First Ever Calcutta League Champion Team
In 1930, there was strong political agitation throughout the country and there was a serious apprehensions of riots and of disturbances of the public tranquility. As uncertainty looms large Mohun Bagan and other Indian League Clubs met and decided not to play matches that season.
In 1931, IFA Shield tournament the club lost to the Highlanders by 3-0 after one drawn game. The club had the misfortune to lose one of its gems, Major Sailendra Nath Bose, who had been Honorary Secretary during so many eventful years, and to whom the club owes a deep debt of gratitude. He died on the 7th June, 1931. To do honour to his memory, the club presented a Shield, bearing his name, to the IFA for awarding it to the winners of annual match between the Indian and European clubs.
In 1932, Mohun Bagan lost to Cameronian Highlanders in the IFA Shield tournament. It finished third in the Calcutta League table. This year club experienced further bereavement. Shibdas Bhaduri, the captain of 1911 IFA Shield winning team died on 27th February, 1932. In his memory the club gave a cup to the IFA to be presented every year to the captain of the winning team in the IFA Shield tournament. On 24th June of same year, Mohun Bagan lost Dwijendra Nath Bose who had taken up the role of secretary in 1916 and continued till the time of his death, except for one year in 1924— when he was Joint Honorary Secretary with D. N. Guin. Like his elder brother, Sailendra Nath Bose, D. N. Bose had also served the club both as a great player and administrator. Famous Barrister Shailendra Nath Banerjee took the responsibility of the honorary General Secretary of the club.
In 1933, Mohun Bagan won Dwarbhanga Shield, The Governor’s Shield of Hazaribagh and Lady Shifton’s Shield. IFA sent a football team to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) to play couple of matches on 1933. Gostho Paul was selected as the captain of the team. Samad and Karuna Bhattacharya were also selected from Mohun Bagan club.
In 1934, Mohun Bagan finished second in the Calcutta League three points behind Mohamedan Sporting, the first Indian club to win the Calcutta league. This year an Indian IFA team went to South Africa tour. Gostho Pal was selected as the captain of the team but could not go owing to ill health. Three of the club players, S. Dutt, S. Chowdhury and K. Bhattacharjee went to South Africa and won high approbation there for their play. 1934 is important year for Mohun Bagan for another reason. Amiyo Deb of Mohun Bagan scored a hattrick for the first time in the history of Kolkata Derby. This high voltage derby got played in Darbhanga Shield on 5th Sept 1934, which happened to be one of the most difficult tournaments in those days. It was the Indian section Bengal zone semi-final match, played in the common ground of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. Mohun Bagan won that match defeating East Bengal 4 goals to 1 and Amiyo Deb scored all the 4 goals on behalf of Mohun Bagan.
In 1935, Mohun Bagan won Coochbehar Cup and Lady Hardinge Shield. During this period, a great change occurred among the Mohun Bagan players. Most of the players of Mohun Bagan were habituated to play bare foot and most of them believed that they would not be able to play freely wearing the boots. One of the famous players of Mohun Bagan, Mr. Abdul Hamid for the first time inspired the players to play wearing boots.
In 1936, club finished third in the Calcutta League. It lost to the Calcutta FC in the semi final of the IFA Shield tournament and also lost to the second round of the Durand Tournament at Simla. In this year, club was unfortunate to lose its President, Sir R. N. Mookherjee, who had taken over charge in 1924. Club again lost one of his brave son, the member of 1911 IFA Shield winning team, Mr. Bijoydas Bhaduri in the same year. This year Jyotindranath Basu was selected as the President of the club.
In 1937, Mohun Bagan played its first international match in home country against Englishton Corinthians of England. Although the club lost the match by a solitary goal, the club organized a tea party to pay the honor to the winning team. In this year, the club lost to Listershire Regiment in the fourth round of the IFA Shield. .1937 is important for another reason. This year Asit Ganguly scored the second hattrick in derby in Raja Memorial Shield Final on 6th Aug 1937 wherein Mohun Bagan defeated East Bengal 4-0. Asit Ganguly scored 3 goals and S. Sen scored 1 goal.
In 1938, Mohun Bagan won Trades Cup. A Burmese team visited India that year. Calcutta F. C. and Mohun Bagan were asked to make up a team to play the visitors as their fixture with the Mohammedan Sporting Club had fallen through. The combined team lost to the Burma team by 3-2. The IFA sent a team to Australia this year. Three members of the club, S. Chowdhury, Premlal and Bimal Mukherjee were selected in this team and Karuna Bhattachajee of Customs was the captain of this team.
Then came the all-important year — 1939. Mohun Bagan became the first ever Calcutta League Champion after a long waiting of 25 years. The members of the first ever league winning team was—
- Dutt, Dr.Sanmatha Dutta, Paritosh Chakraborty, Kesto Banerjee, S. Dutt (Junior), Beni Prasad, Premlal, Bimal Mukherjee (Captain), Mana Guin, S. Mitter, A. Chowdhury, Mohini Banerjee, Jiten Ghosh , Satu Chowdhury, M. Seth, R. Sen, Bijan Dey, Rajen Saha, Anil Dey, Sachin Mitra(Langcha).
Mohun Bagan secured 39 points in 24 matches to become the league champion. This year club also won the Lakshmibilas Cup, The Griffith Shield and Raja Shield.