Kolkata people did a Sourav Ganguly a century ago: report

Sun, Aug 01 10 10:51 AM

Kolkata, Aug 1 (PTI) When Sourav Ganguly took off his shirt and waved it at the Lords after winning the Natwest Trophy in 2002, he probably did not know that people of his city had done the same thing a century ago -- to celebrate a historic football victory in 1911. On July 29, 1911, a barefoot bunch of 11 Indians, representing Mohun Bagan, defeated fancied East Yorkshire Regiment team to lay their hands for the first time on the then coveted IFA Shield. An report on that day said, "When it was known that East Yorkshire regiment had been beaten by two goals to one, the scene beggared description, the Bengalees tearing off their shirts and waving them." The report, which was reproduced from an anthology of news articles published by Press Club, Kolkata, says, "The vast majority saw nothing of the game and was informed of the progress by flying kites." There was also no racial overtone. "The European spectators were good humoured and the Bengalees cheered the losing team," said the report. A newspaper, The Mussalman, said: "It was a sense of universal joy, which pervaded the feelings of the Hindus, the Mohammedans and the Christians alike. The members of the Muslim sporting club were almost mad and rolling on the ground with joyous excitement on the victory of their Hindu brethren." .

Source: Published>