# Rovers Cup

The Rovers Cup was an annual football tournament held in India, organized by the Western India Football Association. Incorporated in 1890, it was the third oldest tournament in India after Trades Cup.

## History

Rovers Cup was incorporated by some British football enthusiasts in Bombay, Bombay Presidency, in 1890, as a form of amusement. After the foundation of Bombay Football Association (BFA) in 1902, the tournament became well organized. Patronised by Justice Russell, the tournament was firstly opened to British teams. Later in 1911, Western India Football Association was founded as a result of merger between BFA and Rovers Cup Committee. After justice Russel became president and P. R. Cadell became vice-president of WIFA, Indian clubs were given opportunity to participate, and Bengal United (a squad formed with Indian soldiers serving in British battalions) became first Indian team to compete. The tournament was suspended from 1914 to 1920 due to the World War I. Some legendary players from Great Britain, including Arsenal winger Denis Compton, Scottish international Tommy Walker and English international Bobby Langton appeared in the tournament in mid-20th century with visiting overseas teams.
The First Worcester Regiment became first team to clinch the title. Mohun Bagan became the first non-army civilian club in the tournament to compete in 1923 and achieved runners-up position, after their 4–1 defeat to Durham Light Infantry. Mohammedan Sporting from Calcutta became the first Indian club to win title, when they defeated Bangalore Muslims 1–0 in 1940. Mohammedan later won 1956, 1959, 1980, 1984 and 1987 editions. In the 1950s, Syed Abdul Rahim managed Hyderabad City Police formed their supremacy, winning Rovers Cup consecutively from 1950 to 1954. In modern era, Iraqi club Salahaddin became the first foreign side to win trophy, when they defeated Mohammedan Sporting 2–1 in 1982. In 1958, Caltex Sports Club had the honor of becoming the first local team to win it, and Bengal Mumbai is the last local team to win title. The championship was last time held in the 2000–01 season, when Mohun Bagan beat Churchill Brothers by 2–0 in the final.
After the inception of the National Football League, the Rovers Cup started facing problems. With huge costs and sponsorship deals issues, the tournament was finally dissolved in 2001. In 2007, the WIFA announced that they were making attempts to revive the tournament.

## Venue

The primary venue of the tournament was Cooperage Ground in Bombay (now Mumbai). The stadium, built over hundred years ago, hosted each and every edition of the tournament.

## Results
### Pre-independence era (1890–1947)

| Year | Winners | Score | Runners-up | Notes |
| 1890 | 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment | 2–0 | Band & Drums of the Worcestershire Regiment | |
| 1891 | 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment | 1–0 | 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers | |
| 1892 | 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment | 4–1 | Bombay Rovers Club | |
| 1893 | 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers | – | | |
| 1894 | 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots | – | 1st Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment | |
| 1895 | 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots | 3–0 | 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment | |
| 1896 | 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry | – | | |
| 1897 | 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment | 1–0 | 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry | |
| 1898 | 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry | – | | |
| 1899 | 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment | 3–0 | 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers | |
| 1900 | 1st Battalion, Black Watch | 2–1 | 1st Battalion, Shropshire Light Infantry | |
| 1901 | 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles | 1–0 | 2nd Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry | |
| 1902 | 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment | 1–0 | 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment | |
| 1903 | 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment | 3–0 | 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots | |
| 1904 | 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment | 2–1 | 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders | |
| 1905 | 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders | 1–0 | 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment | |
| 1906 | 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots | 1–1, 0–0, 1–0 | 2nd Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment | |
| 1907 | 2nd Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment | 3–0 | 6th Battalion, Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers) | |
| 1908 | 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment | 1–0 | 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots | |
| 1909 | 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment | 5–0 | 1st Battalion, King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) | |
| 1910 | 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment | 1–0 | 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment | |
| 1911 | 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment | 1–0 | 2nd Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment | |
| 1912 | 2nd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment | 0–0, 1–0 | 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment | |
| 1913 | 1st Battalion, Royal Scots | 1–0 | 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry | |
| 1914–20 | Tournament not held, due to World War I | Tournament not held, due to World War I | Tournament not held, due to World War I | Tournament not held, due to World War I |
| 1921 | 1st Battalion, Shropshire Light Infantry | 1–0 | 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders | |
| 1922 | 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry | 3–1 | 1st Battalion, Shropshire Light Infantry | |
| 1923 | 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry | 4–1 | Mohun Bagan | |
| 1924 | 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment | 0–0, 2–1 (a.e.t.) | 1st Battalion, Royal Scots | |
| 1925 | 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment | 2–0 | 1st Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment | |
| 1926 | 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment | 4–0 | 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders | |
| 1927 | 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment | 4–1 | 2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers | |
| 1928 | 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment | 2–0 | 1st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery | |
| 1929 | 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment | 4–0 | 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment | |
| 1930 | 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers | 2–0 | 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment | |
| 1931 | 2nd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment | 2–1 | 16th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery | |
| 1932 | Royal Irish Fusiliers | 3–1 | 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment | |
| 1933 | 1st Battalion, King's Regiment (Liverpool) | 1–1, 2–2, 1–0 | 2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment | |
| 1934 | 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters | 6–1 | 2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment | |
| 1935 | 1st Battalion, King's Regiment (Liverpool) | 2–1 | 2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry | |
| 1936 | 1st Battalion, King's Regiment (Liverpool) | 2–0 | 1st Battalion, Shropshire Light Infantry | |
| 1937 | Bangalore Muslims FC | 1–0 | Mohammedan Sporting | |
| 1938 | Bangalore Muslims FC | 3–2 | 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders | |
| 1939 | 28th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery | 2–0 | Howrah District XI | |
| 1940 | Mohammedan Sporting | 1–0 | Bangalore Muslims FC | |
| 1941 | 2nd Battalion, Welch Regiment | 2–0 | Mohammedan Sporting | |
| 1942 | Bata Sports Club | 3–1 | Western India Automobile Association Staff | |
| 1943 | Royal Air Force | 5–0 | Bombay City Police | |
| 1944 | British Base Reinforcement Camp | 3–1 | Western India Automobile Association Staff | |
| 1945 | Corps of Military Police | 0–0, 3–1 | Albert David XI (Calcutta) | |
| 1946 | British Base Reinforcement Camp | 2–1 | Tata Sports Club | |
| 1947 | Tournament abandoned when the stands collapsed during the quarterfinal | Tournament abandoned when the stands collapsed during the quarterfinal | Tournament abandoned when the stands collapsed during the quarterfinal | |

### Post-independence era (1948–2001)

| Year | Winners | Score | Runners-up |
| 1948 | Bangalore Muslims FC | 1–0 | Mohun Bagan |
| 1949 | East Bengal | 3–0 | East Indian Railway |
| 1950 | Hyderabad City Police | 1–0 | Aryan FC |
| 1951 | Hyderabad City Police | 2–0 | WIMCO (Western India Match Company, Madras) |
| 1952 | Hyderabad City Police | 0–0, 1–0 | Bombay Amateurs |
| 1953 | Hyderabad City Police | 2–0 | Bangalore Muslims FC |
| 1954 | Hyderabad City Police | 2–1 | Keamari Union (Karachi) |
| 1955 | Mohun Bagan | 2–0 | Mohammedan Sporting |
| 1956 | Mohammedan Sporting | 3–1 | Mohun Bagan |
| 1957 | Hyderabad City Police | 3–0 | Mohammedan Sporting |
| 1958 | Caltex Club (Bombay) | 3–2 | Mohammedan Sporting |
| 1959–60 | Mohammedan Sporting | 0–0, 3–0 | East Bengal |
| 1960 | Andhra Pradesh Police | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | East Bengal |
| 1961–62 | Elec. & Mech. Engineering Centre | 1–0 | Mohun Bagan |
| 1962 | Andhra Pradesh Police and East Bengal (joint winners) – 1–1, 1–1 | Andhra Pradesh Police and East Bengal (joint winners) – 1–1, 1–1 | Andhra Pradesh Police and East Bengal (joint winners) – 1–1, 1–1 |
| 1963–64 | Andhra Pradesh Police | 1–0 | East Bengal |
| 1964–65 | Bengal Nagpur Railway | 1–1, 1–0 | Mohun Bagan |
| 1965 | Mafatlal Mills (Bombay) | 1–0 | Mohun Bagan |
| 1966–67 | Mohun Bagan | 1–0 | Vasco SC |
| 1967 | East Bengal | 0–0, 2–0 | Mohun Bagan |
| 1968 | Mohun Bagan | 0–0, 3–0 | Leader FC (Jalandhar) |
| 1969 | East Bengal | 3–0 | Mohun Bagan |
| 1970–71 | Mohun Bagan | 0–0, 1–0 | Mahindra United FC |
| 1971–72 | Mohun Bagan | 1–0 | Vasco SC |
| 1972–73 | Mohun Bagan and East Bengal (joint winners) – 0–0, 0–0 (a.e.t.) | Mohun Bagan and East Bengal (joint winners) – 0–0, 0–0 (a.e.t.) | Mohun Bagan and East Bengal (joint winners) – 0–0, 0–0 (a.e.t.) |
| 1973–74 | East Bengal | 3–2 | Tata Sports Club |
| 1974–75 | Dempo SC | 0–1, 1–0 | Tata Sports Club |
| 1975–76 | East Bengal | 1–0 | Mafatlal Group |
| 1976 | Mohun Bagan | 0–0, 1–0 | Mafatlal Group |
| 1977 | Mohun Bagan | 0–0, 2–1 | Tata Sports Club |
| 1978–79 | Dempo SC | 2–1 | Orkay Mills |
| 1979–80 | Dempo SC | 2–0 | JCT FC |
| 1980 | Mohammedan Sporting and East Bengal (joint winners) – 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Mohammedan Sporting and East Bengal (joint winners) – 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Mohammedan Sporting and East Bengal (joint winners) – 1–1 (a.e.t.) |
| 1981 | Mohun Bagan | 2–0 | Mohammedan Sporting |
| 1982 | Salahaddin FC | 2–1 | Mohammedan Sporting |
| 1983 | Al-Jaish Army SC | 2–1 | Mohammedan Sporting |
| 1984 | Mohammedan Sporting | 1–0 | JCT FC |
| 1985 | Mohun Bagan | 2–0 | Salgaocar FC |
| 1986 | Dempo SC | 2–0 | Mohun Bagan |
| 1987 | Mohammedan Sporting | 2–0 | Mohun Bagan |
| 1988 | Mohun Bagan | 1–0 | East Bengal |
| 1989–90 | Salgaocar FC | 1–0 | Dempo SC |
| 1990 | East Bengal | 1–0 | Mahindra United FC |
| 1991 | Mohun Bagan | 1–0 | Mohammedan Sporting |
| 1992 | Mohun Bagan | 2–0 | JCT FC |
| 1993 | Mahindra United FC | 0–0 (3–0 p) | Bank of India (Mumbai) |
| 1994 | East Bengal | 2–1 | Air India FC |
| 1995 | Oman Club | 2–0 | Sesa Sports Club |
| 1996 | Salgaocar FC | 1–0 | Air India FC |
| 1997 | JCT FC | 1–0 | Churchill Brothers |
| 1998 | Bengal Mumbai FC | 3–0 | Central Railway SC |
| 1999 | Salgaocar FC | 1–0 | Churchill Brothers |
| 2000–01 | Mohun Bagan | 2–0 | Churchill Brothers |
Notes:
    1. ^ The tournament was abandoned when the stands collapsed during the quarterfinal between Mohun Bagan and 1st Bn, South Staffordshire Regiment
    2. ^ Joint winners after replay
    3. ^ Joint winners after replay
    4. ^ Replay after first match was abandoned at 84', with the score at 0–1, as Dempo refused to continue after having a goal disallowed
    5. ^ Joint winners
    6. ^ Penalty shootout

## Performance by teams
### Performance by Indian teams

During its initial years, only 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.
Statistics: Teams with at least 2 wins, (including joint wins)
| # | 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 City 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

* Salahaddin FC (1982)
* Al-Jaish Army SC (1983)
* Oman Club (1995)

#### Runners-up

* Kemari Union FC (1954)