Rovers Cup

The Rovers Cup was an annual football tournament held in India. It was the second oldest tournament of India.

2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment winning the Rovers Cup in 1926

Rovers Cup
Organising bodyWestern India Football Association (WIFA)
Founded1890 (1890)
Abolished2001 (2001)
Region India
Last championsMohun Bagan AC (14th title)
Most successful club(s)Mohun Bagan AC (14 titles)

The championship was started by some British football enthusiasts at Bombay, Maharashtra in 1891, as a form of amusement. The First Worcester Regiment was the first team to win the title. This championship was last time held in the 2000–01 season, when Mohun Bagan AC beat Churchill Brothers SC by 2–0 in the final. After the inception of the NFL, the Rovers Cup started to face problems. With huge costs and sponsorship deals issues, the tournament was finally stopped in 2001. The WIFA is making efforts to revive the tournament.[1]

Performance of Indian teams

During its initial years, inly British teams contested in the tournament. Mohun Bagan AC was the first Indian team to participate in this tournament on invitation in 1923, but they lost in the finals to Durham Light Infantry by 1–4 margin. The first Indian team to win this tournament was Bangalore Muslims, in 1937.[2]

Statistics: Teams with at least 2 wins, (including joint wins)[2]

# Club Wins Last Win Runners-up Last Runners-up
1 Mohun Bagan AC 14 2000-01 10 1987
2 East Bengal Club 10 1994 4 1988
3 Hyderabad Police 9 1963 1 1943
4 Mohammedan SC 6 1987 9 1991
5 Dempo SC 4 1986 1 1989
6 Bangalore Muslims 3 1948 2 1953
7 Salgaocar SC 3 1999 1 1985

Performance by Overseas teams

Overseas teams had often been invited to participate in Rovers Cup.

Winners

Runners-up
  • Kemari Union FC (1954)

See also

References
  1. WIFA making attempt to revive Rovers Cup
  2. "India - List of Rovers Cup Finals". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 20 December 2020.


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