Calcutta Football League: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by 117.211.49.171
Last edited March 22, 2026
← Older edit
VisualWikitext
Format fix
brief expand citations based on references and added references after review
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Football league in West Bengal, India}}
{{Short description|Association football league in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{For|Women's football league|Kanyashree Cup}}
{{Infobox football league
{{Infobox football league
|name          = Calcutta Football League
|name          = Calcutta Football League<br>ক্যালকাটা ফুটবল লিগ
|image          = Calcutta Football League logo.png
|image          = Calcutta Football League.svg
|pixels        = 200
|organiser      = [[Indian Football Association]] (West Bengal)
|organiser      = [[Indian Football Association]]
|founded        = {{start date and age|1898}}  
|founded        = {{start date and age|1893}}  
|first          = 1898
|first          =  
|folded        =  
|folded        =  
|country        = India
|country        = India
|confed        =  
|confed        = [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]]
|divisions      = 7
|divisions      = [[#Structure|7]]
|teams          = 14 ({{small|Premier Division A}}) <br/> approx. 160 ({{small|clubs and Units}})
|teams          = [[#Teams|26]] ({{small|Premier Division}}) <br/> 160+ ({{small|overall}})
|promotion      = [[I-League Qualifiers]]
|promotion      = Various
|relegation    =  
|relegation    = Various
|levels        = [[Indian football league system|3-4]]
|levels        = [[Indian football league system#Men's|5–10]]
|domest_cup    = Durand Cup (invitational)
|domest_cup    = [[IFA Shield]]
|league_cup    =  
|league_cup    = [[Trades Cup]]
|confed_cup    =   
|confed_cup    =   
|champions      = [[Peerless SC]] (1st title)
|champions      = [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]] <br> (41st title)
|season        = [[2019–20 Calcutta Premier Division|2019–20]]
|season        = 2025
|most_champs    = [[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]] (39 titles)
|most_champs    = [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]] <br> (41 titles, Premier Division)<ref>{{Cite web|first=Shoubhik|last=Mukhopadhyay|url=https://i-league.org/east-bengal-calcutta-football-league-a-sublime-romantic-saga/|title=East Bengal & Calcutta Football League: A Sublime Romantic Saga - Hero I-League|date=10 September 2015|access-date=25 September 2019|website=i-league.org|publisher=[[I-League]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925033144/https://i-league.org/east-bengal-calcutta-football-league-a-sublime-romantic-saga/|archive-date=25 September 2019}}</ref>
|most_caps      =  
|most_caps      =  
|top_goalscorer =  
|top_goalscorer =  
|tv            = R Plus News <br/> [[Aajkaal]] ({{small|online streaming}})
|tv            = [[Zee Media Corporation|Zee 24 Ghanta]] <br/> {{URL|https://ssen.co/|SSEN}} (digital)
|website        = [http://www.kolkatafootball.com/ifa_cfl_premier_a_২০১৯-২০/premier_a_table.html Official website]
|current        = [[2025 CFL Premier Division]]
|current        = [[2021–22 Calcutta Premier Division]]
}}
}}


The '''Calcutta Football League''' ('''CFL''') is a men's professional state [[Association football|football]] league in [[West Bengal]], [[India]], organised by [[Indian Football Association]]. Due to sponsorship reasons, the league is officially known as [[Sister Nivedita University|'''SNU''']] '''Calcutta Football League''',<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Facebook|url=https://www.facebook.com/ifa.wb/photos/576553363705147|access-date=2021-08-17|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref> is the top football league in the state and [[List of oldest football competitions|the oldest football league]] in [[Asia]].
The '''Calcutta Football League''' ('''CFL''') is a ladder-based [[association football|football]] competition in the Indian state of [[West Bengal]], organised by the [[Indian Football Association|Indian Football Association (WB)]] as part of the [[Indian State Leagues|state leagues]]. It is the [[list of oldest football competitions|oldest football league]] in [[Asia]].<ref>{{cite web|title=FOOTBALL IN BENGAL|url=http://ifawb.com/archives.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306042849/http://www.ifawb.com/archives.php|archive-date=6 March 2016|access-date=14 January 2021|website=www.ifawb.com|publisher=The [[Indian Football Association]] (West Bengal)}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://olympics.com/en/news/calcutta-football-league-history-winners-list |title=Calcutta Football League: East Bengal kings of Asia's oldest league competition — full winners list |website=olympics.com |publisher=The Olympics Football |last1=Nag |first1=Utathya |date=19 April 2023 |access-date=25 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505071647/https://olympics.com/en/news/calcutta-football-league-history-winners-list |archive-date=5 May 2023 }}</ref>


[[Indian Football Association|Indian Football Association (IFA)]] conducts the CFL with more than 160 mostly Kolkata based clubs and units. Started in 1898, this league is the oldest football league in Asia and regarded as one of the oldest football competitions in the world.<ref name="ifacfl3">{{cite web|title=Calcutta Football League|url=http://www.the-ifa.org/tournaments.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215001636/http://the-ifa.org/tournaments.php|archive-date=15 February 2009|access-date=8 September 2013|publisher=IFA}}</ref> CFL currently consists of a seven-tier pyramid system<ref name="ifacfl3"/> and there are more than 8,500 directly registered players of IFA participating in CFL every year, making it one of the biggest leagues in the country.
The CFL is divided into [[Calcutta Football League#CFL Premier Division|CFL Premier Division]], [[Calcutta Football League#CFL 1st Division|CFL 1st Division]], [[Calcutta Football League#CFL 2nd Division|CFL 2nd  Division]], [[Calcutta Football League#CFL 3rd Division|CFL 3rd Division]], [[Calcutta Football League#CFL 4th Division|CFL 4th Division]], [[Calcutta Football League#CFL 5th Division Group A|CFL 5th  Division A]], and [[Calcutta Football League#CFL 5th Division Group B|CFL 5th Division B]] with promotion and relegation between them.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> CFL has more than 160 mostly Kolkata-based clubs and units. Started in 1898, this league is the oldest football league in Asia and one of the oldest football competitions in the world.<ref name="ifacfl3">{{cite web|title=Calcutta Football League|url=http://www.the-ifa.org/tournaments.php|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215001636/http://the-ifa.org/tournaments.php|archive-date=15 February 2009|access-date=8 September 2013|publisher=IFA}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chaseyoursport.com/Football/The-Golden-Years-of-Indian-Football/659|title=The Golden Years of Indian Football|website=www.chaseyoursport.com|publisher=Chase Your Sport|location=Kolkata|first=Rounak|last=Majumdar|date=22 April 2019|access-date=28 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107230046/https://www.chaseyoursport.com/Football/The-Golden-Years-of-Indian-Football/659|archive-date=7 November 2020}}</ref> CFL currently consists of a seven-tier pyramid system,<ref name="ifacfl3"/> with more than 8,500 directly registered players of IFA participating in CFL every year, making it one of the biggest leagues in the country.


== History ==
==History==
===Early years (1890s–1910s)===
In 1898, [[Indian Football Association|IFA]] introduced a two-tiered football league in [[Kolkata|Calcutta]] on the lines of [[English Football League]] in [[England]] and [[Wales]].<ref name=":7">{{cite news|url=http://www.goaldentimes.org/eastern-railway-ran-full-steam-1958/ |title=WHEN EASTERN RAILWAY RAN ON FULL STEAM (1958) |website=www.goaldentimes.org |publisher=Goalden Times |last1=Chakraborty |first1=Debojyoti |date=29 August 2017 |access-date=25 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111162448/http://www.goaldentimes.org/eastern-railway-ran-full-steam-1958/ |archive-date=11 November 2021}}</ref> Until 1937, CFL was a major tournament with participation open to every team across the nation but after the establishment of [[All India Football Federation|AIFF]], CFL became a regional competition.


=== Early years (1890s–1910s) ===
The [[British Indian Army]] [[garrison]] stationed at [[Fort William, West Bengal|Fort William]] played an instrumental role in shaping the Calcutta Football League by putting forth numerous teams alongside other [[Colonial India|European settlers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lifestyle.livemint.com/news/talking-point/how-football-kicked-off-in-india-111645287939737.html|title=How football kicked off in India {{!}} As with the English language, when the British transported the sport to India, they didn't expect the 'natives' to beat them at it|website=lifestyle.livemint.com|publisher=[[Mint (newspaper)|Livemint Delhi]]|date=8 June 2018|access-date=27 January 2022|first=Manu S|last=Pillai|location=Delhi, India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714153151/https://lifestyle.livemint.com/news/talking-point/how-football-kicked-off-in-india-111645287939737.html|archive-date=14 July 2022}}</ref> The Army teams won all but twelve of the titles until 1933. On eight of those twelve occasions the title was claimed by [[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|Calcutta]] and the rest by [[Dalhousie AC|Dalhousie]]. Native teams were barred from participating for the first 15 seasons, and only clubs designated for [[Civil Service (United Kingdom)|civil servants]], [[Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)|merchants]], [[Missionary|missionaries]] and other [[Ethnic groups in Europe|European]] nationalities made up the rest of the league, in a clearly designed exercise to exclude [[Indian people|Indians]] of any religion.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Andrew Flint|date=2015-11-11|title=A Tale of One City: Kolkata|url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2015/11/11/a-tale-of-one-city-kolkata/|access-date=2021-03-16|website=These Football Times|language=en-GB|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183002/https://thesefootballtimes.co/2015/11/11/a-tale-of-one-city-kolkata/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 1898, [[Indian Football Association|IFA]] introduced a two-tiered football league in [[Kolkata|Calcutta]] on the lines of [[English Football League]] in [[England]] and [[Wales]]. Until 1937, CFL was a major tournament with participation open to every team across the nation but after the establishment of [[All India Football Federation|AIFF]], CFL became a regional competition.


The [[British Indian Army]] [[garrison]] stationed at [[Fort William, India|Fort William]] played an instrumental role in shaping the Calcutta Football League by putting forth numerous teams alongside other [[Colonial India|European settlers]]. The Army teams won all but twelve of the titles until 1933. On eight of those twelve occasions the title was claimed by [[Calcutta FC|Calcutta]] and the rest by [[Dalhousie AC|Dalhousie]]. Native teams were barred from participating for the first 15 seasons, and only clubs designated for [[Civil Service (United Kingdom)|civil servants]], [[Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)|merchants]], [[Missionary|missionaries]] and other [[Ethnic groups in Europe|European]] nationalities made up the rest of the league, in a clearly designed exercise to exclude [[Indian people|Indians]] of any religion.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Andrew Flint|date=2015-11-11|title=A Tale of One City: Kolkata|url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2015/11/11/a-tale-of-one-city-kolkata/|access-date=2021-03-16|website=These Football Times|language=en-GB}}</ref>
In 1914, IFA permitted only two native clubs, [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]] and [[Aryan FC|Aryan]], in the Second Division of CFL. Mohun Bagan had a successful campaign and earned promotion to the Premier Division in their debut season, whereas Aryan was promoted to the top division two years later. From 1917 to 1920, the Second Division was won by two other native clubs, namely [[Kumortuli]] Club (in 1917, 1918 and 1919) and Town Club (in 1920), but their promotions were denied due to the allowance of only two native clubs to play in each tier.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|first=Atanu|last=Mitra|url=https://www.redbull.com/in-en/how-asias-oldest-football-league-made-its-mark|date=8 November 2017|access-date=16 March 2021|title=How Asia's oldest football league made its mark|website=www.redbull.com|publisher=RedBull|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709181447/https://www.redbull.com/in-en/how-asias-oldest-football-league-made-its-mark|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2012-08-18|title=Kingfisher East Bengal FC{{!}}Legacy-History|url=http://eastbengalfootballclub.com/legacy.php|access-date=2021-03-16|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818124203/http://eastbengalfootballclub.com/legacy.php|archive-date=18 August 2012}}</ref>
 
In 1914, IFA permitted only two native clubs- [[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]] and [[Aryan FC|Aryan]], in the Second Division of CFL. Mohun Bagan had a successful campaign and earned promotion to the Premier Division in their debut season, whereas Aryan was promoted to the top division two years later. From 1917 to 1920, the Second Division was won by two other native clubs, namely [[Kumortuli]] Club (in 1917, 1918 and 1919) and Town Club (in 1920), but their promotions were denied due to the allowance of only two native clubs to play in each tier.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.redbull.com/in-en/how-asias-oldest-football-league-made-its-mark|access-date=16 March 2021|title=How Asia's oldest football league made its mark|website=www.redbull.com}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2012-08-18|title=Kingfisher East Bengal FC{{!}}Legacy-History|url=http://eastbengalfootballclub.com/legacy.php|access-date=2021-03-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818124203/http://eastbengalfootballclub.com/legacy.php|archive-date=18 August 2012}}</ref>


=== Uprise of native dominance (1920s–1947) ===
=== Uprise of native dominance (1920s–1947) ===
1921 saw the rise of [[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]] who began their CFL journey in the Second Division in place of [[Tajhat Palace|Tajhat]] Club who had withdrawn from the league. Three years later East Bengal finished the Second Division as the joint-winners with [[British Cameroon|Cameroons]] B and since Cameroons A was in the Premier Division, East Bengal got the opportunity for promotion. As two native clubs were already playing in the Premier Division, East Bengal's promotion was to be rejected as well. At this, the club called for [[Constitutional amendment|amendments]] and in the following General Meeting of IFA, the nine British teams conveyed their approval, while Mohun Bagan and Aryan opposed it. Eventually the rule regulating the promotion of native clubs was abolished on the consent of the majority.<ref name=":1" />
1921 saw the rise of [[East Bengal Club|East Bengal]] who began their CFL journey in the Second Division in place of [[Tajhat Palace|Tajhat]] Club who had withdrawn from the league. Three years later East Bengal finished the Second Division as the joint-winners with [[British Cameroons|Cameroons]] B and since Cameroons A was in the Premier Division, East Bengal got the opportunity for promotion. As two native clubs were already playing in the Premier Division, East Bengal's promotion was to be rejected as well. At this, the club called for [[Constitutional amendment|amendments]] and in the following General Meeting of IFA, the nine British teams conveyed their approval, while Mohun Bagan and Aryan opposed it. Eventually the rule regulating the promotion of native clubs was abolished by majority.<ref name=":1" />


[[File:1940 league winning mohammedan sporting team.jpg|thumb|[[Mohammedan S.C. (Kolkata)|Mohammedan SC]], the first native [[Indian people|Indian]] team to win the league.]]
[[File:1940 league winning mohammedan sporting team.jpg|thumb|[[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan SC]], the first native [[Indian people|Indian]] team to win the league.<ref name=":6">{{cite web|url=https://ekolkata24.com/offbeat-news/glorious-football-history-of-mohammedan-sporting-club/|title=ব্রিটিশকে হারিয়ে ডুরান্ড জয়ী, পাকিস্তানকেও গোল দিয়ে চিরকালীন নজির মহামেডানের|website=ekolkata24.com|date=1 September 2021|access-date=2 March 2022|language=bn|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302125909/https://ekolkata24.com/offbeat-news/glorious-football-history-of-mohammedan-sporting-club/|archive-date=2 March 2022}}</ref>|left]]


Even though the native clubs got more opportunities yet the British dominance continued till 1933. In 1934, [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]] won the title in their debut season and became the first native club to win CFL.<ref name=ifalist>{{cite web|url=https://ifawb.org/cfl-winners/|title=List of Calcutta Football League Champions|publisher=[[Indian Football Association|IFA]]|access-date=3 July 2021}}</ref> The club went on to win the league six out of seven times from 1935 to 1941, with 1939 being the only exception when they didn't participate and Mohun Bagan went away with their first league title that year.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
Even though the native clubs got more opportunities yet the British dominance continued till 1933. In 1934, [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]] won the title in their debut season and became the first native club to win CFL.<ref name=ifalist>{{cite web|url=https://ifawb.org/cfl-winners/|title=List of Calcutta Football League Champions|publisher=[[Indian Football Association|IFA]]|access-date=3 July 2021|archive-date=28 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128054127/https://ifawb.org/cfl-winners/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/mad-about-football/articleshow/102933485.cms|title=Mad about football|access-date=22 February 2024|date=22 August 2023|agency=TNN|website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|publisher=[[The Times of India]]|location=Kolkata|first1=Nilesh|last1=Bhattacharya|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823180930/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/mad-about-football/articleshow/102933485.cms|archive-date=23 August 2023}}</ref> The club went on to win the league six out of seven times from 1935 to 1941, with 1939 being the only exception when they did not participate and Mohun Bagan went away with their first league title that year.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />


=== Post-independence era (1947–1970s) ===
=== Post-independence era (1947–1970s) ===
In the post-independence years, many other state leagues were introduced and various clubs from other states rose in glory, but CFL was still considered to be one of the top leagues in the nation and provided innumerable young talents. The league matches were mostly played in [[Monsoon of South Asia|monsoon]] and matches involving the '''Big Three of Calcutta''' (Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan) regularly attracted more than 30,000 spectators.<ref name=":0" /> From 1934 to 1981, [[Eastern Railway FC|Eastern Railway]] was the only club outside of the Big Three to win the title in 1958.
[[File:Nikhil_Nandy_tackling_Muhammad_Umer_during_a_1956_Calcutta_League_match_between_Mohammedan_SC_&_Eastern_Railway_FC.jpg|thumb|[[Nikhil Nandy]] (L) tackling [[Muhammad Umer]] during a 1956 Calcutta League match between [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]] & [[Eastern Railway FC|Eastern Railway]]]]
In the post-independence years, many other state leagues were introduced and various clubs from other states rose in glory, but CFL was still considered to be one of the top leagues in the nation and provided innumerable young talents. The league matches were mostly played in [[Monsoon of South Asia|monsoon]] and matches involving the '''Big Three of Calcutta''' (Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan) regularly attracted more than 30,000 spectators.<ref name=":0" /> From 1934 to 1981, [[Eastern Railway FC|Eastern Railway]] was the only club outside of the Big Three to win the title in 1958.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.anandabazar.com/e_kolkata/2013/december/anache_kanache.html|title=ইস্টার্ন রেলওয়ে ফুটবল ক্লাব — ১৪১ বছরের পুরনো একটি ক্লাবের ইতিহাস ও ঐতিহ্য|trans-title=Eastern Railway Football Club — History and heritage of a 141-year-old club|website=archives.anandabazar.com|publisher=[[Anandabazar Patrika]]|language=Bengali|date=21 December 2013|access-date=24 March 2023|location=Kolkata|first=Rajat|last=Karmakar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127103722/http://archives.anandabazar.com/e_kolkata/2013/december/anache_kanache.html|archive-date=27 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.anandabazar.com/sports/cfl-2019-resembles-1958-league-matches-1.1044901|title=আটান্নর মতো কড়া লড়াই দেখা যাচ্ছে এই লিগেও|trans-title=A tough fight like 1958 is also being witnessed in this season's league|language=bn|website=abandabazar.com|publisher=[[Anandabazar Patrika]]|location=Kolkata|date=13 September 2019|first1=Hariprasad|last1=Chattopadhyay|archive-date=26 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926054109/https://www.anandabazar.com/sports/cfl-2019-resembles-1958-league-matches-1.1044901}}</ref>


The CFL had a long history of crowd trouble, and the burgeoning fanfare exacerbated it. The rapidly increasing off-the-field rivalry between the respective fans of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal saw one of the darkest days of [[Football in India|Indian football]] when 16 fans lost their lives because of a stampede and rioting during a [[Kolkata Derby]] in CFL on 16 August 1980 in [[Eden Gardens]]. Since then the day is celebrated every year as the [[Football Lovers' Day|Football Lover's Day]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" />
The CFL had a long history of crowd trouble, and the burgeoning fanfare exacerbated it. The rapidly increasing off-the-field rivalry between the respective fans of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal saw one of the darkest days of [[Football in India|Indian football]] when 16 fans lost their lives because of a stampede and rioting during a [[Kolkata Derby]] in CFL on 16 August 1980 in [[Eden Gardens]]. Since then the day is celebrated every year as the [[Football Lovers' Day|Football Lover's Day]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" />


=== Years of obscurity (1980s–2000s) ===
===Years of obscurity (1980s–2000s)===
In the 80s and 90s, the league caught many eyes with the rivalry between the two of Indian football's finest tacticians— [[P. K. Banerjee|P.K. Banerjee]] and [[Amal Dutta]], besides the decades old rivalry among the Big Three.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sengupta|first=Somnath|date=2011-07-04|title=Tactical Evolution of Indian Football (Part Three) : PK Banerjee -...|url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/tactical-evolution-of-indian-football-part-three-pk-banerjee-amal-dutta-nayeemuddin/|access-date=2021-03-16|website=Thehardtackle.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
In the 80s and 90s, the league caught many eyes with the rivalry between the two of Indian football's finest tacticians— [[P. K. Banerjee|P.K. Banerjee]] and [[Amal Dutta]], besides the decades old rivalry among the Big Three.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sengupta|first=Somnath|date=2011-07-04|title=Tactical Evolution of Indian Football (Part Three) : PK Banerjee -...|url=http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/tactical-evolution-of-indian-football-part-three-pk-banerjee-amal-dutta-nayeemuddin/|access-date=2021-03-16|website=Thehardtackle.com|language=en-US|archive-date=14 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714062345/http://www.thehardtackle.com/2011/tactical-evolution-of-indian-football-part-three-pk-banerjee-amal-dutta-nayeemuddin/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0" />


Due to the rise in financial demands and steady modernisation of the sport, the league became dominated by the Big Three clubs as the smaller clubs struggled to keep up with their economy. The league saw the beginning of a major downfall with the introduction of [[National Football League (India)|NFL]] (now [[I-League]]). The importance of regional competitions decreased as all the top clubs in the state were racing for the national honours. From the later 20th century, Mohammedan eventually lost its stronghold and, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal became the only dominant teams in the league. In the new century, the IFA revamped the competition into a six-tier competition with the seventh tier, called the nursery league, reserved for sub-junior teams. The top tier, Premier Division, was also divided into two groups so as to include more teams.
Due to the rise in financial demands and steady modernisation of the sport, the league became dominated by the Big Three clubs as the smaller clubs struggled to keep up with their economy. The league saw the beginning of a major downfall with the introduction of [[National Football League (India)|NFL]] (now [[I-League]]). The importance of regional competitions decreased as all the top clubs in the state were racing for the national honours. From the later 20th century, Mohammedan eventually lost its stronghold and, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal became the only dominant teams in the league. In the new century, the IFA revamped the competition into a six-tier competition with the seventh tier, called the nursery league, reserved for sub-junior teams. The top tier, Premier Division, was also divided into two groups so as to include more teams.


=== Resurgence (2010s–present) ===
===Resurgence (2010s–present)===
From 2010, East Bengal had went on to win a record eight consecutive titles until their arch-rivals Mohun Bagan break the streak in [[2018–19 Calcutta Premier Division|2018]]. In 2018 the league's popularity had a sudden upsurge and recorded more than 15,000 spectators even in matches involving small clubs. Most news reports in the local media reverberated the popular feeling— "''The passion of the 70s is back.''" Small clubs like [[Peerless SC|Peerless]] and [[George Telegraph S.C.|George Telegraph]] introduced some of the foreign talents that later went on to become big names in the country.<ref name=":0" />
Starting in 2010, East Bengal won a record eight consecutive titles until their arch-rivals Mohun Bagan broke the streak in [[2018 CFL Premier Division|2018]]. In 2018, the league's popularity had a sudden upsurge and recorded more than 15,000 spectators even in matches involving small clubs. Most news reports in the local media reverberated the popular feeling— "''The passion of the 70s is back.''" Small clubs like [[Peerless SC|Peerless]] and [[George Telegraph SC|George Telegraph]] introduced some of the foreign talents that later went on to become big names in the country.<ref name=":0" />


In [[2019–20 Calcutta Premier Division|2019]], Peerless clinched the honour and became the second team outside the Big Three after Eastern Railway to win the league since 1934.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Amitabha Das|title=Peerless wins Calcutta Football League title as East Bengal presents a 'no-show'|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/calcutta-football-league-cfl-2019-title-winner-final-peerless-east-bengal-calcutta-customs-mohun-bagan-mohammedan-sporting-menendez/article29585184.ece|access-date=2021-03-16|website=Sportstar|language=en}}</ref>
In [[2019 CFL Premier Division|2019]], Peerless clinched the honour and became the second team outside the Big Three after Eastern Railway to win the league since 1958.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sharma|first=Amitabha Das|title=Peerless wins Calcutta Football League title as East Bengal presents a 'no-show'|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/calcutta-football-league-cfl-2019-title-winner-final-peerless-east-bengal-calcutta-customs-mohun-bagan-mohammedan-sporting-menendez/article29585184.ece|access-date=2021-03-16|website=Sportstar|date=3 October 2019 |language=en|archive-date=28 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328120136/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/calcutta-football-league-cfl-2019-title-winner-final-peerless-east-bengal-calcutta-customs-mohun-bagan-mohammedan-sporting-menendez/article29585184.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>
Since the independence of India, the CFL was never cancelled until 2020 when after a lengthy delay due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] it was decided to cancel the then CFL season, with the next season due to start later in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=No Calcutta Football League This Season, Decide Premier Division Clubs|url=https://ifawb.org/no-calcutta-football-league-this-season-decides-ifa/|access-date=2021-03-23|website=Indian Football Association (West Bengal)|date=25 February 2021|language=en}}</ref>
Since the independence of India, the CFL was never cancelled until 2020 when after a lengthy delay due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] it was decided to cancel the then CFL season.<ref>{{Cite web|title=No Calcutta Football League This Season, Decide Premier Division Clubs|url=https://ifawb.org/no-calcutta-football-league-this-season-decides-ifa/|access-date=2021-03-23|website=Indian Football Association (West Bengal)|date=25 February 2021|language=en|archive-date=26 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226180538/https://ifawb.org/no-calcutta-football-league-this-season-decides-ifa/|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Division structure==
==Structure==
With the season starting from 2015, the clubs/units were redistributed among the first six divisions and the last division was reserved only for youth teams.<ref name="ifacfl3"/>
With the season starting from 2023, the clubs/units were redistributed among the first six divisions and the last division was reserved only for youth teams.<ref name="ifacfl3"/>
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
!colspan="2" |Calcutta Football League
|-
!Tier
!Tier
!Division
!Division
|-
|-
! rowspan="3" |1
!1<br /><sub>(5 on Indian Football [[Indian football league system|pyramid]])</sub>
! Premier Division  
|CFL Premier Division
<sub>''↑qualify 2 ([[I-League 3]]) ↓relegate 2''</sub>
|-
|-
|Premier Division A
!2<br /><sub>(6 on Indian Football [[Indian football league system|pyramid]])</sub>
<sub>''↓relegate 2''</sub>
|CFL 1st Division
|-
<sub>''↑promote 2        ↓relegate 2''</sub>
|Premier Division B
''<sub>↑promote 2        ↓relegate 2</sub>''
|-
|-
!2
!3<br /><sub>(7 on Indian Football [[Indian football league system|pyramid]])</sub>
!First Division
|CFL 2nd Division
<sub>''↑promote 2        ↓relegate 2''</sub>
<sub>''↑promote 2        ↓relegate 2''</sub>
|-
|-
!3
!4<br /><sub>(8 on Indian Football [[Indian football league system|pyramid]])</sub>
!Second Division
|CFL 3rd Division
<sub>''↑promote 2        ↓relegate 2''</sub>
<sub>''↑promote 2        ↓relegate 2''</sub>
|-
|-
!4
!5<br /><sub>(9 on Indian Football [[Indian football league system|pyramid]])</sub>
!Third Division
|CFL 4th Division
<sub>''↑promote 2        ↓relegate 2''</sub>
<sub>''↑promote 2        ↓relegate 2''</sub>
|-
|-
!5
!6<br /><sub>(10 on Indian Football [[Indian football league system|pyramid]])</sub>
!Fourth Division
|CFL 5th Division Group A
<sub>''↑promote 2        ↓relegate 2''</sub>
<sub>''↑promote 2        ↓relegate 2''</sub>
|-
|-
!6
!7<br /><sub>(11 on Indian Football [[Indian football league system|pyramid]])</sub>
!Fifth Division Group A
|CFL 5th Division Group B
<sub>''↑promote 2''</sub>
<sub>''↑promote 2''</sub>
|}
Starting from 2023, 26 teams participate in the '''Premier Division''', divided into two groups at the same pyramid level and compete in a [[Round-robin tournament|single-leg round robin tournament]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thefangarage.com/articles/19091-calcutta-football-league-cfl-goes-bigger-than-ever-for-its-historic-125th-season|title=Calcutta Football League (CFL) goes bigger than ever for its historic 125th season|website=thefangarage.com|publisher=The Fan Garage|location=Kolkata|date=5 June 2023|access-date=6 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606060715/https://thefangarage.com/articles/19091-calcutta-football-league-cfl-goes-bigger-than-ever-for-its-historic-125th-season|archive-date=6 June 2023}}</ref> The top three teams in each 13-team group will compete in a single-leg round robin tournament and the group leaders will be declared the champions. The top two teams, not already in the [[Indian Super League|ISL]] or [[I-League]] are promoted to the [[I-League 3]]. The bottom three teams in each 13-team group also compete in a separate single-leg round robin tournament and the bottom four teams are relegated to the First Division.
Apart from the Premier Division A, most other divisions are competed by about 20 teams, and the format of the tournaments in the lower divisions isn't always the same. The top teams in respective divisions are promoted to the division higher to it and the bottom teams get relegated to the lower one.
The most successful clubs participating in the top-tier of the league includes [[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]], [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]] and [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]. However, since 1982, the league has been won by either East Bengal or Mohun Bagan until 2019 when [[Peerless SC|Peerless]] made history by winning their maiden league title and becoming the first team outside the '''Kolkata's Big Three''' to win the league after a gap of 61 years since [[Eastern Railway FC|Eastern Railway]] had won.<ref>{{cite web|title=ifawb.com|url=http://www.ifawb.com/fixture.php|website=www.ifawb.com|access-date=3 September 2015|archive-date=5 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905071017/http://www.ifawb.com/fixture.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
==CFL Premier Division==
{{Infobox football league
| name      = CFL Premier Division<br>সিএফএল প্রিমিয়ার ডিভিশন
| logo      =
| pixels    =
| organisers = [[Indian Football Association]]
| country    = [[India]]
| folded    =
| divisions  =
| teams      = 26
| promotion  = [[I-League 3]]
| relegation = CFL 1st Division
| levels    = [[Indian football league system#Men's|5]]
| league_cup =
| confed_cup =
| champions  = [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]] (41st title)
| current    = [[2025 CFL Premier Division]]
}}
'''CFL Premier Division''' is the top-tier [[Indian State Leagues|state level]] [[association football|football]] league in the [[India]]n state of [[West Bengal]].
{|class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
!Season
!Champions
|-
|{{N/a}}
|[[#Champions of the top-most division|See below for details]]
|}
==CFL 1st Division==
{{Infobox football league
| name      = CFL 1st Division<br>সিএফএল ১ম বিভাগ
| logo      =
| pixels    =
| organisers = [[Indian Football Association]]
| country    = [[India]]
| folded    =
| divisions  =
| teams      = 26
| promotion  = CFL Premier Division
| relegation = CFL 2nd Division
| levels    = [[Indian football league system#Men's|6]]
| league_cup =
| confed_cup =
| champions  = Coal India WB
| season    = 2025
| current    =
}}
'''CFL 1st Division''' is the 2nd tier [[Indian State Leagues|state level]] [[association football|football]] league in the [[India]]n state of [[West Bengal]].
'''Format''' (2024–25): Twenty-six teams are divided into two groups in the first phase, where each plays twelve matches in round robin format. Top three teams from the two groups shall proceed to the championship round, where each play five more matches to determine the champion. The bottom two teams from both groups play the relegation round. Top two teams of Championship round are promoted into "CFL Premier Division", and last two teams of relegation round are relegated into "CFL 2nd Division".
{|class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
! Season
! Champions
! Ref.
|-
|2019
|Police AC
|<ref name="cfllower19">{{cite web |title=IFA CFL Lower Division 2019 |url=https://www.kolkatafootball.com/ifa_cfl_lower_divn_2019-20/1st_divn.html |publisher=kolkatafootball.com |accessdate=1 May 2024 }}</ref>
|-
|2022
|[[Army Red (football team)|Army Red]]
|<ref name="cfllower22">{{cite web |title=IFA CFL Lower Division 2022 |url=https://www.kolkatafootball.com/ifa_cfl_lower_division_2022/cfl_divn1_result.html |publisher=kolkatafootball.com |accessdate=1 May 2024 }}</ref>
|-
|2023
|[[New Alipore Suruchi Sangha]]
|<ref name="cfllower23">{{cite web |title=IFA CFL Lower Division 2023 |url=https://www.kolkatafootball.com/ifa_cfl_lower_division_2023/cfl_divn1_result.html |publisher=kolkatafootball.com |accessdate=1 May 2024 }}</ref>
|-
|2024
|United Kolkata SC
|<ref name="cfllower24">{{cite web |title=অভিজ্ঞতাই হাতিয়ার ইউনাইটেড কলকাতার |url=https://bartamanpatrika.com/news/experience-is-the-tool-for-united-kolkata |publisher=bartamanpatrika.com |accessdate=26 June 2025|lang=bn}}</ref>
|-
|-
!7
|2025
!Fifth Division Group B
|Coal India WB
<sub>(Age group: 13 to 16)</sub>
|
|}
|}
Usually 12 teams participate in the '''Premier Division A''' and compete in a [[Round-robin tournament|single-leg round'robin tournament]]. The top two teams are promoted to the [[I-League 2nd Division]] where as the bottom two teams are relegated to Premier Division B. In the '''Premier Division B,''' usually 10 teams are involved and the tournament is divided into two phases. In the first phase, all the teams play in a [[Round-robin tournament|single-leg round-robin tournament]]. In the second phase, the teams are split into two groups (A and B) of top teams and bottom teams respectively. The teams in Group A compete for promotion to the Premier Division A, while those in Group B compete to avoid relegation to the First Division.


Apart from the Premier Division A, all the other divisions are competed by more than 20 teams, the format of the tournaments in the lower divisions aren't always the same. The top teams in respective divisions are promoted to the division higher to it and the bottom teams get relegated to the lower one.
==CFL 2nd Division==
{{Infobox football league
| name      = CFL 2nd Division<br>সিএফএল ২য় বিভাগ
| logo      =
| pixels    =
| organisers = [[Indian Football Association]]
| country    = [[India]]
| folded    =
| divisions =
| teams     = 16
| promotion  = CFL 1st Division
| relegation = CFL 3rd Division
| levels    = [[Indian football league system#Men's|7]]
| league_cup =
| confed_cup =
| champions  = Adamas United Sports Academy
| season    = 2023
| current    =
|website=
}}
 
'''CFL 2nd Division''' is the 3rd tier [[Indian State Leagues|state level]] [[association football|football]] league in the [[India]]n state of [[West Bengal]].


The most successful clubs participating in the top-tier of the league includes [[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]], [[Mohun Bagan AC|Mohun Bagan]] and [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]. However, since 1982, the league has been won by either East Bengal or Mohun Bagan until 2019 when [[Peerless SC|Peerless]] made history by winning their maiden league title and becoming the first team outside the '''Kolkata's Big Three''' to win the league after a gap of 61 years since [[Eastern Railway FC|Eastern Railway]] had won.<ref>{{cite web|title=ifawb.com|url=http://www.ifawb.com/fixture.php|website=www.ifawb.com}}</ref>
'''Format''' (2024–25): Sixteen teams are playing single round robin league format. Top two teams are promoted into '''CFL 1st Division''', and last two are relegated into '''CFL 3rd Division'''.


==Prize money in Premier Division==
{|class = "wikitable sortable"
<small>As updated on 28 July 2019.</small>
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;"
|-
|-
| Champions || {{INRConvert|10|l|year=2021}}
!Season
!Champions
!Ref.
|-
|-
| 1st Runners-up || {{INRConvert|5|l|year=2021}}
|2023
|Adamas United Sports Academy
|<ref name="cfllower23"/>
|}
 
==CFL 3rd Division==
{{Infobox football league
| name      = CFL 3rd Division<br>সিএফএল ৩য় বিভাগ
| logo      =
| pixels    =
| organisers = [[Indian Football Association]]
| country    = [[India]]
| folded    =
| divisions  =  
| teams      =
| promotion  = CFL 2nd Division
| relegation = CFL 4th Division
| levels    = [[Indian football league system#Men's|8]]
| league_cup =
| confed_cup =
| champions  = Southern Athletic Club
| season    = 2023
}}
 
'''CFL 3rd Division''' is the 4th tier [[Indian State Leagues|state level]] [[association football|football]] league in the [[India]]n state of [[West Bengal]].
 
{|class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
| 2nd Runner-up  || {{INRConvert|25|k|year=2021}}
!Season
!Champions
!Ref.
|-
|-
| Matchday Subsidy || {{INRConvert|5|k|year=2021}}
|2023
|Southern Athletic Club
|<ref name="cfllower23"/>
|}
 
==CFL 4th Division==
{{Infobox football league
| name      = CFL 4th Division<br>সিএফএল ৪র্থ বিভাগ
| logo      =
| pixels    =  
| organisers = [[Indian Football Association]]
| country    = [[India]]
| folded    =
| divisions  =
| teams      =
| promotion  = CFL 3rd Division
| relegation = CFL 5th Division Group A
| levels    = [[Indian football league system#Men's|9]]
| league_cup =
| confed_cup =
| champions  = Shyambazar United Club
| season    = 2023
| current    =
}}
 
'''CFL 4th Division''' is the 5th tier [[Indian State Leagues|state level]] [[association football|football]] league in the [[India]]n state of [[West Bengal]].
 
{|class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
| Match winner || {{INRConvert|5|k|year=2021}}
!Season
!Champions
!Ref.
|-
|-
| Man of the Match || {{INRConvert|5|k|year=2021}}
|2023
|Shyambazar United Club
|<ref name="cfllower23"/>
|}
 
==CFL 5th Division Group A==
{{Infobox football league
| name      = CFL 5th Division Group A<br>সিএফএল ৫ম বিভাগ গ্রুপ এ
| logo      =
| pixels    =
| organisers = [[Indian Football Association]]
| country    = [[India]]
| folded    =
| divisions  =
| teams      = 35
| promotion  = CFL 4th Division
| relegation = CFL 5th Division Group B
| levels    = [[Indian football league system#Men's|10]]
| league_cup =
| confed_cup =
| champions  = Ariadaha Sporting Club
| season    = 2023
| current    =
}}
 
'''CFL 5th Division Group A''' is the 6th tier [[Indian State Leagues|state level]] [[association football|football]] league in the [[India]]n state of [[West Bengal]].
 
'''Format''' (2024–25): Thirty five teams are divided into four groups. Eight teams are promoted to '''CFL 4th Division''' and six teams are relegated to '''CFL 5th Division Group B'''.
 
{|class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
!Season
!Champions
!Ref.
|-
|2023
|Ariadaha Sporting Club
|<ref name="cfllower23"/>
|}
 
==CFL 5th Division Group B==
{{Infobox football league
| name      = CFL 5th Division Group B<br>সিএফএল ৫ম বিভাগ গ্রুপ বি
| logo      =
| pixels    =
| organisers = [[Indian Football Association]]
| country    = [[India]]
| folded    =
| divisions  =
| teams      = 18
| promotion  = CFL 5th Division Group A
| relegation =  
| levels    = [[Indian football league system#Men's|11]]
| league_cup =
| confed_cup =
| champions  = Beleghata Balak Brindo
| season    = 2023
| current    =
}}
 
'''CFL 5th Division Group B''' is the 7th tier [[Indian State Leagues|state level]] [[association football|football]] league in the [[India]]n state of [[West Bengal]].
 
'''Format''' (2024–25): Eighteen teams are divided in two groups of nine, with each team playing other in the group once. Top three teams of two groups proceed to the Super Six round. Top four teams are promoted in '''CFL 5th Division Group A'''.
 
{|class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
!Season
!Champions
!Ref.
|-
|2023
|Beleghata Balak Brindo
|<ref name="cfllower23"/>
|}
|}


==Sponsorship==
==Sponsorship==
===League Title Sponsor===
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; white-space:nowrap"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
|-
! Period
!Period
! Sponsor
!Sponsor
! Tournament Name
!Tournament name
|-
|-
| 1898–2004
|1898–2004
| ''None''
|''None''
| Calcutta Football League
|Calcutta Football League
|-
|-
| 2005–2014
|2005–2014
| [[Sahara India]]
|[[Sahara India]]
| Sahara Calcutta Premier League
|Sahara Calcutta Premier League
|-
|-
| 2015–2020
|2015–2020
|[[Officer's Choice|Officer's Choice Blue]]
|[[Officer's Choice|Officer's Choice Blue]]
| Officer's Choice|Officer's Choice Blue Calcutta Premier League
|Officer's Choice Blue Calcutta Premier League<ref>{{cite web|url=http://footballnewsindia.in/2015/08/04/calcutta-football-league-officers-choice-blue-title-sponsor/|title=CALCUTTA FOOTBALL LEAGUE – OFFICER'S CHOICE BLUE TO BE THE TITLE SPONSOR|location=Kolkata|website=Football News India|date=4 August 2015|access-date=7 October 2022|archive-date=10 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010165728/http://footballnewsindia.in/2015/08/04/calcutta-football-league-officers-choice-blue-title-sponsor/}}</ref>
|-
|-
|2021–''present''
|2021–2023
|[[Sister Nivedita University]]
|[[Sister Nivedita University]]
|SNU Calcutta Football League<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2021-08-16|title=No clarity on Kolkata derby as Asia’s oldest league starts on Tuesday|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/football/no-clarity-on-kolkata-derby-as-asia-s-oldest-league-starts-on-tuesday-101629123516047.html|access-date=2021-08-17|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>
|SNU Calcutta Football League<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2021-08-16|title=No clarity on Kolkata derby as Asia's oldest league starts on Tuesday|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/football/no-clarity-on-kolkata-derby-as-asia-s-oldest-league-starts-on-tuesday-101629123516047.html|access-date=2021-08-17|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-date=17 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817071612/https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/football/no-clarity-on-kolkata-derby-as-asia-s-oldest-league-starts-on-tuesday-101629123516047.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|2024–''present''
|[https://www.shrachi.com/about-us Shrachi Group]
|Calcutta Football League <ref>{{Cite web |last=SEN |first=DEBASIS |date=2024-05-18 |title=Indian Football Association and Shrachi Sports enter into three-year partnership to revive Bengal Football |url=https://revsportz.in/indian-football-association-and-shrachi-sports-enter-into-three-year-partnership-to-revive-bengal-football/ |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=Sports News Portal {{!}} Latest Sports Articles {{!}} Revsports |language=en-US}}</ref>
|}
|}


==Media coverage==
==Media coverage==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; white-space:nowrap"
|-
|-
! Period
! Period
! TV Channel
! Broadcaster
|-
|-
| 1898–2004
| 1898–2004
| ''None''
| N/A
|-
|-
| 2005
| 2005
|  
| [[Tara Newz]]
[[Tara Newz]]
|-
|-
| 2006
| 2006
|
| [[Kolkata TV]]
[[Kolkata TV]]
|-
|-
| 2007
| 2007
|  
| [[24 Ghanta|Zee 24 Ghanta]]
[[24 Ghanta|Zee 24 Ghanta]]
|-
|-
| 2008
| 2008
|  
| [[ABP Ananda]]
[[ABP Ananda]]
|-
|-
| 2009–11
| 2009–2011
|  
| [[News Time]]
[[News Time]]
|-
|-
| 2012
| 2012
|  
| [[Zee Media Corporation|Zee 24 Ghanta]]
[[24 Ghanta|Zee 24 Ghanta]]
|-
|-
| 2013–15
| 2013–2015
|  
| [[Jalsha Movies]]
[[Jalsha Movies]]
|-
|-
| 2016
| 2016
|
| [[News18 Bangla]]
[[News18 Bangla]]
|-
|-
| 2017
| 2017
|  
| [[Kolkata TV]]
[[Kolkata TV]]
|-
|-
| 2018–2020
| 2018–2021
|  
| [[Sadhna News]]
[[Sadhna News]]
|-
|-
| 2021–present
| 2022–2023
|
| [[InStat|InSports TV]] (streaming)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://insports.tv/football/tournaments/1448 |title=Tournaments |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030091834/https://insports.tv/football/tournaments/1448 |archive-date=30 October 2023 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
R Plus News
|}
 
==List of Premier Division winners==
 
The list only contains the names of the teams that have won the highest division of the Calcutta Football League more than once.<ref name=ifalist />
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="740px"
|-
! width=200px| Club
! width=40px| Titles
! width=500px| Winning years
|-
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]|| align="center" | 39 || 1942, 1945, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1961, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010, [[2011 Calcutta Football League|2011]], [[2012–13 Calcutta Premier Division|2012]], [[2013–14 Calcutta Premier Division|2013]], [[2014–15 Calcutta Premier Division|2014]], [[2015–16 Calcutta Premier Division|2015]], [[2016–17 Calcutta Premier Division|2016]], [[2017–18 Calcutta Premier Division|2017]]
|-
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]|| align="center" | 30 || 1939, 1943, 1944, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, [[2018–19 Calcutta Premier Division|2018]]
|-
|[[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]] || align=center| 11 || 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1948, 1957, 1967, 1981
|-
|[[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|Calcutta]] || align=center| 8 || 1899, 1907, 1916, 1918, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1925
|-
|-
|[[Dalhousie A.C.|Dalhousie]] || align=center| 4 || 1910, 1921, 1928, 1929
| 2024
|-
| [[Zee Media Corporation|Zee 24 Ghanta]]
|[[Durham Light Infantry]] || align=center| 3 || 1931, 1932, 1933
|-
|[[Black Watch]] || rowspan="5" align="center" | 2 || 1912, 1913
|-
|Gordon Light Infantry|| 1908, 1909
|-
|[[King's Regiment (Liverpool)|King's Regiment]] || 1904, 1905
|-
|[[North Staffordshire Regiment]] || 1926, 1927
|-
|[[Royal Irish Rifles]] || 1900, 1901
|-
|[[Eastern Railway FC|Eastern Railway]] || rowspan="2" align="center" | 1 || 1958
|-
|[[Peerless SC]] || [[2019-20 Calcutta Premier Division|2019]]
|-
|-
| 2024–
| [https://www.ssen.co/leagues/details/16 SSEN] (streaming)
|}
|}


==Premier Division results by year==
==Champions of the top-most division==
===By year===
====Pre-independence era (1898–1947)====
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="740px" text-align="left"
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="740px" text-align="left"
|-
|-
Line 253: Line 446:
! width=400px| Note
! width=400px| Note
|-
|-
|[[2021–22 Calcutta Premier Division|2021]]
|1898
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Gloucestershire Regiment]]
|
|
|-
|1899
| {{flagicon|British India}} [[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|Calcutta FC]]
|
|
|-
|-
|2020
|1900
|colspan=2|''Cancelled due to [[COVID-19 pandemic in India]].''
| rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Royal Ulster Rifles|Royal Irish Rifles]]
|-
|[[2019–20 Calcutta Premier Division|2019]]
|[[Peerless SC|Peerless]]
|
|
|-
|-
|[[2018–19 Calcutta Premier Division|2018]]
|1901
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|[[2017–18 Calcutta Premier Division|2017]]
|1902
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[King's Own Scottish Borderers F.C.|King's Own Scottish Borderers]]
|
|
|-
|-
|[[2016–17 Calcutta Premier Division|2016]]
|1903
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[93rd (Sutherland Highlanders) Regiment of Foot|Sutherland Highlanders]]
|''[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]] had won every match in the tournament.''{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}
|-
|[[2015–16 Calcutta Premier Division|2015]]
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|[[2014–15 Calcutta Premier Division|2014]]
|1904
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)|King's Own Regiment]]
|
|
|-
|-
|[[2013–14 Calcutta Premier Division|2013]]
|1905
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|[[2012–13 Calcutta Premier Division|2012]]
|1906
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Highland Light Infantry|Highlander Light Infantry]]
|
|
|-
|-
|[[2011 Calcutta Football League|2011]]
|1907
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| {{flagicon|British India}} [[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|Calcutta FC]]
|
|
|-
|-
|2010
|1908
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Gordon Light Infantry
|
|
|-
|-
|2009
|1909
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|2008
|1910
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
| {{flagicon|British India}} [[Dalhousie AC|Dalhousie]]
|
|
|-
|-
|2007
|1911
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Royal Garrison Artillery|70th Company Royal Garrison Artillery]]
|
|
|-
|-
|2006
|1912
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Black Watch]]
|
|
|-
|-
|2005
|1913
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|2004
|1914
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[91st (Argyllshire Highlanders) Regiment of Foot|Argyllshire Highlanders]]
|
|
|-
|-
|2003
|1915
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Middlesex Regiment|10th Middlesex Regiment]]
|
|
|-
|-
|2002
|1916
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| {{flagicon|British India}} [[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|Calcutta FC]]
|
|
|-
|-
|2001
|1917
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Royal Lincolnshire Regiment]]
|
|
|-
|-
|2000
|1918
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| {{flagicon|British India}} [[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|Calcutta FC]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1999
|1919
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} 12th Special Service Battalion
|
|
|-
|-
|1998
|1920
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| {{flagicon|British India}} [[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|Calcutta FC]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1997
|1921
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
| {{flagicon|British India}} [[Dalhousie AC|Dalhousie]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1996
|1922
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|British India}} [[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|Calcutta FC]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1995
|1923
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1994
|1924
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1993
|1925
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| {{flagicon|British India}} [[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|Calcutta FC]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1992
|1926
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
| rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[North Staffordshire Regiment F.C.|North Staffordshire Regiment]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1991
|1927
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1990
|1928
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
| rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|British India}} [[Dalhousie AC|Dalhousie]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1989
|1929
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1988
|1930
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
|''None''
|
|''Cancelled due to nationwide [[Satyagraha|Satyagraha movement]].''<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=History by Decade|url=https://themohunbaganac.com/history-by-decade/|access-date=2021-02-26|website=Mohun Bagan Athletic Club|language=en-US|archive-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806224102/https://themohunbaganac.com/history-by-decade/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
|1987
|1931
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| rowspan="3" | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Durham Light Infantry]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1986
|1932
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1985
|1933
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1984
|1934
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
| rowspan="5" | {{flagicon|British India}} [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
|
|''First all-Indian club to win the league.''<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Indian football: The tale of the unbeatable Mohammedan Sporting side of 1930s {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/indian-football-the-tale-of-the-unbeatable-mohammedan/1loskn0qvp1qj1e9u5uuucokf4|access-date=2021-02-26|website=www.goal.com|archive-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419165931/https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/indian-football-the-tale-of-the-unbeatable-mohammedan/1loskn0qvp1qj1e9u5uuucokf4|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
|1983
|1935
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1982
|1936
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1981
|1937
|[[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1980
|1938
|''None''
|''Called off due to stampede and riot in [[Eden Gardens]] on [[Football Lovers' Day|August 16]].''<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=2020-08-16|title=When a derby turned deadly in Eden Gardens in 1980|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/when-kolkata-derby-turned-deadly-mohun-bagan-east-bengal-tragedy-6556256/|access-date=2021-02-26|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|1979
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1978
|1939
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
| {{flagicon|British India}} [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1977
|1940
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|British India}} [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
|''[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]] had won every match in the tournament.''<ref>{{Cite web|last=www.KolkataFootball.Com|title=indian football news latest{{!}}kolkatafootball.com news{{!}}live news indian football tournaments{{!}}indian football live|url=http://www.kolkatafootball.com/|access-date=2021-02-26|website=www.kolkatafootball.com|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|1976
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1975
|1941
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1974
|1942
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| {{flagicon|British India}} [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1973
|1943
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|British India}} [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1972
|1944
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
|''[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]] didn't concede a goal in the tournament.''<ref>{{Cite web|title=India - List of Calcutta/Kolkata League Champions|url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/indiacalchamp.html|access-date=2021-02-26|website=www.rsssf.com}}</ref>
|-
|1971
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1970
|1945
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| rowspan="2" | {{flagicon|British India}} [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1969
|1946
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1968
|1947
|''None''
|''None''
|''[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]] had won the league but due to an injunction from the [[Calcutta High Court]], the league was declared null and void.''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Indian football: Instances when the Kolkata derby got abandoned {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/indian-football-instances-when-the-kolkata-derby-got/1u7macomvii3q199rmaibjhwhc|access-date=2021-02-26|website=www.goal.com}}</ref>
|''Cancelled due to [[Indian independence movement]].''
|-
! colspan="3" align="left"|'''Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20210128054127/https://ifawb.org/cfl-winners/ IFA (WB)]'''
|}
 
====Post-independence era (1947–present)====
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="740px" text-align="left"
|-
! width=100px| Year
! width=350px| Winner
! width=400px| Note
|-
|-
|1967
|1948
|[[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
| [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1966
|1949
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| rowspan="2" | [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1965
|1950
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1964
|1951
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
| [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1963
|1952
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
| [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1962
|1953
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
|''None''
|''Abandoned midway due to riots in [[Kolkata|Calcutta]].''<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2015-06-05|title=Fare Hike and Urban Protest|url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2014/25/glimpses-past-web-exclusives/fare-hike-and-urban-protest.html|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|language=en|pages=7–8|access-date=26 February 2021|archive-date=28 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628052450/https://www.epw.in/journal/2014/25/glimpses-past-web-exclusives/fare-hike-and-urban-protest.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|1954
| rowspan="3" | [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1961
|1955
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1960
|1956
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1959
|1957
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
| [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1958
|1958
|[[Eastern Railway FC|Eastern Railway]]  
| [[Eastern Railway FC|Eastern Railway]]  
|
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.anandabazar.com/e_kolkata/2013/december/anache_kanache.html|title=ইস্টার্ন রেলওয়ে ফুটবল ক্লাব — ১৪১ বছরের পুরনো একটি ক্লাবের ইতিহাস ও ঐতিহ্য|trans-title=Eastern Railway Football Club — History and heritage of a 141-year-old club|website=archives.anandabazar.com|publisher=[[Anandabazar Patrika]]|language=Bengali|date=21 December 2013|access-date=24 March 2023|location=Kolkata|first=Rajat|last=Karmakar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127103722/http://archives.anandabazar.com/e_kolkata/2013/december/anache_kanache.html|archive-date=27 January 2022}}</ref>
|-
|-
|1957
|1959
|[[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1956
|1960
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1955
|1961
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
| [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1954
|1962
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
| rowspan="4" | [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1953
|1963
|''None''
|''Abandoned midway due to riots in [[Kolkata|Calcutta]].''<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2015-06-05|title=Fare Hike and Urban Protest|url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2014/25/glimpses-past-web-exclusives/fare-hike-and-urban-protest.html|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|language=en|pages=7–8}}</ref>
|-
|1952
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1951
|1964
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1950
|1965
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1949
|1966
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1948
|1967
|[[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
| [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1947
|1968
|''None''
|''None''
|''Cancelled due to [[Indian independence movement]].''
|''[[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]] had won the league but due to an injunction from the [[Calcutta High Court]], the league was declared null and void.''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Indian football: Instances when the Kolkata derby got abandoned {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/indian-football-instances-when-the-kolkata-derby-got/1u7macomvii3q199rmaibjhwhc|access-date=2021-02-26|website=www.goal.com|archive-date=1 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201234617/https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/indian-football-instances-when-the-kolkata-derby-got/1u7macomvii3q199rmaibjhwhc|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
|1946
|1969
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1945
|1970
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
| rowspan="6" | [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1944
|1971
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1943
|1972
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
|''[[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]] didn't concede a goal in the tournament.''<ref>{{Cite web|title=India — List of Calcutta/Kolkata League Champions|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/indiacalchamp.html|website=[[RSSSF]]|last=Atsushi Fujioka|first=Arunava Chaudhuri|date=1996|access-date=26 February 2021|archive-date=2 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802035706/http://rsssf.com/tablesi/indiacalchamp.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|1973
|
|
|-
|-
|1942
|1974
|[[SC East Bengal|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1941
|1975
|[[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1940
|1976
|[[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
| [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1939
|1977
|[[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
| [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|''[[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]] had won every match in the tournament.''<ref>{{Cite web|last=www.KolkataFootball.Com|title=indian football news latest{{!}}kolkatafootball.com news{{!}}live news indian football tournaments{{!}}indian football live|url=http://www.kolkatafootball.com/|access-date=2021-02-26|website=www.kolkatafootball.com|language=en|archive-date=13 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113172227/http://kolkatafootball.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|1978
| rowspan="2" | [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1938
|1979
|[[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1937
|1980
|[[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
|''None''
|''Called off due to stampede and riot in [[Eden Gardens]] on [[Football Lovers' Day|August 16]].''<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=2020-08-16|title=When a derby turned deadly in Eden Gardens in 1980|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/when-kolkata-derby-turned-deadly-mohun-bagan-east-bengal-tragedy-6556256/|access-date=2021-02-26|website=The Indian Express|language=en|archive-date=28 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228163007/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/when-kolkata-derby-turned-deadly-mohun-bagan-east-bengal-tragedy-6556256/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|1981
| [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1936
|1982
|[[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
| [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1935
|1983
|[[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1934
|1984
|[[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/india84.html#calc|title=India 1984 – List of Champions: Calcutta League|website=[[RSSSF]]|date=5 March 2015|first=Karel|last=Stokkermans|archive-date=7 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007120420/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/india84.html}}</ref>
|''First native club to win the league.''<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Indian football: The tale of the unbeatable Mohammedan Sporting side of 1930s {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/indian-football-the-tale-of-the-unbeatable-mohammedan/1loskn0qvp1qj1e9u5uuucokf4|access-date=2021-02-26|website=www.goal.com}}</ref>
|-
|1985
| [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/india85.html#calc|title=India 1985 – Regional Leagues: Calcutta League|website=[[RSSSF]]|date=30 May 2013|first1=Ian|last1=King|first2=Neil|last2=Morrison|first3=Piet|last3=Veroeveren|first4=Mark|last4=Cruickshank|archive-date=7 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007120420/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/india85.html}}</ref>
|-
|1986
| [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|-
|-
|1933
|1987
|[[Durham Light Infantry]]  
| rowspan="3" | [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1932
|1988
|[[Durham Light Infantry]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1931
|1989
|[[Durham Light Infantry]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1930
|1990
|''None''
| [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]]
|''Cancelled due to nationwide [[Satyagraha|Satyagraha movement]].''<ref>{{Cite web|title=History by Decade|url=https://themohunbaganac.com/history-by-decade/|access-date=2021-02-26|website=Mohun Bagan Athletic Club|language=en-US}}</ref>
|
|-
|-
|1929
|1991
|[[Dalhousie AC|Dalhousie]]
| [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1928
|1992
|[[Dalhousie AC|Dalhousie]]
| [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1927
|1993
|[[North Staffordshire Regiment F.C.|North Staffordshire Regiment]]
| [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1926
|1994
|[[North Staffordshire Regiment F.C.|North Staffordshire Regiment]]
| [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1925
|1995
|[[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|Calcutta]]
| rowspan="2" | [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1924
|1996
|[[Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders|Cameron Highlanders]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1923
|1997
|[[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|Calcutta]]
| [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1922
|1998
|[[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|Calcutta]]
| rowspan="3" | [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1921
|1999
|[[Dalhousie AC|Dalhousie]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1920
|2000
|[[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|Calcutta]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1919
|2001
|[[Special Service Battalion|12th Special Service Battalion]]  
| [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1918
|2002
|[[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|Calcutta]]
| rowspan="3" | [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1917
|2003
|[[Royal Lincolnshire Regiment]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1916
|2004
|[[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|Calcutta]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1915
|2005
|[[Middlesex Regiment|10th Middlesex Regiment]]  
| [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1914
|2006
|[[91st (Argyllshire Highlanders) Regiment of Foot|91st Highlanders]]
| [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1913
|2007
|[[Black Watch]]  
| rowspan="3" | [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1912
|2008
|[[Black Watch]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1911
|2009
|[[Royal Garrison Artillery|70th Company RGA]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1910
|2010
|[[Dalhousie AC|Dalhousie]]
| rowspan="8" | [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1909
|2011
|Gordon Light Infantry
|
|
|-
|-
|1908
|2012
|Gordon Light Infantry
|
|
|-
|-
|1907
|2013
|[[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|Calcutta]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1906
|[[2014 CFL Premier Division|2014]]
|[[Highland Light Infantry|Highlander Light Infantry]]  
|
|
|-
|-
|1905
|2015
|[[King's Regiment]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1904
|[[2016 CFL Premier Division|2016]]
|[[King's Regiment]]  
|''[[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]] had won every match in the tournament.''
|-
|[[2017 CFL Premier Division|2017]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1903
|[[2018 CFL Premier Division|2018]]
|[[93rd (Sutherland Highlanders) Regiment of Foot|93rd Highlanders]]  
| [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1902
|[[2019 CFL Premier Division|2019]]
|[[King's Own Scottish Borderers F.C.|King's Own Scottish Borderers]]
|[[Peerless SC|Peerless]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1901
|2020
|[[Royal Ulster Rifles|Royal Irish Rifles]]  
|''None''
|''Cancelled due to [[COVID-19 pandemic in India]].''
|-
|[[2021 CFL Premier Division|2021]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1900
|[[2022 CFL Premier Division|2022]]
|[[Royal Ulster Rifles|Royal Irish Rifles]]  
|
|
|-
|-
|1899
|[[2023 CFL Premier Division|2023]]
|[[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|Calcutta]]
|
|
|-
|-
|1898
|[[2024–25 CFL Premier Division|2024/25]]
|[[Gloucestershire Regiment]]
|rowspan=2|[[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=East Bengal set to be champions after DHFC no show|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/e-ast-bengal-set-to-be-cfl-champions-after-dhfc-no-show/articleshow/118222553.cms|website=[[The Times of India]]|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[2025 CFL Premier Division|2025]]
|
|
|-
|-
! colspan="3" align="left"|'''Source: [https://ifawb.org/cfl-winners/ IFA (W.B.)]'''
! colspan="3" align="left"|'''Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20210128054127/https://ifawb.org/cfl-winners/ IFA (WB)]'''
|}
 
===By team===
The list only contains the names of the teams that have won the top-most division of the Calcutta Football League more than once.<ref name=ifalist />
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="740px"
|-
! width=200px| Club
! width=40px| Titles
! width=500px| Winning years
|-
|[[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]|| align="center" | 41 || 1942, 1945, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1961, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, [[2014 CFL Premier Division|2014]], 2015, [[2016 CFL Premier Division|2016]], [[2017 CFL Premier Division|2017]], [[2024–25 CFL Premier Division|2024/25]], [[2025 CFL Premier Division|2025]]
|-
| [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]] || align="center" | 30 || 1939, 1943, 1944, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, [[2018 CFL Premier Division|2018]]
|-
| [[Mohammedan SC (Kolkata)|Mohammedan]] || align=center| 14 || 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1948, 1957, 1967, 1981, [[2021 CFL Premier Division|2021]], [[2022 CFL Premier Division|2022]], [[2023 CFL Premier Division|2023]]
|-
| [[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|Calcutta FC]] || align=center| 8 || 1899, 1907, 1916, 1918, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1925
|-
| [[Dalhousie AC|Dalhousie]] || align=center| 4 || 1910, 1921, 1928, 1929
|-
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Durham Light Infantry]] || align=center| 3 || 1931, 1932, 1933
|-
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Black Watch]] || rowspan="5" align="center" | 2 || 1912, 1913
|-
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Gordon Light Infantry|| 1908, 1909
|-
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)|King's Own Regiment]] || 1904, 1905
|-
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[North Staffordshire Regiment]] || 1926, 1927
|-
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Royal Irish Rifles]] || 1900, 1901
|-
|[[Peerless SC|Peerless]]
| align=center| 1 || 2019
|-
|}
|}


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Kerala Premier League]]
* [[Bengal Super League]]
*[[Mizoram Premier League]]
* [[Premier League Soccer (India)|Premier League Soccer]]
*[[Goa Professional League]]
* [[Football in West Bengal]]
*[[Bangalore Super Division]]
* [[Football in Kolkata]]
*[[DSA Senior Division]]


==References==
==References==
'''Cited sources'''
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
'''Further reading'''
* {{cite web|url=https://ifawb.org/cfl-winners/|title=The Calcutta Football League (CFL) — Winners of each season|date=2021|access-date=31 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128054127/https://ifawb.org/cfl-winners/|archive-date=28 January 2021|website=ifawb.org|publisher=Indian Football Association|location=Kolkata|url-status=dead}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://www.ifawb.org IFA (W.B.)]
*{{Official website|https://www.ifawb.org}} of the [[Indian Football Association]] (IFA)
*{{cite web|url=https://ifawb.org/clubs/|title=IFAWB Clubs|website=ifawb.org|publisher=[[Indian Football Association]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009123425/https://ifawb.org/clubs/|archive-date=9 October 2022}}


{{Football in Kolkata}}
{{Calcutta Football League}}
{{Football in West Bengal}}
{{Football in India}}
{{Football in India}}
{{Sports leagues of India}}
{{Sports leagues of India}}
{{Kolkata topics}}
{{Kolkata topics}}


[[Category:Calcutta Football League| ]]
[[Category:Calcutta Football League]]
[[Category:Calcutta Premier Division| ]]
[[Category:Regional football leagues in India]]
[[Category:Football competitions in West Bengal]]
[[Category:1898 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1898]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1898]]
[[Category:Football leagues in India|4]]

Latest revision as of 22:33, 22 March 2026


For Women's football league, see Kanyashree Cup.
Calcutta Football League
ক্যালকাটা ফুটবল লিগ
Organising bodyIndian Football Association (West Bengal)
Founded1898; 128 years ago (1898)
First season1898
CountryIndia
ConfederationAFC
Divisions7
Number of teams26 (Premier Division)
160+ (overall)
Level on pyramid5–10
Promotion toVarious
Relegation toVarious
Domestic cup(s)IFA Shield
League cup(s)Trades Cup
Current championsEast Bengal
(41st title)
(2025)
Most championshipsEast Bengal
(41 titles, Premier Division)[1]
TV partnersZee 24 Ghanta
SSEN (digital)
Current: 2025 CFL Premier Division

The Calcutta Football League (CFL) is a ladder-based football competition in the Indian state of West Bengal, organised by the Indian Football Association (WB) as part of the state leagues. It is the oldest football league in Asia.[2][3]

The CFL is divided into CFL Premier Division, CFL 1st Division, CFL 2nd Division, CFL 3rd Division, CFL 4th Division, CFL 5th Division A, and CFL 5th Division B with promotion and relegation between them.[4][5] CFL has more than 160 mostly Kolkata-based clubs and units. Started in 1898, this league is the oldest football league in Asia and one of the oldest football competitions in the world.[6][7] CFL currently consists of a seven-tier pyramid system,[6] with more than 8,500 directly registered players of IFA participating in CFL every year, making it one of the biggest leagues in the country.

History[edit | edit source]

Early years (1890s–1910s)[edit | edit source]

In 1898, IFA introduced a two-tiered football league in Calcutta on the lines of English Football League in England and Wales.[5] Until 1937, CFL was a major tournament with participation open to every team across the nation but after the establishment of AIFF, CFL became a regional competition.

The British Indian Army garrison stationed at Fort William played an instrumental role in shaping the Calcutta Football League by putting forth numerous teams alongside other European settlers.[8] The Army teams won all but twelve of the titles until 1933. On eight of those twelve occasions the title was claimed by Calcutta and the rest by Dalhousie. Native teams were barred from participating for the first 15 seasons, and only clubs designated for civil servants, merchants, missionaries and other European nationalities made up the rest of the league, in a clearly designed exercise to exclude Indians of any religion.[9]

In 1914, IFA permitted only two native clubs, Mohun Bagan and Aryan, in the Second Division of CFL. Mohun Bagan had a successful campaign and earned promotion to the Premier Division in their debut season, whereas Aryan was promoted to the top division two years later. From 1917 to 1920, the Second Division was won by two other native clubs, namely Kumortuli Club (in 1917, 1918 and 1919) and Town Club (in 1920), but their promotions were denied due to the allowance of only two native clubs to play in each tier.[10][11]

Uprise of native dominance (1920s–1947)[edit | edit source]

1921 saw the rise of East Bengal who began their CFL journey in the Second Division in place of Tajhat Club who had withdrawn from the league. Three years later East Bengal finished the Second Division as the joint-winners with Cameroons B and since Cameroons A was in the Premier Division, East Bengal got the opportunity for promotion. As two native clubs were already playing in the Premier Division, East Bengal's promotion was to be rejected as well. At this, the club called for amendments and in the following General Meeting of IFA, the nine British teams conveyed their approval, while Mohun Bagan and Aryan opposed it. Eventually the rule regulating the promotion of native clubs was abolished by majority.[11]

Mohammedan SC, the first native Indian team to win the league.[4]

Even though the native clubs got more opportunities yet the British dominance continued till 1933. In 1934, Mohammedan won the title in their debut season and became the first native club to win CFL.[12][13] The club went on to win the league six out of seven times from 1935 to 1941, with 1939 being the only exception when they did not participate and Mohun Bagan went away with their first league title that year.[10][14]

Post-independence era (1947–1970s)[edit | edit source]

Nikhil Nandy (L) tackling Muhammad Umer during a 1956 Calcutta League match between Mohammedan & Eastern Railway

In the post-independence years, many other state leagues were introduced and various clubs from other states rose in glory, but CFL was still considered to be one of the top leagues in the nation and provided innumerable young talents. The league matches were mostly played in monsoon and matches involving the Big Three of Calcutta (Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan) regularly attracted more than 30,000 spectators.[10] From 1934 to 1981, Eastern Railway was the only club outside of the Big Three to win the title in 1958.[15][16]

The CFL had a long history of crowd trouble, and the burgeoning fanfare exacerbated it. The rapidly increasing off-the-field rivalry between the respective fans of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal saw one of the darkest days of Indian football when 16 fans lost their lives because of a stampede and rioting during a Kolkata Derby in CFL on 16 August 1980 in Eden Gardens. Since then the day is celebrated every year as the Football Lover's Day.[17][10]

Years of obscurity (1980s–2000s)[edit | edit source]

In the 80s and 90s, the league caught many eyes with the rivalry between the two of Indian football's finest tacticians— P.K. Banerjee and Amal Dutta, besides the decades old rivalry among the Big Three.[18][10]

Due to the rise in financial demands and steady modernisation of the sport, the league became dominated by the Big Three clubs as the smaller clubs struggled to keep up with their economy. The league saw the beginning of a major downfall with the introduction of NFL (now I-League). The importance of regional competitions decreased as all the top clubs in the state were racing for the national honours. From the later 20th century, Mohammedan eventually lost its stronghold and, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal became the only dominant teams in the league. In the new century, the IFA revamped the competition into a six-tier competition with the seventh tier, called the nursery league, reserved for sub-junior teams. The top tier, Premier Division, was also divided into two groups so as to include more teams.

Resurgence (2010s–present)[edit | edit source]

Starting in 2010, East Bengal won a record eight consecutive titles until their arch-rivals Mohun Bagan broke the streak in 2018. In 2018, the league's popularity had a sudden upsurge and recorded more than 15,000 spectators even in matches involving small clubs. Most news reports in the local media reverberated the popular feeling— "The passion of the 70s is back." Small clubs like Peerless and George Telegraph introduced some of the foreign talents that later went on to become big names in the country.[10]

In 2019, Peerless clinched the honour and became the second team outside the Big Three after Eastern Railway to win the league since 1958.[19] Since the independence of India, the CFL was never cancelled until 2020 when after a lengthy delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic it was decided to cancel the then CFL season.[20]

Structure[edit | edit source]

With the season starting from 2023, the clubs/units were redistributed among the first six divisions and the last division was reserved only for youth teams.[6]

Calcutta Football League
Tier Division
1
(5 on Indian Football pyramid) 		CFL Premier Division

↑qualify 2 (I-League 3) ↓relegate 2

2
(6 on Indian Football pyramid) 		CFL 1st Division

↑promote 2 ↓relegate 2

3
(7 on Indian Football pyramid) 		CFL 2nd Division

↑promote 2 ↓relegate 2

4
(8 on Indian Football pyramid) 		CFL 3rd Division

↑promote 2 ↓relegate 2

5
(9 on Indian Football pyramid) 		CFL 4th Division

↑promote 2 ↓relegate 2

6
(10 on Indian Football pyramid) 		CFL 5th Division Group A

↑promote 2 ↓relegate 2

7
(11 on Indian Football pyramid) 		CFL 5th Division Group B

↑promote 2

Starting from 2023, 26 teams participate in the Premier Division, divided into two groups at the same pyramid level and compete in a single-leg round robin tournament.[21] The top three teams in each 13-team group will compete in a single-leg round robin tournament and the group leaders will be declared the champions. The top two teams, not already in the ISL or I-League are promoted to the I-League 3. The bottom three teams in each 13-team group also compete in a separate single-leg round robin tournament and the bottom four teams are relegated to the First Division.

Apart from the Premier Division A, most other divisions are competed by about 20 teams, and the format of the tournaments in the lower divisions isn't always the same. The top teams in respective divisions are promoted to the division higher to it and the bottom teams get relegated to the lower one.

The most successful clubs participating in the top-tier of the league includes East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan. However, since 1982, the league has been won by either East Bengal or Mohun Bagan until 2019 when Peerless made history by winning their maiden league title and becoming the first team outside the Kolkata's Big Three to win the league after a gap of 61 years since Eastern Railway had won.[22]

CFL Premier Division[edit | edit source]

CFL Premier Division
সিএফএল প্রিমিয়ার ডিভিশন
Organising bodiesIndian Football Association
CountryIndia
Number of teams26
Level on pyramid5
Promotion toI-League 3
Relegation toCFL 1st Division
Current championsEast Bengal (41st title)
Current: 2025 CFL Premier Division

CFL Premier Division is the top-tier state level football league in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Season Champions
N/A See below for details

CFL 1st Division[edit | edit source]

CFL 1st Division
সিএফএল ১ম বিভাগ
Organising bodiesIndian Football Association
CountryIndia
Number of teams26
Level on pyramid6
Promotion toCFL Premier Division
Relegation toCFL 2nd Division
Current championsCoal India WB
(2025)

CFL 1st Division is the 2nd tier state level football league in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Format (2024–25): Twenty-six teams are divided into two groups in the first phase, where each plays twelve matches in round robin format. Top three teams from the two groups shall proceed to the championship round, where each play five more matches to determine the champion. The bottom two teams from both groups play the relegation round. Top two teams of Championship round are promoted into "CFL Premier Division", and last two teams of relegation round are relegated into "CFL 2nd Division".

Season Champions Ref.
2019 Police AC [23]
2022 Army Red [24]
2023 New Alipore Suruchi Sangha [25]
2024 United Kolkata SC [26]
2025 Coal India WB

CFL 2nd Division[edit | edit source]

CFL 2nd Division
সিএফএল ২য় বিভাগ
Organising bodiesIndian Football Association
CountryIndia
Number of teams16
Level on pyramid7
Promotion toCFL 1st Division
Relegation toCFL 3rd Division
Current championsAdamas United Sports Academy
(2023)

CFL 2nd Division is the 3rd tier state level football league in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Format (2024–25): Sixteen teams are playing single round robin league format. Top two teams are promoted into CFL 1st Division, and last two are relegated into CFL 3rd Division.

Season Champions Ref.
2023 Adamas United Sports Academy [25]

CFL 3rd Division[edit | edit source]

CFL 3rd Division
সিএফএল ৩য় বিভাগ
Organising bodiesIndian Football Association
CountryIndia
Level on pyramid8
Promotion toCFL 2nd Division
Relegation toCFL 4th Division
Current championsSouthern Athletic Club
(2023)

CFL 3rd Division is the 4th tier state level football league in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Season Champions Ref.
2023 Southern Athletic Club [25]

CFL 4th Division[edit | edit source]

CFL 4th Division
সিএফএল ৪র্থ বিভাগ
Organising bodiesIndian Football Association
CountryIndia
Level on pyramid9
Promotion toCFL 3rd Division
Relegation toCFL 5th Division Group A
Current championsShyambazar United Club
(2023)

CFL 4th Division is the 5th tier state level football league in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Season Champions Ref.
2023 Shyambazar United Club [25]

CFL 5th Division Group A[edit | edit source]

CFL 5th Division Group A
সিএফএল ৫ম বিভাগ গ্রুপ এ
Organising bodiesIndian Football Association
CountryIndia
Number of teams35
Level on pyramid10
Promotion toCFL 4th Division
Relegation toCFL 5th Division Group B
Current championsAriadaha Sporting Club
(2023)

CFL 5th Division Group A is the 6th tier state level football league in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Format (2024–25): Thirty five teams are divided into four groups. Eight teams are promoted to CFL 4th Division and six teams are relegated to CFL 5th Division Group B.

Season Champions Ref.
2023 Ariadaha Sporting Club [25]

CFL 5th Division Group B[edit | edit source]

CFL 5th Division Group B
সিএফএল ৫ম বিভাগ গ্রুপ বি
Organising bodiesIndian Football Association
CountryIndia
Number of teams18
Level on pyramid11
Promotion toCFL 5th Division Group A
Current championsBeleghata Balak Brindo
(2023)

CFL 5th Division Group B is the 7th tier state level football league in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Format (2024–25): Eighteen teams are divided in two groups of nine, with each team playing other in the group once. Top three teams of two groups proceed to the Super Six round. Top four teams are promoted in CFL 5th Division Group A.

Season Champions Ref.
2023 Beleghata Balak Brindo [25]

Sponsorship[edit | edit source]

Period Sponsor Tournament name
1898–2004 None Calcutta Football League
2005–2014 Sahara India Sahara Calcutta Premier League
2015–2020 Officer's Choice Blue Officer's Choice Blue Calcutta Premier League[27]
2021–2023 Sister Nivedita University SNU Calcutta Football League[28]
2024–present Shrachi Group Calcutta Football League [29]

Media coverage[edit | edit source]

Period Broadcaster
1898–2004 N/A
2005 Tara Newz
2006 Kolkata TV
2007 Zee 24 Ghanta
2008 ABP Ananda
2009–2011 News Time
2012 Zee 24 Ghanta
2013–2015 Jalsha Movies
2016 News18 Bangla
2017 Kolkata TV
2018–2021 Sadhna News
2022–2023 InSports TV (streaming)[30]
2024 Zee 24 Ghanta
2024– SSEN (streaming)

Champions of the top-most division[edit | edit source]

By year[edit | edit source]

Pre-independence era (1898–1947)[edit | edit source]

Year Winner Note
1898 United Kingdom Gloucestershire Regiment
1899 British Raj Calcutta FC
1900 United Kingdom Royal Irish Rifles
1901
1902 United Kingdom King's Own Scottish Borderers
1903 United Kingdom Sutherland Highlanders
1904 United Kingdom King's Own Regiment
1905
1906 United Kingdom Highlander Light Infantry
1907 British Raj Calcutta FC
1908 United Kingdom Gordon Light Infantry
1909
1910 British Raj Dalhousie
1911 United Kingdom 70th Company Royal Garrison Artillery
1912 United Kingdom Black Watch
1913
1914 United Kingdom Argyllshire Highlanders
1915 United Kingdom 10th Middlesex Regiment
1916 British Raj Calcutta FC
1917 United Kingdom Royal Lincolnshire Regiment
1918 British Raj Calcutta FC
1919 United Kingdom 12th Special Service Battalion
1920 British Raj Calcutta FC
1921 British Raj Dalhousie
1922 British Raj Calcutta FC
1923
1924 United Kingdom Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
1925 British Raj Calcutta FC
1926 United Kingdom North Staffordshire Regiment
1927
1928 British Raj Dalhousie
1929
1930 None Cancelled due to nationwide Satyagraha movement.[31]
1931 United Kingdom Durham Light Infantry
1932
1933
1934 British Raj Mohammedan First all-Indian club to win the league.[14]
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939 British Raj Mohun Bagan
1940 British Raj Mohammedan
1941
1942 British Raj East Bengal
1943 British Raj Mohun Bagan
1944
1945 British Raj East Bengal
1946
1947 None Cancelled due to Indian independence movement.
Source: IFA (WB)

Post-independence era (1947–present)[edit | edit source]

Year Winner Note
1948 Mohammedan
1949 East Bengal
1950
1951 Mohun Bagan
1952 East Bengal
1953 None Abandoned midway due to riots in Calcutta.[32]
1954 Mohun Bagan
1955
1956
1957 Mohammedan
1958 Eastern Railway [33]
1959 Mohun Bagan
1960
1961 East Bengal
1962 Mohun Bagan
1963
1964
1965
1966 East Bengal
1967 Mohammedan
1968 None Mohun Bagan had won the league but due to an injunction from the Calcutta High Court, the league was declared null and void.[34]
1969 Mohun Bagan
1970 East Bengal
1971
1972 East Bengal didn't concede a goal in the tournament.[35]
1973
1974
1975
1976 Mohun Bagan
1977 East Bengal East Bengal had won every match in the tournament.[36]
1978 Mohun Bagan
1979
1980 None Called off due to stampede and riot in Eden Gardens on August 16.[17]
1981 Mohammedan
1982 East Bengal
1983 Mohun Bagan
1984 [37]
1985 East Bengal [38]
1986 Mohun Bagan
1987 East Bengal
1988
1989
1990 Mohun Bagan
1991 East Bengal
1992 Mohun Bagan
1993 East Bengal
1994 Mohun Bagan
1995 East Bengal
1996
1997 Mohun Bagan
1998 East Bengal
1999
2000
2001 Mohun Bagan
2002 East Bengal
2003
2004
2005 Mohun Bagan
2006 East Bengal
2007 Mohun Bagan
2008
2009
2010 East Bengal
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016 East Bengal had won every match in the tournament.
2017
2018 Mohun Bagan
2019 Peerless
2020 None Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in India.
2021 Mohammedan
2022
2023
2024/25 East Bengal [39]
2025
Source: IFA (WB)

By team[edit | edit source]

The list only contains the names of the teams that have won the top-most division of the Calcutta Football League more than once.[12]

Club Titles Winning years
East Bengal 41 1942, 1945, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1961, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2024/25, 2025
Mohun Bagan 30 1939, 1943, 1944, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2018
Mohammedan 14 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1948, 1957, 1967, 1981, 2021, 2022, 2023
Calcutta FC 8 1899, 1907, 1916, 1918, 1920, 1922, 1923, 1925
Dalhousie 4 1910, 1921, 1928, 1929
United Kingdom Durham Light Infantry 3 1931, 1932, 1933
United Kingdom Black Watch 2 1912, 1913
United Kingdom Gordon Light Infantry 1908, 1909
United Kingdom King's Own Regiment 1904, 1905
United Kingdom North Staffordshire Regiment 1926, 1927
United Kingdom Royal Irish Rifles 1900, 1901
Peerless 1 2019

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

Cited sources

  1. ↑ Mukhopadhyay, Shoubhik (10 September 2015). "East Bengal & Calcutta Football League: A Sublime Romantic Saga - Hero I-League". i-league.org. I-League. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  2. ↑ "FOOTBALL IN BENGAL". www.ifawb.com. The Indian Football Association (West Bengal). Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  3. ↑ Nag, Utathya (19 April 2023). "Calcutta Football League: East Bengal kings of Asia's oldest league competition — full winners list". olympics.com. The Olympics Football. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "ব্রিটিশকে হারিয়ে ডুরান্ড জয়ী, পাকিস্তানকেও গোল দিয়ে চিরকালীন নজির মহামেডানের". ekolkata24.com (in Bengali). 1 September 2021. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chakraborty, Debojyoti (29 August 2017). "WHEN EASTERN RAILWAY RAN ON FULL STEAM (1958)". www.goaldentimes.org. Goalden Times. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Calcutta Football League". IFA. Archived from the original on 15 February 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  7. ↑ Majumdar, Rounak (22 April 2019). "The Golden Years of Indian Football". www.chaseyoursport.com. Kolkata: Chase Your Sport. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  8. ↑ Pillai, Manu S (8 June 2018). "How football kicked off in India | As with the English language, when the British transported the sport to India, they didn't expect the 'natives' to beat them at it". lifestyle.livemint.com. Delhi, India: Livemint Delhi. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  9. ↑ Andrew Flint (11 November 2015). "A Tale of One City: Kolkata". These Football Times. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Mitra, Atanu (8 November 2017). "How Asia's oldest football league made its mark". www.redbull.com. RedBull. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Kingfisher East Bengal FC|Legacy-History". 18 August 2012. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "List of Calcutta Football League Champions". IFA. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  13. ↑ Bhattacharya, Nilesh (22 August 2023). "Mad about football". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Kolkata: The Times of India. TNN. Archived from the original on 23 August 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Indian football: The tale of the unbeatable Mohammedan Sporting side of 1930s | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  15. ↑ Karmakar, Rajat (21 December 2013). "ইস্টার্ন রেলওয়ে ফুটবল ক্লাব — ১৪১ বছরের পুরনো একটি ক্লাবের ইতিহাস ও ঐতিহ্য" [Eastern Railway Football Club — History and heritage of a 141-year-old club]. archives.anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Kolkata: Anandabazar Patrika. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  16. ↑ Chattopadhyay, Hariprasad (13 September 2019). "আটান্নর মতো কড়া লড়াই দেখা যাচ্ছে এই লিগেও" [A tough fight like 1958 is also being witnessed in this season's league]. abandabazar.com (in Bengali). Kolkata: Anandabazar Patrika. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "When a derby turned deadly in Eden Gardens in 1980". The Indian Express. 16 August 2020. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  18. ↑ Sengupta, Somnath (4 July 2011). "Tactical Evolution of Indian Football (Part Three) : PK Banerjee -..." Thehardtackle.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  19. ↑ Sharma, Amitabha Das (3 October 2019). "Peerless wins Calcutta Football League title as East Bengal presents a 'no-show'". Sportstar. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  20. ↑ "No Calcutta Football League This Season, Decide Premier Division Clubs". Indian Football Association (West Bengal). 25 February 2021. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  21. ↑ "Calcutta Football League (CFL) goes bigger than ever for its historic 125th season". thefangarage.com. Kolkata: The Fan Garage. 5 June 2023. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  22. ↑ "ifawb.com". www.ifawb.com. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  23. ↑ "IFA CFL Lower Division 2019". kolkatafootball.com. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  24. ↑ "IFA CFL Lower Division 2022". kolkatafootball.com. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 "IFA CFL Lower Division 2023". kolkatafootball.com. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  26. ↑ "অভিজ্ঞতাই হাতিয়ার ইউনাইটেড কলকাতার" (in Bengali). bartamanpatrika.com. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  27. ↑ "CALCUTTA FOOTBALL LEAGUE – OFFICER'S CHOICE BLUE TO BE THE TITLE SPONSOR". Football News India. Kolkata. 4 August 2015. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  28. ↑ "No clarity on Kolkata derby as Asia's oldest league starts on Tuesday". Hindustan Times. 16 August 2021. Archived from the original on 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  29. ↑ SEN, DEBASIS (18 May 2024). "Indian Football Association and Shrachi Sports enter into three-year partnership to revive Bengal Football". Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  30. ↑ "Tournaments". Archived from the original on 30 October 2023.
  31. ↑ "History by Decade". Mohun Bagan Athletic Club. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  32. ↑ "Fare Hike and Urban Protest". Economic and Political Weekly: 7–8. 5 June 2015. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  33. ↑ Karmakar, Rajat (21 December 2013). "ইস্টার্ন রেলওয়ে ফুটবল ক্লাব — ১৪১ বছরের পুরনো একটি ক্লাবের ইতিহাস ও ঐতিহ্য" [Eastern Railway Football Club — History and heritage of a 141-year-old club]. archives.anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Kolkata: Anandabazar Patrika. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  34. ↑ "Indian football: Instances when the Kolkata derby got abandoned | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  35. ↑ Atsushi Fujioka, Arunava Chaudhuri (1996). "India — List of Calcutta/Kolkata League Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2 August 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  36. ↑ www.KolkataFootball.Com. "indian football news latest|kolkatafootball.com news|live news indian football tournaments|indian football live". www.kolkatafootball.com. Archived from the original on 13 November 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  37. ↑ Stokkermans, Karel (5 March 2015). "India 1984 – List of Champions: Calcutta League". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022.
  38. ↑ King, Ian; Morrison, Neil; Veroeveren, Piet; Cruickshank, Mark (30 May 2013). "India 1985 – Regional Leagues: Calcutta League". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022.
  39. ↑ "East Bengal set to be champions after DHFC no show". The Times of India.

Further reading

External links[edit | edit source]

Template:Football in West Bengal

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Calcutta_Football_League&oldid=457993"
Discover more