>BrownHairedGirl at 00:03, 1 April 2021

2021-04-01T00:03:27Z

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{{short description|Football stadium in Kolkata, India.}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{infobox stadium
| name = East Bengal Ground
| image = File:East Bengal ground.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = East Bengal Ground on a matchday
| location = [[Maidan (Kolkata)]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|22.559479|88.343854|format=dms|type:landmark_region:IN|display=it}}
| opened =
| owner = [[East Bengal F.C.|SC East Bengal]]
| surface = [[Grass]]
| dimensions = 100 metres by 60 metres (109.4 yd x 65.6 yd)
| architect =
| structural engineer =
| services engineer =
| main_contractors =
| construction_cost =
| former_names = National AC Ground
| capacity = 23,500<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.eastbengalfootballclub.com/home-ground.php|title=Home Ground|work=East Bengal FC|access-date=9 July 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609144415/https://www.eastbengalfootballclub.com/home-ground.php|archive-date=9 June 2019}}</ref> (40,000 maximum allowed)
| suites =
| tenants = {{plainlist|
[[East Bengal F.C.|SC East Bengal]] (1924–present) [[Mohun Bagan]] (1915–1963) [[Aryan F.C.]] (1963–present)
}}
|renovated = 12 July 1996 1 August 2016
|scoreboard = Yes (Manual)
|publictransit = {{rint|kolkata|bus}} Esplanade Bus Terminus {{rint|kolkata|s}} [[Eden Gardens railway station|Eden Gardens]] {{rint|kolkata|m}} {{rint|kolkata|ewm}} [[Esplanade metro station|Esplanade]]
}}

The '''East Bengal Ground''' is the home stadium of both [[SC East Bengal]] and [[Aryan FC]]. The stadium has a capacity of 23,500 people. It is one of the venues of the [[Calcutta Football League]].

The stadium lies in the [[Kolkata Maidan]] area on the northern side of [[Fort William, India|Fort William]] and it is near the [[Eden Gardens]]. The [[Esplanade metro station]] on the North-South Corridor of the [[Kolkata Metro]] is also nearby.

==History==
When [[East Bengal F.C.|East Bengal Club]] was formed in 1920, they used to play at the [[Kumortuli|Kumortuli Park]] Ground in the initial days. In 1921, [[East Bengal F.C.|East Bengal Club]] started playing in the [[Calcutta Football League]] Second Division. Most of the matches were held at the [[Calcutta Cricket and Football Club|Calcutta FC]] Ground.

After the 1923 season, [[East Bengal F.C.|East Bengal Club]] owners were in the lookout for a club ground of their own where the team can play their matches. According to the existing rule of the maidan, two clubs used to share one common ground. Club's founders and then vice-presidents, Shri Sureshchandra Choudhury and Raybahadur Taritbhushan Ray came to learn that Mohun Bagan shared its ground with National Association, which by that time had ceased to exist. They referred this discrepancy to the police authorities and subsequently demanded the share for East Bengal. It was then that Police Commissioner Charles Tegart ordered Mohun Bagan to share its ground with East Bengal. This sudden decision enraged the Mohun Bagan officials. However, despite their protests, [[East Bengal F.C.|East Bengal Club]] got the ground for their own in 1924, which they co-shared with their arch-rivals [[Mohun Bagan]] until 1963, when finally [[Mohun Bagan]] moved out to their own [[Mohun Bagan Ground]]. In those days, the goalposts were placed East-West and East Bengal took possession of the half towards the Red Road.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.eastbengalfootballclub.com/history.php|title=History|work=East Bengal FC|access-date=9 July 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609144426/https://www.eastbengalfootballclub.com/history.php|archive-date=9 June 2019}}</ref> Another century old Kolkata club, [[Aryan F.C.]] started sharing the club ground since then.

==About==
[[File:EB-Ground.png|thumb|East Bengal Ground in 2019 during Calcutta Football League|alt=]]
[[File:East_Bengal_ground_members_gallery_2.jpg|alt=|thumb|East Bengal ground members gallery]]
The East Bengal Ground has galleries on three sides. The west side is the member's gallery with modern facilities like bucket seats and elevators installed. The half of west side is also shared with [[Aryan F.C.]] who have their member's gallery as well, covered in bucket seats which acts as an away gallery for the matches which [[East Bengal F.C.]] plays. The east side and north side galleries are still made of a temporary wooden and steel structure and are designated for non-member supporters. The playing pitch is about 100 metres x 60 metres in dimension. Just adjacent the stadium, below the member's gallery is the club tent and the main office located. In 2014, the club tent opened its own cafe lounge for the fans, just beside the members' gallery.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.retail4growth.com/news/slice-of-heaven-opens-east-bengal-cafe-lounge-in-kolkata-1016|title=Slice of Heaven opens East Bengal Cafe Lounge in Kolkata|work=Retail 4 Growth|date=2 September 2014|access-date=9 July 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709173904/http://www.retail4growth.com/news/slice-of-heaven-opens-east-bengal-cafe-lounge-in-kolkata-1016|archive-date=9 July 2019}}</ref>

=== Renovations ===
====First Renovation in 1996====
On 12th July 1996, the new Club Office or "Tent", which is popularly known in Kolkata maidan, was inaugurated by the oldest member of the [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal Club]]. The then club secretary Mr. Dipak "Poltu" Das gave the honour to Mr. Shankar Pillai (popularly known as Shankar Mali) who was the oldest groundsman and caretaker of the club, to inaugurate the new club tent in the presence of club legends like [[Ahmed Khan (footballer)|Ahmed Khan ]] and Byomkesh Bose.

The club ground was renovated and a new office was setup at the place where it is currently situated. The playing field was relaid North to South and the new fans gallery was constructed.

====Second Renovation post 2016====
In 2016, renovations were done at the ground with entire playing field being relaid and galleries being renovated with member's gallery being filled in with Red and Gold bucket seats. Elevators were installed and the commentary box was modernised. The playing turf was relaid and drainage was improved for the ground. [[East Bengal FC]] officials informed the [[AIFF]] that they wanted to host [[I-League]] matches at the club ground after the heavy renovations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/east-bengal-request-aiff-i-league-home-ground/bubxnzt1o3qu1bpo4k5jkpr76|title=East Bengal inform AIFF: 'Interested to play I-League matches at home ground'|work=Goal.com|date=9 September 2017|access-date=9 July 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709112436/https://www.goal.com/en-sg/news/east-bengal-request-aiff-i-league-home-ground/bubxnzt1o3qu1bpo4k5jkpr76|archive-date=9 July 2019}}</ref>

In 2018, [[Floodlight|floodlights]] were installed at the East Bengal Ground.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/cm-inaugurates-floodlights-at-east-bengal-and-mohammedan-sporting-club-grounds-291354|title=CM inaugurates floodlights at East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting Club grounds|work=Millennium Post|date=26 March 2018|access-date=9 July 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709111924/http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/cm-inaugurates-floodlights-at-east-bengal-and-mohammedan-sporting-club-grounds-291354|archive-date=9 July 2019}}</ref> The flood lights would be the biggest among the three Maidan clubs of Kolkata. The first match under floodlights was played in the [[2018–19 Calcutta Premier Division]] when [[East Bengal F.C.|East Bengal]] faced [[Tollygunge Agragami]] in the season opener, which was however abandoned due to heavy rains as the match was tied 1–1 at half time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/sport/match-called-off-after-downpour/cid/1386474|title=Match called off after downpour|work=The Telegraph|date=4 August 2018|access-date=9 July 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709113047/https://www.telegraphindia.com/sport/match-called-off-after-downpour/cid/1386474|archive-date=9 July 2019}}</ref>

{{wide image||600px|align-cap=center|Panoromic view of East Bengal Ground under floodlights during the [[Calcutta Football League]] - 2018}}

{{wide image|East Bengal Ground Panoroma.png|900px|align-cap=center|A panorama of East Bengal Ground from East side gallery showing the members gallery and north gallery during 2019 Calcutta Football League}}

==Other Uses==
[[File:East_Bengal_Ground_layout.svg|alt=|thumb|East Bengal Ground layout]]
[[East Bengal Ground]] hosted numerous other matches of [[IFA Shield]], [[Calcutta Football League]] and various under-aged league matches. It also hosted a number of matches for the [[2019 Durand Cup]].

In 1984, it served as the practice ground for the [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] football team who came in to play for the [[1984 Nehru Cup]]

===Non-sporting events===

*In 2015, Bollywood superstar [[Shah Rukh Khan]] and [[Kajol]] hosted the promotional event for their film [[Dilwale (2015 film)|Dilwale]] at the East Bengal Ground. Both were given life-time membership by the [[East Bengal Club]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://thefangarage.com/articles/3055-dilwale-east-bengal-let-srk-host-event-at-their-ground-for-free |title=Dilwale East Bengal let SRK host event at their ground for free |work=The Fan Garage |date=10 December 2015 |access-date=9 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709124310/https://thefangarage.com/articles/3055-dilwale-east-bengal-let-srk-host-event-at-their-ground-for-free |archive-date=9 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*On 7 July 2016, [[Mexican-Americans|Mexican-American]] [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]], [[Alberto Del Rio]] visited the East Bengal Ground for a promotional event for [[WWE]]. He was handed over a Red and Gold East Bengal jersey with his name printed on it.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://beta.xtratime.in/wwe-champion-del-rio-shares-stage-with-east-bengal-players/ |title=WWE champion Del Rio shares stage with East Bengal players |work=Xtra Time |date=7 July 2016 |access-date=9 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709172801/https://beta.xtratime.in/wwe-champion-del-rio-shares-stage-with-east-bengal-players/ |archive-date=9 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*On 11 December 2016, East Bengal Ground hosted the official [[Manchester United F.C.]] event "ILOVEUnited". Former United legend and club ambassador [[Dwight Yorke]] along with former players [[Quinton Fortune]] and [[Bojan Djordjic]] came in for various events that followed throughout the day. The screening was also organised for the [[English Premier League]] game between [[Manchester United F.C.]] and [[Tottenham Hotspurs]] in the event for fans in Kolkata.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/manchester-united-kolkata-iloveunited-party |title=Manchester United in Kolkata: #ILOVEUNITED party |work=Sportskeeda |date=10 December 2016 |access-date=9 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709132321/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/manchester-united-kolkata-iloveunited-party |archive-date=9 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://xtratime.in/manchester-united-trio-enthralls-fans-at-east-bengal-ground/ |title=Manchester United Trio Enthralls Fans at East Bengal Ground |work=Xtra Time |date=11 December 2016 |access-date=9 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709132322/https://xtratime.in/manchester-united-trio-enthralls-fans-at-east-bengal-ground/ |archive-date=9 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*On 28 October 2018, East Bengal Ground hosted the [[La Liga]] official screening of the [[El Clasico]] for the fans in Kolkata. Former [[Liverpool FC]] and [[Real Madrid CF]] player [[Steve McManaman]] came in as the La Liga ambassador for the event.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.laliga.es/en/news/laliga-comes-to-indias-football-headland-kolkata |title=LaLiga comes to India's football headland Kolkata |work=La Liga |date=3 October 2018 |access-date=9 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709123337/https://www.laliga.es/en/news/laliga-comes-to-indias-football-headland-kolkata |archive-date=9 July 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}



*{{cite book|last=Goswami|first=Ramesh Chandra|title=East Bengal Cluber Itihas|year=1963|publisher=Book Garden|location=Kolkata|language=bn }}
*{{cite book|last=Bandyopadhyay|first=Santipriya|title=Cluber Naam East Bengal|year=1979|publisher=New Bengal Press|location=Kolkata|language=bn }}
*{{cite book|last=Saha|first=Rupak|title=East Bengal - Prothom Eksho Bochor|year=2020|publisher=The Cafe Table|location=Kolkata|language=bn|isbn=978-93-89873-21-4}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
*[https://www.eastbengalfootballclub.com/home-ground.php East Bengal Home Ground]

{{East Bengal F.C.}}
{{Football stadiums in India}}

[[Category:SC East Bengal]]
[[Category:Football venues in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Kolkata]]
[[Category:1996 establishments in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1996]]

East Bengal Ground - Revision history

>BrownHairedGirl at 00:03, 1 April 2021