Indian Bank Recreational Club

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Indian Bank RC
Full nameIndian Bank Recreational Club
Nickname(s)The Bankers
Founded1990; 36 years ago (1990)[1]
GroundJawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai
Capacity40,000
Chief CoachSyed Sabir Pasha
LeagueCFA Senior Division

Indian Bank Recreational Club, also known as FC Indian Bank, is an Indian professional football club based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.[2] The club formerly participated in the National Football League,[3][4][5][6][7] and the I-League Second Division, alongside the CFA Senior Division Football League under license from Tamil Nadu Football Association (TNFA).

The club was managed by former India international, Syed Sabir Pasha, who also captained the team since their inception.[8][9][10] Indian Bank also participated in the National Football League II,National Football League II.[11] and National Football League III.[12]

History

Formation and early years

Founded in 1907 as an Indian state-owned financial services company, Indian Bank established as a premier bank in the state of Tamil Nadu, and considering the popularity and passion towards the game of football at the region, Indian Bank decided to launch a team of its own and register it with Tamil Nadu Football Association (TNFA).[13] Thus the club was founded on the name Indian Bank Sporta and Recreational Club in 1990.

In 1996, Indian Bank participated in the Scissors Cup, held in Kerala and reached to the final. They finished as runners-up as Dempo SC clinched title defeating them 1–0.[14]

Since then, Indian bank began participating in TNFA and CFA conducted tournaments like Vittal Trophy,[15] Chennai Universal Cup,[16] and TFA Shield.[17]

NFL journey

The club began their journey in the National Football League (India) in 1996, which was the inaugural season. Jayantilal Jain, the president of Indian Bank Recreational Club, made a compact team for 1996–97 NFL season. The team registered a 4–1 win against Mahindra United FC, which becomes the biggest away win in that season. The club later relegated from the NFL in 1999 after finishing at the bottom of the Group-B.[18]

The club also competed in the I-League 2. Division for a long time and in 2001–02, they declared as the joint-champions. In the 2003–04 NFL season, the club again relegated.[19]

Later years

Winning trophies

In 1998, Indian Bank clinched their first knock-out title Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup, defeating Delhi Blues XI 2–1.[20]

In February 2000, they again emerged victorious in Tirur All-India Football Tournament in Kerala, beating Vasco SC 5–4.[21]

In January 2008, Indian Bank beat Reserve Bank of India 1–0 to win the Fr.Gerard Rolling Football Trophy.[22] It was held at DBYC grounds, Basin Bridge, Chennai.

Regional leagues

TNFA and CFA titles

Indian Bank began participating in regional league tournaments in Tamil Nadu since its inception. In the Chennai Super League, they clinched title twice in 1997, 1998.[23] In 2005 season, they achieved third place.[24] In Tamil Nadu State League knock-out tournaments, Indian Bank won titles thrice in 2004, 2005–06 and 2007 season.[25][26][27]

In 2016, Chennai City FC became the second club from Tamil Nadu to play in the top division I-League after Indian Bank Recreational Club's entry in the National Football League.[28][29]

In 2018, the club emerged as the champions of the CFA Senior Division league.[30]

Rivalries

In CFA Senior Division, the club has a rivalry with Chennai City FC. The club has also a rivalry with local sides like Integral Coach Factory (ICF FC), Chennai Customs SC and Hindustan Eagles.[31][32][33]

Stadium

Main article: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Chennai)
The Marina Arena, former home ground of Indian Bank Recreational Club

Indian Bank used Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai as their home ground since 1996,[34][35] which has a capacity of 40,000 spectators.[36] They also played some state-league matches at the Nehru Stadium of Coimbatore.

Ownership

Main article: Indian Bank

Past internationals

  • The players below had senior international cap(s) for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed, represented their countries before or after playing for Indian Bank RC.[37]
  • Sri Lanka Kasun Jayasuriya (2001–2002)[38][39]
  • Sri Lanka Kamaldeen Fuard (2000–2001)[40]
  • Sri Lanka Anton Silva (1998–1999)[41]
  • Nigeria Stanley Festus (2000–2002)[42]

Honours

National

Others

  • Fr.Gerard Rolling Football Trophy
    • Winners (1): 2008[22]
  • Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup
    • Winners (1): 1998[20]
  • Tirur All-India Football Tournament
    • Champions (1): 2000[21]
  • Scissors Cup

See also

References

  1. ↑ India - List of Foundation Dates RSSSF. Retrieved 17 August 2021
  2. ↑ "A look back into the dysfunctional clubs in the past decade of Indian football". The Bridge. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  3. ↑ "Indian Bank Recreational Club (India)". Betexplorer. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  4. ↑ "Season ending transfers 2003". Indianfootball.de. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  5. ↑ "India File -- Starry opening to National Soccer League". The Indian Express. 14 December 1996. Archived from the original on 22 April 1997. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  6. ↑ Menon, Ravi (17 March 1997). "JCT wins inaugural Philips NFL title". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 20 April 1997. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  7. ↑ Bose, Saibal (17 December 1996). "National League all set for kick-off". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 22 April 1997. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  8. ↑ "CFA League: Pravitto brace gives Indian Bank title". Times of India. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  9. ↑ "Syed Sabir Pasha gets 'A' licence". The Hindu. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  10. ↑ "Sabir Pasha calls it quits". The Hindu. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  11. ↑ Indian Bank qualify for the first division m.Rediff.com. Retrieved 10 September 2021
  12. ↑ "NFL Division Three". RSSSF.
  13. ↑ "AGORC strengthen squad". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  14. ↑ Scissors Cup archive demposportsclub.com. Retrieved 15 August 2021
  15. ↑ Venkatesan, S. Prasanna (May 2018). "The lost glory of Chennai's football league". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  16. ↑ K., Keerthivasan (April 2016). "Champions Trophy to be back in Chennai". The Hindu.
  17. ↑ Keeda, Sports. "Football in Chennai - On a slippery surface".
  18. ↑ "India 1998/99". rsssf.com. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  19. ↑ "From the History Book". All India Football Federation. the-aiff.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Cup: indianfootball.de. Retrieved 15 August 2021
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Tirur All-India Football Tournament: Kerala indianfootball.de. Retrieved 16 August 2021
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Don Bosco – Fr.Gerard Football Tournament 2008, Basin Bridge, Chennai". donboscoindia.com. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 India regional tournaments 1997/98 Rsssf. Retrieved 16 August 2021
  24. ↑ "India 2005 Regional Championships". rsssf.com. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  25. ↑ 4th Tamil Nadu State Ranking Tournament 2004 indianfootball.de. Retrieved 16 August 2021
  26. ↑ 5th Tamil Nadu State Ranking Tournament 2005/06 indianfootball.de. Retrieved 16 August 2021
  27. ↑ 6th Tamil Nadu State Ranking Tournament 2007 indianfootball.de. Retrieved 16 August 2021
  28. ↑ "I-League Update: Chennai City FC and Minerva Punjab FC to play in the coming season". 11 December 2016.
  29. ↑ "We are not expecting freebies from Minerva, says Chennai City owner Rohit Ramesh". The Times of India. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  30. ↑ "Indian Bank emerges victorious in CFA league". dtnext.in. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  31. ↑ "All you need to know about the league structure in Tamil Nadu". goal.com. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  32. ↑ "Indian Bank routs ICF". allsport.in. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  33. ↑ "Indian State Leagues and Tournaments Thread". Indianfootballnetwork.com. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  34. ↑ "Salgaocar finish second". Rediff.com. Press Trust of India. 28 April 2003. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  35. ↑ "Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai". SDAT, Government of Tamil Nadu. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  36. ↑ "indianfootball.com editor column: NOVEMBER 2003". Indianfootball.de. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  37. ↑ Indian Bank Recreational Club Kolkata players (A to Z) Worldfootball.net. Retrieved 26 March 2021
  38. ↑ Season Ending Transfers In Indian Football: 2001 indianfootball.de. Retrieved 29 July 2021
  39. ↑ Jayasuriya scores thrice in Indian Bank win m.Rediff.com. Retrieved 10 September 2021
  40. ↑ Kamaldeen Fuard of Indian Bank Recreational Club The Hindu. Retrieved 12 May 2021
  41. ↑ India 1998/99 at RSSSF.com
  42. ↑ Indian Bank Chennai FC players www.indianfootball.de. Retrieved 12 May 2021
  43. ↑ "India 2001/02". rsssf.com. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  44. ↑ "National Football League Second Division". indianfootball.de.
  45. ↑ "Indian Bank emerges victorious in CFA league". dtnext.in. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  46. ↑ List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Scissors Cup: Kerala indianfootball.de. Retrieved 15 August 2021
  47. ↑ List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Scissors Cup jctfootball.com. Retrieved 15 August 2021

External links

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