Peerless SC

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This article is about the Kolkata based football club. For the business conglomerate in Kolkata, see Peerless Group.
Peerless SC
পিয়ারলেস স্পোর্টস ক্লাব
File:Peerless SC logo.png
Full namePeerless Sports Club
Nickname(s)Peerless
Founded1993; 32 years ago (1993)[1]
GroundSalt Lake Stadium
Barasat Stadium
Capacity85,000
22,000
OwnerBengal Peerless Housing Devpt
ChairmanPatit Paban Ray[2]
ManagerSubrata Bhattacharya
LeagueCalcutta Premier Division A
2019–20Champions

Peerless Sports Club (formerly known as Peerless FC), or simply Peerless, is an Indian professional football club based in Kolkata, West Bengal.[3] Founded in 1993, the club is owned by Peerless Group and currently competes in the Calcutta Premier Division A,[4][5] the top tier state football league of West Bengal.[6][7][8] Peerless is currently the defending champion of the Calcutta Football League and widely regarded as the Giant killer.

The club has refused to take part in the I-League 2nd Division owing to financial matters. After the three Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan AC, SC East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting, Peerless is considered as the strongest side from the city of joy.[9]

History[edit]

Shabbir Ali was the coach of Peerless during their early seasons.

Peerless as a club began their journey from Kolkata Maidan, the home of Kolkata football. The club is founded in 1993 and owned by their parent organization Peerless Group, a business conglomerate in Kolkata.[10]

Earlier in the 90s, the club competed in the Calcutta Premier League second division. Former India international Shabbir Ali was in charge of the club and under his coaching, Peerless promoted itself from the second division to the Kolkata Premier division A.[11][12]

In 2018, the club signed Trinidad and Tobago international Anthony Wolfe ahead of their CFL season.[13] Thus he became the club's first and only footballer who has appeared in the FIFA World Cup.[14][15]

In 2019, Peerless created history after winning the 2019–20 Calcutta Premier Division, defeating their archrivals; three Kolkata giants. The club managed by Jahar Das, emerged as the first small club since 1958 to win the Calcutta Football League.[16]

As defending champion, Peerless began their 2021–22 Calcutta Premier Division journey on 17 August, defeating Kidderpore FC 4–1.[17][18]

Ownership and finances[edit]

Peerless Sports Club (formed in 1993) is currently owned by Peerless Group, its major holding company is Peerless General Finance & Investment Co Ltd, which is India's Registered Residuary Non-banking Company.[19] It has subsidiaries like Peerless Hospital, Bengal Peerless (real estate), Kaizen Holidays and others.

Patit Paban Ray, board member of Bengal Peerless Housing Development Co Ltd, is currently the chairman of Peerless Club.[20]

Stadium[edit]

Main articles: Barasat Stadium and Rabindra Sarobar Stadium
White gate with stone pillars and a tree
Entrance of the Barasat Vidyasagar Krirangan.

Peerless plays most of their home matches of Calcutta Football League Premier Division A at both the Barasat Stadium and Rabindra Sarobar Stadium.[21]

Honours[edit]

Jahar Das was the manager who led the team to Calcutta Football League victory.
Simple cup icon.svg Champions (1): 2019–20[22][23]
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runners-up (1): 2018–19[24]
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Third place (1): 1996–97[25]
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runners-up (2): 1998, 2010[26]

Peerless SC scripted history as they became the only club outside the Big Three (Mohun Bagan AC, East Bengal FC, & Mohammedan Sporting) to win the Championship in 61 years. Eastern Railway Club did the same back in 1958.

Notable former players[edit]

For current and former notable Peerless SC players with a Wikipedia article, see Peerless SC players

Managerial history[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "৬১ বছর পর তিন প্রধান ম্লান". amp.dw.com. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  2. ↑ "ইতিহাসের চ্যাম্পিয়নই লিগে খেলতে দ্বিধায়". eisamay.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  3. ↑ "Top five underdog teams in Calcutta Football League 2019". Khel Now. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  4. ↑ "India - List of Calcutta/Kolkata League Champions". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
  5. ↑ "Md. Sp. held by Peerless". telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  6. ↑ "Peerless wins Calcutta Football League title as East Bengal presents a 'no-show'". sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  7. ↑ "Peerless in Kolkata: How a Small, Hungry Football Club Snatched Bragging Rights From the Big Two". newsclick.in. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  8. ↑ Abhishek Ganguly. "Comfortable win for Mohammedan Sporting in IFA Shield opener". Football News. Times of India. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  9. ↑ "Peerless SC Become 1st Team in 61 Years to win Calcutta Football League Outside 'Big Three'". news18.com. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  10. ↑ "৬১ বছর পর তিন প্রধান ম্লান". amp.dw.com. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  11. ↑ "Indian Football "HALL OF FAME"". indianfootball.de. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  12. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Jahar Das — The man behind Peerless FC's historic Calcutta Football League glory". thebridge.in. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  13. ↑ "Anthony Wolfe (Trinidad and Tobago) club transfers". National Football Teams. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  14. ↑ "Wolfe nets winner". The Telegraph India. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  15. ↑ "Anthony Wolfe's stunning goal hands Peerless full points against Mohammedan Sporting". Xtratime.in. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  16. ↑ "we have proved. Kromah leaded the team from the front :Jahar Das ,Peerless coach". Kolkata Today. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  17. ↑ CFL: Big win for Peerless SC against Kidderpore The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 August 2021
  18. ↑ Peerless begin title defense with win against Kidderpore Sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 18 August 2021
  19. ↑ "Non-finance business to drive growth of Peerless Group". The Hindu. 28 October 2017.
  20. ↑ Patit Paban Ray Board Member, Bengal Peerless Housing Devpt bloomberg.com. Retrieved 17 March 2021
  21. ↑ "Calcutta Football League: Peerless continues to top league standings". sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  22. ↑ "CALCUTTA PREMIER DIVISION A 2019/20". Indianfooty.com. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  23. ↑ "India - List of Calcutta/Kolkata League Champions". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
  24. ↑ "CFL 2018-19". kolkatafootball.com. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  25. ↑ India Regional Championships: CFL 1996/97 RSSSF. Retrieved 17 August 2021
  26. ↑ "List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Airlines Gold Cup:". Indianfootball.de. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  27. ↑ Biswajit Bhattacharya quits after plotting East Bengal's downfall The Times of India. Retrieved 18 August 2021
  28. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Jahar Das — The man behind Peerless FC's historic Calcutta Football League glory". thebridge.in. Retrieved 22 January 2021.

External links[edit]

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