23 February 1792; 233 years ago (23 February 1792) (asCalcutta Cricket Club Clippers)[note 1]1965; 60 years ago (1965) (asCalcutta Cricket & Football Club)
Calcutta Cricket and Football Club (popularly known by its abbreviationsCC&FC andCCFC) is an Indian professionalmulti-sports club based inKolkata, West Bengal. Founded in 1792 as acricket institution, thefootball andrugby sections were added when it merged withCalcutta Football Club (oldest football club in Asia, founded in 1872) in 1965.[2][3] This is the oldest cricket club outside Great Britain.[4]
Rugby section of the club made CC&FC the oldest rugby institution founded outside the United Kingdom and Ireland.[5][6] Club's football section competes in the premier division ofCalcutta Football League, fifth tier of theIndian football league system.
The history of CC&FC dates back to 1792, when the club was established by the name of "Calcutta Cricket Club Clippers".[8][9] It was primarily acricket institution in theEast India Company rule in India.[10][11][12] The club was also founded as one of the earliest known gentlemen's clubs (for Europeans only)[13] inCalcutta, then capital ofBritish India.[14][15][16] Recent evidence in the form of an article published in theHicky's Bengal Gazette, suggests the club (described as "Gentlemen of Calcutta Cricket Club") existed in 1780[17] – that would make it the oldest cricket club in the world.[note 2][18] In 1792 during their tour in India, Eton cricket team (Old Etonians) appeared in an exhibition match against Calcutta Cricket Club.[19] By 1825, CC&FC established themselves as one of the formidable sides inBengal Presidency, alongsideBritish Army-operated cricket teams in the country.[20]
Main entrance to the tent of CC&FC's football section (in left), beside the tent ofMohun Bagan Athletic Club in Kolkata Maidan area.Main entrance of the Calcutta Football Club in left, beside 'Chuni Goswami Gate' of Mohun Bagan in Kolkata Maidan, in December 2023.
Incorporated in 1872, Calcutta Football Club predominately introduced rugby in the country.[21][22][23][24] Outside the United Kingdom, it is the oldest patron club that went on to form theRugby Football Union (RFU).[25] As per theAmrita Bazar Patrika, club's membership was restricted to people belonging to the upper strata of British middle class.[26] They later contributed in introducing and developingassociation football;Nagendra Prasad Sarbadhikari (founding father of football in India) taught the game to his classmates of prestigiousHare School compound in 1877, after observing British soldiers playing the game in Calcutta FC ground.[27][28][29][30][31][32] CC&FC soon emerged as one of the prestigious private members' clubs in Asia; By January 1873, nearly 137 members had enrolled, while European women were granted membership in the first half of the 19th century.[33] The club became one of the founding members of theIndian Football Association (IFA) in 1893, then headed by British administrators. The primary sport Rugby, later suffered because of the departure of British regiments.[33] Bicycle Polo division (now known as Cycle Polo) was formed in 1901–02, and being played since then in CC&FC.[33]
CC&FC were the founding members of the CAB (Cricket Association of Bengal), IFA (Indian Football Association) and BHA (Hockey Bengal formerly known as Bengal Hockey Association). CC&FC has many tournaments where outsiders also take part. We have coaching schemes for youngsters in cricket, football, swimming and rugby.
— Deepankar Nandi, president of CC&FC, on club's diversified existence and contributions in Indian sports (at theSportstar East Sports Conclave 2023, hosted byThe Hindu; February 6, 2023).[34]
After acquiring both "Ballygunge Cricket Club" (1864–1950) and "Calcutta Football Club" (1872–77; 1884–1965) in 1965, the institution completed all the absorptions to introduce themselves under the name of "Calcutta Cricket and Football Club" (CC&FC).[20][35] Sports still being practised at the club include: cricket, football,field hockey, rugby,cycle polo, swimming, tennis, and bridge.[36] The football team competed in both the Premier Division A and B ofCalcutta Football League. The club's cricket and football teams usually participated in their respective divisions as "Calcutta Cricket Club" for cricket and "Calcutta Football Club" for football.[37][38] Their hockey and rugby teams participate under the combined name of "Calcutta Cricket and Football Club".[39][40]
CC&FC has been hosting various tournaments, including Merchants' Cup (a corporate open tournament) since 1970s for both football and cricket.[41][42][43] Merchants' Cup in hockey hosted by the club until its discontinuation in 2005, while cricket tournaments at the club are being sponsored by theIndian Premier League outfitKolkata Knight Riders.[41] Other tournaments such as J. Thomas Cup in rugby, and Georgiadi 7s tournament are also hosted at the club ground.[44] In November 2017, the club organized their 225th anniversary celebration, marking the 225 years of cricket in India, with presence of noted international cricketers likeSunil Gavaskar,Saurav Ganguly,MS Dhoni,Yuvraj Singh,VVS Laxman, andVirat Kohli.[45][46] In June 2023, Indian Football Association made an official announcement of merger of the both Premier Division A and B ofCalcutta Football League (CFL), ahead of 125th edition, and allowed CC&FC to compete in Group I.[47][48][49][50]
During its earliest years of existence, the Calcutta Cricket Club played its home games near river Hooghly but it was not until 1841, when the institution got land to establish its home match venue.[60] On 19 April 1864, CC&FC was granted permission to build a pavilion at eastern end of the Eden Gardens.[60] There, a large pavilion of 125 feet by 25 feet was built out ofBurma teak, modelled afterpavilions of the Lord's Cricket Ground.[60] In 1889–90, the club came into limelight when Marylebone Cricket Club came to play in Calcutta by responding to the club's invitation, which was the first visit of a foreign team to play cricket in India.[60] In1889–90 cricket season, another English team named "G. F. Vernon's XI", managed byGeorge Vernon and captained byMartin Hawke, toured to Ceylon and India; played against Calcutta Cricket Club at theEden Gardens on 23 December,[63][64] under the "Laws of Cricket" (prevailed in England at the time, including the compulsoryfollow-on and the recently introduced5-ball over).[65][66][63] In1892–93 cricket season, an English team led byMartin Hawke, came to India and played against Calcutta Cricket Club.[67][68][69]
In 1926–27 season during winter, CC&FC played the key role in bringing Marylebone Cricket Club, which was their second tour to India,[70][71][72][73][74] and MCC was then led by former England captainArthur Edward Gilligan.[75][76][77] On 15 August 1950, then club president T. C. Longfield handed over the ownership of Eden Gardens to then Chief Minister of West Bengal, Bidhan Chandra Roy.[60] In December 1962, the club made history, when its members announced and conducted a 5-match series between Calcutta Cricket Club and Merchants' XI, introducing "limited over cricket format" (all were 20 overs).[60] It was later merged with the Calcutta Football Club (incorporated in 1872,[78][79] where both footballs —rugby andassociation were practised)[80][81][82] and the Ballygunge Cricket Club over the years to become the "Calcutta Cricket and Football Club" in 1965.[33] CC&FC is currently under the jurisdiction ofCricket Association of Bengal (CAB),[83][84] and competes in the CAB First Division League, J.C. Mukherjee T-20 Trophy, N.C. Chatterjee T-20 Trophy, and other regional tournaments.[38][85] Later in the 1970s, wooden pavilion of Calcutta was demolished, while the construction of the new club house (current headquarters of the CAB) began, which was named afterBidhan Chandra Roy.[60][86] Club's cricket section is currently headquartered in 19/1, Garcha 1st Lane, Ballygunge, Kolkata.[87] In 2021–22 season, CC&FC ended their CAB Second Division League achieving runners-up position which resulted the promotion to First Division League.[88][89]
In theBritish Raj,Rugby union was introduced and emerged as second most popular winter sport afterassociation football.[90][91] For the first time in the country, a scratch match or two played in Calcutta and Madras during the visit of MS Galatea in 1871.[92] At the ground of CC&FC, first recorded match was played, on Christmas Day.[93][94][95] The incident paved the way for growth of theBritish sport in India, and foundation of "Calcutta Rugby Football Club" in January the following year by expats, former students ofRugby School and soldiers of theRoyal East Kent Regiment – which was stationed in the 1870s.[96][97][98] In 1874, Calcutta Football Club joined theRugby Football Union (RFU).[98][99][100][101][102] After departure of British troops, and recreational facilities became disbanded, club's rugby section was discontinued in 1878.[103] Members decided to keep the memory of the club alive by having the remaining270 silver rupee coins in theirbank vault melted down and made into a trophy (the Calcutta Cup) by W.E. Jellicoe Silversmith & Watchmaker from the Esplanade Row, which was then presented to the Rugby Football Union (described as "the best means of doing some lasting good for the cause of Rugby Football").[104][105] The sport came back at the CC&FC in 1884. In 1890, an inter-club tournament was incepted by the CC&FC, named Calcutta Rugby Union Challenge Cup (known simply asCalcutta Cup),[36] and its second division trophy was clinched by the club. Later in 2007, they emerged as runners-up in that tournament.[106]
I regret to say the Calcutta Football Club has ceased to exist, it being now found quite impossible to get sufficient men together to play even a scratch game…This being the case I proposed at a Meeting of the few remaining Members of the Club held on Tuesday last the 18th inst. as the best means of doing some lasting good for the cause of Rugby Football & as a slight memento of the Calcutta Club, that the Funds remaining to the credit of the Club should be devoted to the purchase of a Challenge Cup & presented to the Rugby Union.
— G. A. James Rothney (captain, honorary secretary and treasurer of the Calcutta FC), highlighting this in his letter to the Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of theRugby Football Union, H. I. Graham Esq (dated 20 December 1877), on club's disfunction in 1877.[107]
83rd All India and South Asia Rugby Tournament hosted at the CC&FC ground in 2016
As one of the most successful Indian rugby teams, CC&FC is a regular participant of the prestigiousAll India & South Asia Rugby Tournament.[108][109] The championship has been hosted by the club on multiple occasions.[110][111] Women's rugby team of CC&FC also participate in that tournament.[112][113][114] The club also hosts Georgiadi Club Rugby Sevens tournament, in which CC&FC's men's and women's teams (known officially as CCFC Reds) compete.[115][116] The club later became affiliated to theIndian Rugby Football Union (IRFU), which was incorporated in 1995.[117] In June 2013, CC&FC's affiliate clubHong Kong FC's rugby team "HKFC Vandals" toured to Kolkata and played against CCFC Reds.[118] At the 87th edition of All India & South Asia Rugby Championship in Mumbai, CC&FC won the plate final, defeating Magicians Foundation 28–5.[119] The club also hosted 'Asia Rugby Division 3 – South Region Championship', with backing from Bengal Olympic Association.[120]
Run by the British officials since its inception in 1872,[121] "Calcutta Football Club" became the first of the three European football clubs, others being Calcutta Rangers andDalhousie AC.[122][123] They soon emerged as one of the leading football teams in the Bengal Presidency.[124] It was then consisting of European players, and enjoyed fierce rivalry predominantly with indigenous outfitMohun Bagan.[29] Calcutta Football Club stayed away from Trades Cup, the country's first open football tournament because members felt that their "enjoyment of the sport would be impaired if they join the competitive fray", it was instrumental in instituting theIndian Football Association (IFA) in Calcutta very much on London lines.[33] The team for the first time was defeated by Mohun Bagan in 1923 in the return leg of CFL, but managed to clinch both the league andIFA Shield titles in that season.[125][126]
Jamshid Nassiri, managed CC&FC in the 2022–23 CFL Premier Division.
Calcutta FC was the most successful team in prestigiousCalcutta Football League in pre-independence era,[127] oldest league in Asia, in pre-independence era (in which, native teams were barred from participating for the first fifteen seasons), clinching eight titles.[128][129] The team is also nine-time winners ofIFA Shield.[130] The 1936 edition of IFA Shield was club's last notable campaign in which they reached final, failed to win title as Mohammedan Sporting became the first all-Indian team since 1911 to clinch title, beat CC&FC 2–1.[131] In 2004, the club emerged victorious in historicTrades Cup, defeatingEastern Railway 2–1 in final.[132] In 2022, they roped in noted Indian-Iranian footballerJamshid Nassiri as head coach.[133]
Club's field hockey team is known asCCFC Gremlins,[134][135] and is affiliated with the Bengal Hockey Association (often shortened to 'Hockey Bengal').[136][137] The team was once primarily consisting of European and Anglo-Indian players.[138][139][140] CC&FC is regular participant of both theCalcutta Hockey League, andBeighton Cup (one of world's oldest hockey tournaments).[141][142][143][144] They won 1924 edition of Beighton Cup, with a runner-up finish in 1919.[145][146] In 2022–23, CC&FC hosted inaugural edition of CCFC Hockey Premier League.[147]
Tennis as a racket sport in India, introduced by the Britishers and is an important sport, still being practiced within CCFC since 1920s.[148][149] The club is an affiliated member of the Bengal Tennis Association (BTA).[150] One of the earliest tennis grass courts were installed within club grounds in Ballygunge under the supervision of R. W. Plummer.[148] The club clinched Ballygunge Cricket Club Open Lawn Tennis Championship title in 1929.[148] Editions of prestigious Bengal Lawn Tennis Championships (incorporated in 1887), alongside Indian Satellite Tennis Championships and Hometrust Senior Nationals, were organized by the CC&FC.[148] In 2022–23 season, inaugural edition of Calcutta Tennis Premier League (CTPL) was hosted in the club.[147]
Cycle polo being played at the CC&FC ground in 2018
Cycle polo, a specific version of polo being played using bicycles, has been one of the major sports being practiced at the CC&FC for decades.[151][152] The club is also affiliated with both Cycle Polo Federation of India (CPFI) and Cycle Polo Association of Bengal, the national and regional governing bodies.[153][152] The first Merchant's Cup tournament for cycle polo was organized and hosted by the club in 1973.[151] They also hosted numerous cycle polo tournaments, including – All India Cycle Polo Invitation Cup, Legend's Tournament, Marsh Mug, Swaroop Bhanjdeo Memorial Tournament, Apji Vaiji Singh Memorial Trophy, and CC&FC Cup.[151][147][154] The club is also a regular participant in editions of Laxmibilas Cup in Kolkata.[155]
Other individual and team sports being played at the CC&FC are: golf, bridge, volleyball, table tennis, swimming, badminton, squash, and darts.[156][157] Their volleyball team takes part in Elliot Shield State Volleyball Championship.[158] The club also won 4th edition of Monsoon LeagueBridge Tournament hosted by Tollygunge Club.[156] CC&FC also hosts Inter-club Darts Championship.[159]
The crest of CC&FC has numerous versions, while the present version is containing a shield, with having four stripes, in club colours black, red, and white, with initials of "CCFC" and foundation year 1792.[160] Red and white as club colours, were introduced in 1877, during the tenure of G. A. J. Rothney as CC&FC's honorary secretary and treasurer, who played the crucial role in funding within the club.[161]
Due to the absence of permanent venue in earlier days, the club used grounds inEsplanade, parallel with grounds on the bank of river Hooghly, betweenFort William and Government House.[33][174] In 1825, 'Sketch of the Maidan' was done by the club, and in 1841, they were allowed to enclose the ground. The club used eastern end of theEden Gardens (then known as 'Auckland Circus Gardens') from 1860s until shifting their base to Ballygunge in 1950s.[20][175][176] CC&FC later established its earlier known headquarter at the Eden Gardens, and built a pavilion there in 1871.[177]
Cricket being played by Europeans, an undated photograph of Calcutta Cricket Club ground.
H. G. Pooler – regular member of the football team of CC&FC in early 1900s, a notedIFA referee, who officiated the historic final of the1911 IFA Shield.[198]
"I have the most cherished memories of the Club from way back in 1978 when I became a young member... I would really want to map this Club on a Worldwide basis as some great Cricket establishments are not aware of CC&FC's grand and redoubtable legacy, by sheer weight of its long-established heritage and tradition the CC&FC's existence for more than two and a quarter centuries speaks for itself..."
—Arun Lal (former Indian international cricketer), on his CC&FC and his career.[17]
A large number of notable athletes are associated with the club, including:
Lal at the CC&FC in September 2017, wearing the jersey of club's "celebrating 225 years".
H. J. Moorhouse – played the key role in bringing worldwide attention for CC&FC, sent letter toThe Times highlighting club's existence within a news onMadras Courier dated 23 February 1792, which marked the club as oldest sporting club outside the UK (turning down the claims ofOporto Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club of Portugal in 1955).[226]
Most successful team in theCalcutta Football League in pre-independence era, with eight titles between 1899 and 1925 (first non-army team to win the title too).[245][264]
Most successful team in theIFA Shield in pre-independence era, with nine titles between 1896 and 1924 (first non-army team to win the title too).[247]
The club is headquartered in 19/1Gurusaday Dutt Road, Beckbagan, Ballygunge.[273][274][275] As a prestigiousgentlemen's club in the city, alongside sporting activities, CC&FC offers numerous recreational facilities to its members, including gymnasium, multi-cuisine dishes.[276][277][278] In collaboration with leading daily newspaperThe Telegraph (official sponsor of club's Merchant's Cup tournament),[279] CC&FC hosts numerousbonfire parties, European-themed mega carnivals, musical fests and cultural events every single year.[280][281][282] The club complex is consisting of centenary hall, public library, swimming pool, glassed balcony-bar, and several sporting grounds.[276] There is also a mini museum of club memorabilia within CC&FC, having jerseys and signed photographs ofStanley Matthews,George Best,Franz Beckenbauer,Gavin Hastings, along with artifacts of colonial antiquities.[283][276] The club also entered into partnership withTata Group-run Indian Cancer Society, in supporting underprivileged children fighting to beat cancer.[284]
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