Durand Cup: A Blue Riband Football Tournament Since Pre-Independence India
The Durand Football Tournament, founded in 1888, was India's top football event. Initially in Shimla, it moved to Delhi in the 1940s. The 2025 edition will be in five cities.
The Durand Football Tournament was considered the premier football event of India, according to the National Archives of India data published on October 27, 1928.
Football was quite popular and widely played in cantonment areas. To further promote the sport, an organised structure was established, leading to the founding of the Durand Cup in 1888 by Sir Henry Durand.
In its early years, the Durand Cup was held in Shimla, as per records from the National Archives of India.
'The Durand Cup Football Tournament was mainly contested between British regiments," the record dated to October 28, 1896 says. 'The Highland battalion and 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry mainly dominated the first eight years of the Durand Cup competition."
The October 27, 1928 record reveals that the final match was attended by several government officials, including the Governor of Punjab, Sir Stuart Symes. 'Lord Irwin distributed the season's trophies. The Sherwood Foresters got the winner trophy," the 1928 record notes.
To ensure public support, the 1935 Durand Cup committee recommended that office staff be granted reasonable leave and facilities to attend the matches. 'The committee will be very grateful for the support," wrote the honorary secretary on August 23, 1935, ahead of that year's tournament starting on September 14.
The committee also outlined three main factors for a successful tournament: 'Good teams, good weather and support from the Shimla public," the honorary secretary wrote.
To encourage children's attendance, the committee announced a 50 percent discount on tickets for children. Ticket prices were Rs.12 for the first enclosure, Rs.7 and Rs.8 for the second enclosure, Rs.4 for the general stand, and Rs.2 for the ordinary enclosure.
In the 1960s, the Durand Cup was a major attraction, widely covered in the media. The 1969 final between the Gurkha Brigade and BSF (Border Security Force), Jalandhar received extensive coverage. The Gurkha Brigade won by a single goal, with national newspapers featuring photos of the match and the winning team with then President of India, Shri VV Giri.
The tournament moved from Shimla to Delhi in the early 1940s.
After a brief period in Goa, since 2019, the world's third oldest football tournament has been held under the Eastern Command, with Kolkata, considered the Mecca of Indian football, as its home base.
In 1972, Shimla Youngs almost upset Kolkata giant East Bengal, with the semi-final ending in a 1-all draw. According to Durand Cup rules, there was no extra time or shoot-out, leading to a rematch the next day, which East Bengal won 5-0.
The 2025 edition of the Durand Cup will be held in five cities, including Kolkata and Shillong.
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