East Bengal the Real Power

East Bengal the Real Power (EBRP) is the first registered fan club in India, which was established on 15 November 2006, and supports Indian club, Sporting Club East Bengal. It is one of the largest fan clubs in the country.[3][4]

East Bengal the Real Power
AbbreviationEBRP
Founded15 November 2006 (2006-11-15)
TypeSupporters' group
ClubSC East Bengal
MottoBorn to win
StadiumEast Bengal Ground
Salt Lake Stadium
FounderRabi Shankar Sen[1][2]
ColorsRed and gold
Websiteeastbengaltherealpower

It helps the fans and the club during match-days, organises various social activities and events. It also runs a U19 football coaching camp at Sodepur, Panshila.[1]

History

Before the formation of EBRP, there were no such organised fan clubs or supporter groups of East Bengal FC. East Bengal the Real Power was formed with the purpose to condense fan support of East Bengal FC. It was initially established in Orkut. It is also the first online fans community in Asia.[5] In the initial years, it was restricted in online platform only, and later it turned into a real supporter group.[1] Currently, this group is not only restricted to India but has spread all over the world.[5]

Supported club
Further information: East Bengal F.C.
Tifo displaying fans of Mohammedan, Mohun Bagan, and East Bengal united as the "12th man" of the national team.
Tifo by East Bengal the Real Power

East Bengal FC is one of the oldest and most successful football clubs in the country, which currently plays in ISL. The club was established on 1 August 1920 and has won three National Football League (later named as I-League) titles, eight Federation Cups, and three Indian Super Cups, alongside other trophies.[6]

East Bengal the Real Power is one biggest and most active fan club of East Bengal FC. It cheers for the club in both home and away matches all around the country, and also makes banners and tifos on match-days.[2]

East Bengal the Real Power has also backed the Indian national football team. In 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier India vs Bangladesh match, they unfurled a huge tifo along with Blue Pilgrims and other fan clubs. Funding for the creation of the tifo was raised through crowdfunding; raising a total of Rs. 87,507 from 274 donors.[7][8]

Centenary celebrations of East Bengal

Being the 100th year of East Bengal FC, the fan club organised rallies and other events. It started the centenary celebrations from the house of Suresh Chandra Chowdhury (one of the founders of the club) 23 August 2019 by lighting 100 candles and procession.[9]

EBRP along with Bengal Heritage Foundation and London Sharad Utsav hoisted club flags in 50 Indian cities and 50 other cities around the globe, to commemorate the club's centenary. In every city, a prominent landmark was chosen to hoist the flag.[10][11] On 4 August at 12:00 hours (local time of respective cities), as soon as the flag was hoisted in the club, all the hundred flags were hoisted, starting from Dhaka and ending in Tokyo, by supporters, former players and former coaches, like Chima Okorie in England, Douglas Silva in Brazil, Suleh Musah in Ghana, Phillip Ridder in Belgium.[10][12][13][14][15]

Exhibition derby matches, between East Bengal fans and Mohun Bagan fans, were organised in Slough, UK. Each side was subdivided into 3 teams and played against each other in a round-robin format. The tournament was attended by Chima Okorie.[16][17][18]

Football Fest

Started in 2014, it is one of the biggest event organised by the fan club every year. It generally happens in New Town's NKDA Stadium. Around 98 footballers with 8 teams participate in the tournament. In 2020 an exhibition match was also held for U-17 women and the visually-impaired.[19][20][21][22]

Some famous footballers and personalities are invited every year as ambassadors in the fest.[23] Former and current players and staff are also invited in the event.[24]

Coronavirus and Amphan aid
Further information: COVID-19 pandemic in West Bengal and Cyclone Amphan

The fan club came forward to ease the livelihood of people hit by the nation-wide lockdown due to ongoing coronavirus pandemic. They donated money and essential items like food grains and toiletries to two ardent East Bengal supporters. They also raised and donated money in the Government fund.[25][26][27][28]

South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal was badly hit due to Cyclone Amphan. EBRP along with Narendrapur Ramkrishna Mission started a campaign called "CTRL + Z Bengal" (which refers to reverting the current situation of the state to previous one), in Garankati village, where they fed around 500 people.[29][30][31]

Other initiatives
  • Blood donation and health checkup camps[1]
  • Celebrating the 10th anniversary of club's 2003 ASEAN Cup with the winning squad.[32]
  • Fund raising for the club[33]
  • Fundraising for treatment of an injured supporter[34][35][36][37]
  • Members picnic. Held every year in winter[3]
  • Organising Bhai Phota and Raksha Bandhan with players[3]
  • Best fan's player of the month award[38][39]

See also

References
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  2. "How does it feel to be an East Bengal fan?". The Times of India. 13 March 2019. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  3. "East Bengal the Real POWER's Journey of a Decade". Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  4. "Club Day: East Bengal – Five Of The Best | Goal.com". goal.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
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  9. "EBRP press release".
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  12. "লাল-হলুদ পতাকা উড়বে বিশ্বজুড়ে". Eisamay (in Bengali). 1 July 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
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  21. "East Bengal The Real Power to hold their annual EBRP Fest on June 10". The Blog » CPD Football by Chris Punnakkattu Daniel (in German). 8 June 2018. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  22. "প্রস্তুতি শুরু ইবিআরপি ফেস্টের". eiimuhurte. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  23. "Aspas, embajador del fútbol femenino en India". eldesmarque.com. 1 June 2019. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
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  29. Lokshman, Mrityunjoy (8 June 2020). "নরেন্দ্রপুর রামকৃষ্ণ মিশনের সহায়তায় আমফান দুর্গতদের পাশে "ইস্টবেঙ্গল দ্য রিয়েল পাওয়ার"". বিশ্ব বাংলা সংবাদ. Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  30. Ghosh, Sabyasachi (8 June 2020). "উম্পুনে বিধ্বস্ত দক্ষিণবঙ্গের মানুষদের মুখে হাসি ফোটাল ইস্টবেঙ্গল দ্য রিয়েল পাওয়ার". Kolkatatimes24. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
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