United Sports Club (formerly known as both Prayag United and Chirag United)[1][2][3][4] is an Indian professional football club based in Kolkata, West Bengal.[5][6] It was founded as Eveready Association in 1927.[7] Affiliated with the Indian Football Association (IFA),[8] the club competes in Calcutta Premier Division A,[9][10][11] the highest division of Asia's oldest league CFL and also in the I-League 2, the third division of the Indian football league system.
 | ||||
| Full name | United Sports Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Peafowls | |||
| Short name | USC | |||
| Founded | 1927 (as EverReady Association) | |||
| Ground | Kalyani Stadium | |||
| Capacity | 20,000 | |||
| Chairman | Nabab Bhattacharya | |||
| Head coach | Steve Herbots | |||
| League | ||||
United SC soon emerged as one of the most successful teams from the state in 2010s, after Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.[12][13] The club previously participated in I-League,[14] which was then top flight of Indian football league system.[15][16][17][18] The club mostly uses Kalyani Stadium as home ground.[19]
History
1927–2009
United SC was originally established in 1927 as Eveready Association Club.[20] Since then, they participated in fewer editions of the Calcutta Football League. The club has a tradition of bringing up local and unknown talents from various parts of Bengal.[21] In 2003, they lifted their first trophy All Airlines Gold Cup, defeating Mohun Bagan 2–1. In 2004, they emerged victorious in the Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup, defeating ANFA XI 4–2 in penalty-shootout. During the 2005–06 season, they participated in Kalinga Cup in Odisha and reached the final, defeating Bangladeshi side Bada Jagarani Sangsad by 4–2.[22][23] They clinched the title defeating Cuttack SSH 2–0.[24] Eveready Association also reached the final of the 111th edition of IFA Shield but lost 1–5 to Bayern Munich II at the end.[25][26][27]
In 2006, the club was renamed as United Sports Club to attract a title sponsor and the football division owned by United Sport Football Team Private Ltd.[28] Later, veteran manager Amal Dutta was roped in as head coach in place of Belgian Philippe De Ridder.[29] With the inflow of sponsorship, the club clinched promotion to the first division of the I-League in 2007.[30] Previously the club has competed in the National Football League (India) before joining the newly formed I-League.[31] Later in 2009, they roped in Subrata Bhattacharya as head coach.[32][33][34]
2010–2020
Prayag United participated in the 123rd edition of the Durand Cup in 2010. United emerged champion at the Ambedkar Stadium with a 1–0 tie-break win over JCT FC.[35][36] For the 2010–11 I-League season, United SC played at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. On Indian Transfer deadline day United SC made headline news by signing India national football team striker Sunil Chhetri until the end of the season.[37] On 3 April 2011, Chhetri scored his first goal for Chirag United against Dempo, however, Dempo won the match 4–2.[38] Chhetri then scored a brace on 29 April 2011 against ONGC to help salvage a 2–2 draw for Chirag.[14] In June 2011 after the I-League season ended, old sponsors Chirag chose to cut ties with United SC and thus Chirag United SC became Prayag United Sports Club. Even though the team has lost a lot in terms of sponsorship money the club is still able to sign and retain their current players.
On 3 August 2011, it was announced that United Sports Club had signed a sponsorship deal with Prayag Group and on 7 August 2011 United Sports Club officially changed their name to Prayag United SC.[39][40][41] In October, the club narrowly missed the opportunity of winning the Durand Cup, after a 5–4 defeat to Churchill Brothers.[42][43] The association, however was cancelled in the summer of the 2013, when the company found itself involved in the chit-fund scam. The name was again changed to United Sports Club.[44][45][46]
In November 2012, Dutchman Eelco Schattorie was roped in by the club as their new manager,[47] and he managed his first game in India on 10 November 2012, where he led Prayag to a 10–1 victory over newly promoted United Sikkim.[48] Schattorie won his first and only cup for the side on 20 March 2013 when Prayag United defeated East Bengal in the IFA Shield final 1–0 through a Ranti Martins goal.[49] The following season in the I-League, They thrashed Air India FC by 5–1 margin,[50] and eventually finished the 2012–13 campaign leading Prayag United to a fourth-place finish with 44 points.[51][52][53][54] In that season, they emerged as the runners-up of the 2012 IFA Shield, losing to East Bengal by 4–2 on penalties.[55][56]
In 2013, the club won their maiden IFA Shield title by defeating East Bengal FC in the final by 1–0 margin.[57][58] In that competition (Semi-finals), they also defeated a foreign side Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica.[59] After the end of 2013–14 I-League season, United finished on tenth position with 26 points in 24 matches and was evicted from I-League for not fulfilling the Asian Football Confederation's club licensing criteria.[60][61]
On 24 July 2015, it was announced that the club appointed Bino George as the new head coach.[62] United emerged as champions in the 2019–20 Calcutta Premier Division B with 28 points in 14 matches and earned promotion to Division A.[63] In that season, United reached to the semi-finals of the 2020 IFA Shield but lost to George Telegraph SC by 2–1.[64][65][66]
2021–present
United SC maintained good form in domestic league, as they moved to championship round of 2022–23 I-League 2.[67][68][69] At the end of the round in May, they finished in fifth position.[70][71][72][73] In June 2023, the Indian Football Association (IFA) announced the merger of both Premier Division A and B of the Calcutta Football League, ahead of its 125th edition, in which United was allowed to compete in Group I.[74][75][76][77] In 2023–24 I-League 2, the club was managed by Ranjan Bhattacharjee.[78] In that league season, United SC earned sixth-place finish with 15 points in 14 matches.[79][80]
Crest & colours
The club crest is designed in the shape of a blue and white circle, that includes words United Sports Club in the blue strip.[81] This is to show United Sports Club as the main name of the club. Inside the crest, there is a Peafowl on top of a football.
While the crest is blue and white, the official colours of United SC are purple and yellow.[82] While still sponsored and owned by Chirag Computers, United Sports Club's official colours were purple and white. The home kit for United SC includes a purple and yellow jersey with purple shorts and white socks while the away kit is all white with red socks.
Ownership
Originally established in 1927 as the EverReady Association, the club was renamed as the United Sports Club in 2006, following financial backing by Chirag Computers, a subsidiary of RP Group Company.[83][84] With the inflow of sponsorship thereafter, the club clinched promotion to the first division of the I-League in 2008.
In 2011, Prayag Group (also known as Chirag United Sports Pvt. Ltd.) bought the majority stake of the club, and rebranded it as "Prayag United".[85][86][87] Alokesh Kundu and Siddhartha Bhattacharya became General Secretary and Director of United Sports respectively.[88] The club in headquartered in 33/8, Nabi Krishna Ghoshal Road.[89]
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2007–2011 | Chirag Computers[90] | |
| 2011–2013 | Prayag Group[85] | |
| 2013–2014 | ||
| 2015–2018 | Vamos | Krishi Bharati[91] |
Stadium
United Sports Club currently plays at the 20,000 seating Kalyani Municipal Corporation Stadium in Kalyani.[92][93] Though the officials initially said that club would move to Siliguri, they have decided to stay in Kalyani for the 2013–14 season and continued there.[39][94]
Previously, the club used the iconic 85,000 seater Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata[95][96][97] for their home matches of the I-League[98] and Calcutta Football League.[99][100]
Players
First-team squad
- As of 20 January 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | MF |  IND | Dipesh Murmu |
| 25 | FW | IND | Parvaj Bhuiya |
| 27 | FW | IND | Suman Sarkar |
| 28 | DF | IND | Monotosh Chakladar |
| 31 | GK | IND | Sourav Samanta |
| 34 | MF | IND | Sajan Sahani |
| 35 | MF | IND | Amarnath Baskey |
| 42 | GK | IND | Raunak Ghosh |
Technical staff
| Title | Name |
|---|---|
| Owner | Nabab Bhattacharya |
| Head coach |  Steve Herbots |
Notable players
World Cup player
Carlos Hernández (2012–2013)[101][102]
Foreign players
Yusif Yakubu (2011–2012)[103]
Eric Brown (2013–2015)[104][105]
Kayne Vincent (2011–2013)[106][107][108]- Eugene Gray (2003–2006)[109][110]
Edmilson Marques Pardal (2009–2010)[111]
Ranti Martins (2012–2014)[112][113]- Bello Razaq (2012–2014)[114]
- Junior Obagbemiro (2010–2011)[115]
- Isaac Boakye (2013)[116]
Ian Nekati (2022–)[117][118]
Noted Indian internationals
Sunil Chhetri (2011) – all-time top goalscorer and most-capped player of the India national team.[119]- Deepak Mondal (2011–2014) – recipient of both the Arjuna Award and AIFF Player of the Year.[120][121][122][123][124][125]
- Subrata Paul (2012–2013) – former India captain, recipient of Arjuna Award.[126][127][128][129][130]
Honours
League
Cup
- Durand Cup
- IFA Shield[note 1][138]
- All Airlines Gold Cup
- Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup
- Kalinga Cup
- Champions (1): 2005[24]
- Trades Cup[146]
- EK Nayanar Memorial Gold Cup
- Amta Sanhati Gold Cup
- Champions (1): 2015[151]
- Kalna Independence Cup
- Champions (1): 2016[149]
- Naihati Gold Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2022[152]
- Madhyamgram MLA Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2022–23[153]
Team records
Seasonal records
| 1st or W | Winners |
| 2nd or RU | Runners-up |
| ↑ | Promoted |
| ↓ | Relegated |
| ♦ | Top scorer in division |
| Season | Division | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Pos | Federation Cup | Super Cup | Asia | Round reached | Name | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League | Top goalscorer | ||||||||||||||
| 2007 | NFL2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 3rd | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2008 | IL2 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 1st | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2008–09 | IL | 22 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 20 | 26 | 26 | 8th | Group | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | IL | 26 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 33 | 39 | 32 | 8th | Group | — | — | — | Edmilson | 9 |
| 2010–11 | IL | 26 | 5 | 14 | 7 | 31 | 36 | 29 | 8th | Group | — | — | — | Sunil Chhetri | 7 |
| 2011–12 | IL | 26 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 41 | 29 | 42 | 7th | Group | — | — | — | Yusif Yakubu | 12 |
| 2012–13 | IL | 26 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 55 | 35 | 44 | 4th | Group | — | — | — | Ranti Martins | 26 |
| 2013–14 | IL | 24 | 5 | 11 | 8 | 22 | 32 | 26 | 10th | Group | — | — | — | Eric Brown | 10 |
| 2015 | IL2 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 24 | 28 | 17 | 5th | Group | — | — | — | — | — |
Managerial records
Other record(s)
- United SC's biggest win in I-League: 10–1 vs United Sikkim (10 November 2012)[154]
Other departments
Football: youth section and academy
In 2013, United SC launched its U20 team to participate in the Elite League (India) as Prayag United U20[155] and competed in 2012 and 2013 I-League U20.[156][157][158] The club's U19 team[159][160] was formed in 2010 and competed in the 2010 and 2012 editions of U19 I-League.[161] They later participated in the league during the 2014–15 I-League U19 season from group A – Kolkata zone and moved to final round.[162][163][164][165] They have also participated in 2017–18 edition of youth league.[166] Club's under-19 team also took part in IFA U19 Calcutta Football League.[167]
United SC's reserve team also participated in regional tournaments like All India Steel Express Football Championship.[168] The club has been operating United Sports Football School for youth development, having two campuses in Shyamnagar, and Doon Heritage School in Siliguri.[169] In December 2023, football academy of United SC gained 'elite category' accreditation by the All India Football Federation.[170]
- Honours
- IFA Shield[note 2]
- Winners (1): 2015[171]
- IFA U19 Calcutta Football League
- Runners-up (1): 2011[172]
- Krishanu Dey U19 Championship
- Runners-up (1): 2004[173]
- Dream Sports Championship (Kolkata Leg)
- Runners-up (1): 2024[174]
Men's cricket
United SC operates men's cricket team, which is affiliated to the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).
- Honours
- CC&FC Merchant's Cup
- Champions (1): 2021–22[175]
See also
Footnotes
References
Further reading
Bibliography
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- Majumdar, Boria; Bandyopadhyay, Kausik (2006). A Social History Of Indian Football: Striving To Score. Routledge. ISBN 9780415348355. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021.
- Quadri, Abreshmina S. (2 January 2018). "Mohun Bagan coach Sanjoy Sen steps down after loss to Chennai City FC". indiatoday.com. India Today. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
- Basu, Jaydeep (2003). Stories from Indian Football. UBS Publishers' Distributors. ISBN 9788174764546. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022.
- Martinez, Dolores; Mukharjiim, Projit B (2009). Football: From England to the World: The Many Lives of Indian Football. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-138-88353-6. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022.
- Dineo, Paul; Mills, James (2001). Soccer in South Asia: Empire, Nation, Diaspora. London, United Kingdom: Frank Cass Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7146-8170-2. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022.
- Nath, Nirmal (2011). History of Indian Football: Upto 2009–10. Readers Service. ISBN 9788187891963. Archived from the original on 22 July 2022.
- Bandyopadhyay, Kausik (2008). "Football in Bengali culture and society: a study in the social history of football in Bengal 1911–1980". Shodhganga. University of Calcutta. p. 35. hdl:10603/174532. Archived from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
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- "OFFICIAL: Chirag United Sign Australian Defender Keegan Nash — Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
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- Williams, Joe (25 September 2017). "The Goa and Maha Derby: A thing past in I-League". khelnow.com. Khel Now News. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
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