
The club later appeared in many top national tournaments like the
IFA Shield – where they won the then top tournament in 1944.[15] The club later won All-India Railway Championship thrice.[16]
Post-independence era
After Indian independence in 1947, Eastern Railway managed to reach final of
Rovers Cup in 1949 but lost 3–0 to
East Bengal in title decider.[17][18] The club (then known as "East Indian Railway Accounts") later finished as runners-up in
DCM Trophy too, twice in 1953 and 1957.[19] In 1958, they again failed clinching title, beaten by
Andhra Pradesh Police Club in final of
Sait Nagjee Trophy in Kerala.[20]
After multiple runner-up finishes, best ever success achieved by Eastern Railway came into reality in 1958, when they won prestigious
Calcutta Football League title under coaching of Bagha Shome,[21][22] and became the first team outside the "
Big Three" of Kolkata to do so.[23][24] The club later won several nationwide trophies in the late 1950s and 60s, including Madhya Pradesh Gold Cup, Kalinga Cup, Kumar Mangalam Challenge Trophy and others.[12] In 1967, they won
Bordoloi Trophy.[25] Club former player and captain P. K. Banerjee managed Eastern Railway in 1971–72, before moving to the Kolkata giants
East Bengal as head coach.[26][27] The club was relegated from the CFL super division in 1985 after gaining thirteenth position.[28]
2000–present
In 2005, the club clinched
Trades Cup title with win against
Wari AC in final.[29] In 2007, they reached the final of prestigious
Trades Cup, but was defeated by then
I-League side
Chirag United 3–1.[30] Nirmalendu Debnath managed the club in 2010.[31] In 2010s, Kazam Analytics Limited was roped in as club's principal sponsor.[12]
A Calcutta Football League 2023–24 season match between East Bengal and Eastern Railway at the
East Bengal–Aryan Ground in Kolkata, on July 27, 2023.
In June 2023, the
Indian Football Association (IFA) made an announcement that the merger of both Premier Division A and B of the Calcutta Football League was done ahead of its 125th edition, in which Eastern Railway was allowed to compete in group B.[32][33][34][35] Prasanta Chakraborty managed the club in their first four league matches, until resigning after a 5–1 defeat to
East Bengal on 27 July.[36]
Other notable players include N. Majumder and Bimal Kar, who emerged top scorers of the IFA Calcutta Football League representing Eastern Railway in 1939, 1943 and '44 respectively; while Mewalal became top scorer in 1949, '51 and '54.[12]
Eastern Railway has its
field hockey team that competed in both the prestigious
Beighton Cup and Calcutta Hockey League.[72][73] They clinched Beighton Cup title in 1929.[74] One of the club's famous plyers is
Richard Carr, who represented India at the
1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and won gold medal.[75] Legendary Indian footballer
Shanti Mullick appeared with the club's women's hockey team.[76][77]
In Eastern Railway, men's
cricket has been practiced, and it is affiliated with the
Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).[81][82] It participates in regional tournaments such as First Division League, J.C. Mukherjee T-20 Trophy and P. Sen Memorial Trophy.[83][84]
Volleyball
Eastern Railway's volleyball section (consisting both men's and women's teams) participates in the West Bengal State Senior Volleyball Championship and Khelo India Volleyball League.[85] They have won both the 2021 and 2022 editions of the State Senior Volleyball Club Championship.[86]
^Ahmed, Rasel (1 February 2019).
"জাদুকর সামাদ: বাংলার একজন অতিমানব" [Magician Samad: The Wizard from Bengal]. roar.media (in Bengali). Dhaka: Roar Media News. Archived from
the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
^Bhowmick, Mithun (15 December 2018).
"ভারতীয় ফুটবলের অসুখসমূহ: পর্ব – ২" [Diseases of Indian football: Episode – 2]. bengali.indianexpress.com (in Bengali). Kolkata: IE Bangla Sports Desk. Indian Express News Service. Archived from
the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
^
ab"রাজ্য ভলিতে সেরা ইস্টার্ন রেল ও বৈষ্ণবঘাটা উদয় সংঘ" [Eastern Rail and Vaishnavaghata Uday Sangh best in state volley]. kolkataprimetime.com (in Bengali). Kolkata: Kolkata Prime Time Sports. 11 January 2021. Archived from
the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
Guha, Chandak (5 September 2019).
"ইংরেজরাও ভয় পেত বাংলার প্রথম কিংবদন্তি ফুটবল কোচকে" [The Englishmen too feared Bengal's legendary first football coach]. bongodorshon.com (in Bengali). Kolkata: Bongodorshon Information Desk. Archived from
the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
"উত্তম, রিকির হ্যাটট্রিক, সিএফসির ৮ গোল, জিতল কালীঘাট, পাঠচক্র" [Hat-trick done by Uttam and Ricky, CCFC scored 8 goals, wins for both Kalighat and Pathachakra]. insidesports.in (in Bengali). Kolkata: ইনসাইড স্পোর্টস. 14 August 2022. Archived from
the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
Bhattacharya, Ayan (10 September 2023).
"বাংলা ভাগের ক্ষত কিভাবে বিষিয়ে দিল মোহনবাগান আর ইস্টবেঙ্গলকে?" [How did the wound of the partition of Bengal poisoned both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal?]. inscript.me (in Bengali). Kolkata: ইনস্ক্রিপ্ট বাংলা নিউজ. Archived from
the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
Islam, Jahirul (13 June 2020).
"তোমাদের গোলপোস্ট নিচু আছে" [Your goal posts are low]. shomoyeralo.com (in Bengali). Dhaka: Daily Shomoyer Alo Bangla. Archived from
the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
Eastern Railway Football Club[1] (formerly known as both East Bengal Railway FC and Eastern Bengal Railway FC)[2][3][4] is an Indian institutional
multi-sports club based in
Kolkata,
West Bengal. The club was incorporated in 1882.[5] Its widely known
football team has mostly competed in CFL Premier Division B.[6][7]
Founded as "Eastern Bengal Railway Sports Club" in 1882, Eastern Railway began its journey as the recreational arm of
Eastern Bengal Railway, and was operated predominantly by the British railwaymen and officials.[12][13] In 1890s, they first participated in second division of the Calcutta Football League, and soon emerged as one of the dark horses in the competition, after gaining promotion to first division in 1913.[12] It was a trend that only white-skinned players were allowed to don in club jerseys; Churchill, D'Silva, Joe Galbraith, and Curvy brothers were notable players at that time.[12] In mid-1920s, Indians have been allowed to play in the club.[12] After becoming fully Indian club, Eastern Railway emerged as one of the strongest sides of the CFL, with players including Jamini Bandyopadhyay, Bechu Dutta, Pakhi Sen, Tulsi Das, Mohini Bandyopadhyay, and later Sahu Mewalal, Santosh Nandy, Ajit Nandy, Neelu Mukhopadhyay, and Karuna Majumder.[12] They reached final of
Durand Cup in 1927.[12][14]
The club later appeared in many top national tournaments like the
IFA Shield – where they won the then top tournament in 1944.[15] The club later won All-India Railway Championship thrice.[16]
Post-independence era
After Indian independence in 1947, Eastern Railway managed to reach final of
Rovers Cup in 1949 but lost 3–0 to
East Bengal in title decider.[17][18] The club (then known as "East Indian Railway Accounts") later finished as runners-up in
DCM Trophy too, twice in 1953 and 1957.[19] In 1958, they again failed clinching title, beaten by
Andhra Pradesh Police Club in final of
Sait Nagjee Trophy in Kerala.[20]
After multiple runner-up finishes, best ever success achieved by Eastern Railway came into reality in 1958, when they won prestigious
Calcutta Football League title under coaching of Bagha Shome,[21][22] and became the first team outside the "
Big Three" of Kolkata to do so.[23][24] The club later won several nationwide trophies in the late 1950s and 60s, including Madhya Pradesh Gold Cup, Kalinga Cup, Kumar Mangalam Challenge Trophy and others.[12] In 1967, they won
Bordoloi Trophy.[25] Club former player and captain P. K. Banerjee managed Eastern Railway in 1971–72, before moving to the Kolkata giants
East Bengal as head coach.[26][27] The club was relegated from the CFL super division in 1985 after gaining thirteenth position.[28]
2000–present
In 2005, the club clinched
Trades Cup title with win against
Wari AC in final.[29] In 2007, they reached the final of prestigious
Trades Cup, but was defeated by then
I-League side
Chirag United 3–1.[30] Nirmalendu Debnath managed the club in 2010.[31] In 2010s, Kazam Analytics Limited was roped in as club's principal sponsor.[12]
A Calcutta Football League 2023–24 season match between East Bengal and Eastern Railway at the
East Bengal–Aryan Ground in Kolkata, on July 27, 2023.
In June 2023, the
Indian Football Association (IFA) made an announcement that the merger of both Premier Division A and B of the Calcutta Football League was done ahead of its 125th edition, in which Eastern Railway was allowed to compete in group B.[32][33][34][35] Prasanta Chakraborty managed the club in their first four league matches, until resigning after a 5–1 defeat to
East Bengal on 27 July.[36]
Other notable players include N. Majumder and Bimal Kar, who emerged top scorers of the IFA Calcutta Football League representing Eastern Railway in 1939, 1943 and '44 respectively; while Mewalal became top scorer in 1949, '51 and '54.[12]
Eastern Railway has its
field hockey team that competed in both the prestigious
Beighton Cup and Calcutta Hockey League.[72][73] They clinched Beighton Cup title in 1929.[74] One of the club's famous plyers is
Richard Carr, who represented India at the
1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and won gold medal.[75] Legendary Indian footballer
Shanti Mullick appeared with the club's women's hockey team.[76][77]
In Eastern Railway, men's
cricket has been practiced, and it is affiliated with the
Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).[81][82] It participates in regional tournaments such as First Division League, J.C. Mukherjee T-20 Trophy and P. Sen Memorial Trophy.[83][84]
Volleyball
Eastern Railway's volleyball section (consisting both men's and women's teams) participates in the West Bengal State Senior Volleyball Championship and Khelo India Volleyball League.[85] They have won both the 2021 and 2022 editions of the State Senior Volleyball Club Championship.[86]
^Ahmed, Rasel (1 February 2019).
"জাদুকর সামাদ: বাংলার একজন অতিমানব" [Magician Samad: The Wizard from Bengal]. roar.media (in Bengali). Dhaka: Roar Media News. Archived from
the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
^Bhowmick, Mithun (15 December 2018).
"ভারতীয় ফুটবলের অসুখসমূহ: পর্ব – ২" [Diseases of Indian football: Episode – 2]. bengali.indianexpress.com (in Bengali). Kolkata: IE Bangla Sports Desk. Indian Express News Service. Archived from
the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
^
ab"রাজ্য ভলিতে সেরা ইস্টার্ন রেল ও বৈষ্ণবঘাটা উদয় সংঘ" [Eastern Rail and Vaishnavaghata Uday Sangh best in state volley]. kolkataprimetime.com (in Bengali). Kolkata: Kolkata Prime Time Sports. 11 January 2021. Archived from
the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
Guha, Chandak (5 September 2019).
"ইংরেজরাও ভয় পেত বাংলার প্রথম কিংবদন্তি ফুটবল কোচকে" [The Englishmen too feared Bengal's legendary first football coach]. bongodorshon.com (in Bengali). Kolkata: Bongodorshon Information Desk. Archived from
the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
"উত্তম, রিকির হ্যাটট্রিক, সিএফসির ৮ গোল, জিতল কালীঘাট, পাঠচক্র" [Hat-trick done by Uttam and Ricky, CCFC scored 8 goals, wins for both Kalighat and Pathachakra]. insidesports.in (in Bengali). Kolkata: ইনসাইড স্পোর্টস. 14 August 2022. Archived from
the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
Bhattacharya, Ayan (10 September 2023).
"বাংলা ভাগের ক্ষত কিভাবে বিষিয়ে দিল মোহনবাগান আর ইস্টবেঙ্গলকে?" [How did the wound of the partition of Bengal poisoned both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal?]. inscript.me (in Bengali). Kolkata: ইনস্ক্রিপ্ট বাংলা নিউজ. Archived from
the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
Islam, Jahirul (13 June 2020).
"তোমাদের গোলপোস্ট নিচু আছে" [Your goal posts are low]. shomoyeralo.com (in Bengali). Dhaka: Daily Shomoyer Alo Bangla. Archived from
the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2022.