1947 IFA Shield Winning Squad
Although delayed by a year, Mohun Bagan celebrated club’s Golden Jubilee in 1940. The Golden Jubilee sub-committee under the leadership of D. N. Guin, worked untiringly to make the celebration a grand success. Celebration ended with an annual athletic competition on 20th January, 1941. This year Mohun Bagan reached the final of IFA Shield but lost to Aryans Club by 1-4.
1941 was a glorious year for Mohun Bagan. This year club won Lady Hardinge Shield, Chandicharan Memorial Shield, Coochbehar Cup, Lakshmibilas Cup, Kohinoor Cup, Hazaribag Governor’s Shield, Raja Shield and reached the final of William Younger Cup. This year B. C. Ghosh was selected as the Secretary of the club.
In 1942, Mohun Bagan maintained its golden run. They won the Raja Shield, Lady Hardinge Shield and Power League and became runners up in Trades Cup, Coochbehar Cup and Chandicharan Memorial Shield. A Board of Trustee was formed in this year to look after the financial interest of the club and the first board consisted of J. N. Basu, Solicitor S. N. Banerjee, Barrister-at-Law, P. N. Mitra, C.I.E., Hriday K. Ghosh, Solicitor and Kumar Ramendra N. Roy.
In 1943, Mohun Bagan created a history in Indian football scenario by implementing an Insurance Scheme for the medical aid of the injured players. Within one year, a Medical Board was also formed with some reputed doctors. This year Mohun Bagan won the Calcutta League for the second time, gaining 39 points in 24 matches. The club also grabbed the Trades Cup this year.
In 1944, Mohun Bagan again won First Division Calcutta Football League, gaining 40 points in 24 matches. In this year, Mohun Bagan also won Trades Cup, Coochbehar Cup, Lady Hardinge Shield, S. N. Banerjee Memorial Cup, D. N. Guin Memorial Cup and Nadia Challenge Shield. During this time, famous footballer Balai Das Chatterjee started to nurture the young talents for maintenance of supply line to the senior team. This year S. K. Gupta (1944–1949) was selected as the secretary of the club.
In 1945, Mohun Bagan played a Charity Match for the Flood relief Fund for the people of Midnapore. This year Curtis, famous player of England and Arsenal came to Kolkata and club officials requested him to provide some tips to the players. He accepted the invitation with great enthusiasm. This year Mohun Bagan reached the final of IFA Shield but lost to arch rival East Bengal by a single goal. This year the club was unfortunate to lose Manilal Sen, the first captain of Mohun Bagan football team.
In 1946, Club lost Jatindranath Bose who had served the club as the Founder-Secretary (1889–1894), then as a Vice President (1895–1936) and finally as the President (1936–1946) and who had by virtue of his splendid work and advice became part and parcel of the club. Mr. Manindranath Basu took the President post of the club (1946–1957). The club took runners position in Calcutta league that year. IFA shield did not happen due to communal riot.
In 1947, Mohun Bagan again won the IFA Shield defeating East Bengal in the final. . Mohun Bagan is the first Indian club to win IFA Shield after independence. Club once again participated in Rover’s Cup, but due to the collapse of Cooperage Stadium the match was abandoned in middle of the game. This year, Mohun Bagan got invitation to participate in Madura Cup but was defeated by Hyderabad Police in the final.
In 1948, Mohun Bagan won IFA Shield consecutively for two times by beating Bhowanipore Club and took the second position in First Division Calcutta Football League. In this year, National football team first participated in Olympic and Dr. T. Aao of Mohun Bagan was selected as the captain. He was the flag bearer of the Indian team in London Olympic. Sailen Manna and Mahabir Prasad were also selected in the team. Mr. Balaidas Chatterjee, the then football secretary of Mohun Bagan club also went as the coach and trainer of the national team.
DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS:
In 1949, Mohun Bagan celebrated the Diamond Jubilee. On this occasion, Club invited Swedish Football team Helsingborg and played three matches. The celebration started from club tent on 15th August morning at 7 AM. Sir Biren Mukherjee hosted the national flag along with the club flag. Then general secretary Dr. S. K. Gupta recited the complimentary messages sent by many famous persons from different fields. Next in December, the other events were organized on 11th December’s morning, a procession started from the 14, Balaram Ghosh Street, Mohun Bagan’s birthplace. The procession ended after reaching club tent. On 22nd December, a cricket match was organized between Mohun Bagan ex players and CAB XI. Cornel C. K. Naidu and Mustaq Ali were present during this match. Next day, a football match was organized between Mohun Bagan ex-players and IFA XI. Mohun Bagan won the match by 2-1. On the fourth day of celebration, a hockey match was organized between Mohun Bagan and BHA. The fifth day was celebrated with a tennis tournament and the celebration ended with an athletic competition where all the club officials took part.