Mohun Bagan Day Celebrated with Pride and Emotion as Club Honours Its Glorious 1911 Legacy

Mohun Bagan Day Celebrated with Pride and Emotion as Club Honours Its Glorious 1911 Legacy

XtraTime Newsdesk: Mohun Bagan Day was celebrated with immense pride, emotion, and reverence as the Green and Maroon family came together to honour one of the greatest chapters in Indian football history. The occasion commemorates Mohun Bagan's historic IFA Shield triumph on August 29, 1911, when the barefoot Indian side stunned the mighty British regiment East Yorkshire Regiment 2-1 to script an unforgettable victory that became a symbol of India's spirit and resilience.

As has become tradition, the club paid tribute to that immortal achievement with a series of commemorative events.

The celebrations began with the ceremonial hoisting of the club flag at the Mohun Bagan ground. Despite heavy rain, the programme continued with enthusiasm. Once the rain eased, West Bengal Sports Minister Dr. Indranil Khan arrived at the club and, alongside the club's president and secretary, took part in the flag-hoisting ceremony.

The dignitaries then proceeded to the statue of the Immortal XI, where floral tributes were offered to the legendary heroes of the 1911 Shield-winning team.

Preparations for the veterans' exhibition match had already been completed by then. Before kick-off, Dr. Khan met and greeted the former footballers, shaking hands with them before ceremonially taking a shot at goal, much to the delight of those present.

Speaking before leaving the ground, the Sports Minister recalled Mohun Bagan's historic victory over the British and described it as a landmark moment in Indian sporting history. He praised the club's rich legacy, noting that Mohun Bagan has consistently remained among the country's most successful football institutions. Dr. Khan also thanked the supporters for preserving the club's unique atmosphere and acknowledged the contribution of traditional clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal in making football immensely popular across Bengal and India.

One of Wednesday's main attractions was the veterans' friendly match between the Shibdas Bhaduri XI and the Bijoydas Bhaduri XI, which ended in an entertaining 2-2 draw.

The grand finale of the Mohun Bagan Day celebrations will take place on Thursday. The late Anjan Mitra will be posthumously honoured with the prestigious Mohun Bagan Ratna, while several other distinguished personalities and achievers associated with the club will also be felicitated for their contributions.