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United SC

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United
Full nameUnited Sports Club
Nickname(s)The Peafowls
Short nameUSC
Founded1927;97 years ago(1927)
(asEveready Association Club)
GroundKalyani Stadium
Capacity20,000
ChairmanNabab Bhattacharya
Head coachSteve Herbots
League

United Sports Club(formerly known as bothPrayag UnitedandChirag United)[1][2][3][4]is an Indian professionalfootballclub based inKolkata,West Bengal.[5][6]It was founded asEveready Associationin 1927.[7]Affiliated with theIndian Football Association(IFA),[8]the club competes inCalcutta Premier Division A,[9][10][11]the highest division of Asia's oldest league CFL and also in theI-League 2,the third division of theIndian football league system.

United SC soon emerged as one of the most successful teams from the state in 2010s, after Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.[12][13]The club previously participated inI-League,[14]which was then top flight of Indian football league system.[15][16][17][18]The club mostly usesKalyani Stadiumas home ground.[19]

History[edit]

1927–2009[edit]

United SC was originally established in 1927 asEveready Association Club.[20]Since then, they participated in fewer editions of theCalcutta Football League.The club has a tradition of bringing up local and unknown talents from various parts of Bengal.[21]In 2003, they lifted their first trophyAll Airlines Gold Cup,defeatingMohun Bagan2–1. In 2004, they emerged victorious in theSikkim Governor's Gold Cup,defeatingANFA XI4–2 in penalty-shootout. During the 2005–06 season, they participated inKalinga Cupin Odisha and reached the final, defeating Bangladeshi side Bada Jagarani Sangsad by 4–2.[22][23]They clinched the title defeating Cuttack SSH 2–0.[24]Eveready Association also reached the final of the 111th edition ofIFA Shieldbut lost 1–5 toBayern Munich IIat the end.[25][26][27]

Chirag United players (in purple) in action withEast Bengal FCduring the2008–09 I-League.

In 2006, the club was renamed as United Sports Club to attract a title sponsor and the football division owned by United Sport Football Team Private Ltd.[28]Later, veteran managerAmal Duttawas roped in as head coach in place of BelgianPhilippe De Ridder.[29]With the inflow of sponsorship, the club clinched promotion to the first division of theI-Leaguein 2007.[30]Previously the club has competed in theNational Football League (India)before joining the newly formedI-League.[31]Later in 2009, they roped inSubrata Bhattacharyaas head coach.[32][33][34]

2010–2020[edit]

Shankar Oraonduring the club's preseason training in 2011.

Prayag United participated in the 123rd edition of theDurand Cupin2010.United emerged champion at theAmbedkar Stadiumwith a 1–0 tie-break win overJCT FC.[35][36]For the2010–11 I-Leagueseason, United SC played at theSalt Lake StadiuminKolkata.On Indian Transfer deadline day United SC made headline news by signingIndia national football teamstrikerSunil Chhetriuntil the end of the season.[37]On 3 April 2011, Chhetri scored his first goal for Chirag United againstDempo,however, Dempo won the match 4–2.[38]Chhetri then scored a brace on 29 April 2011 againstONGCto help salvage a 2–2 draw for Chirag.[14]In June 2011 after theI-Leagueseason ended, old sponsors Chirag chose to cut ties with United SC and thus Chirag United SC became Prayag United Sports Club. Even though the team has lost a lot in terms of sponsorship money the club is still able to sign and retain their current players.

Lalkamal Bhowmickof Chirag United, making an early inroad againstHAL SCduring the2010–11 I-League.

On 3 August 2011, it was announced that United Sports Club had signed a sponsorship deal withPrayag Groupand on 7 August 2011 United Sports Club officially changed their name toPrayag United SC.[39][40][41]In October, the club narrowly missed the opportunity of winning theDurand Cup,after a 5–4 defeat toChurchill Brothers.[42][43]The association, however was cancelled in the summer of the 2013, when the company found itself involved in the chit-fund scam. The name was again changed toUnited Sports Club.[44][45][46]

United SC playerAbhijit Mondalin 2011

In November 2012, DutchmanEelco Schattoriewas roped in by the club as their new manager,[47]and he managed his first game in India on 10 November 2012, where he led Prayag to a 10–1 victory over newly promotedUnited Sikkim.[48]Schattorie won his first and only cup for the side on 20 March 2013 when Prayag United defeatedEast Bengalin theIFA Shieldfinal 1–0 through aRanti Martinsgoal.[49]The following season in the I-League, They thrashedAir India FCby 5–1 margin,[50]and eventually finished the2012–13campaign leading Prayag United to a fourth-place finish with 44 points.[51][52][53][54]In that season, they emerged as the runners-up of the2012 IFA Shield,losing toEast Bengalby 4–2 on penalties.[55][56]

Sanjoy Senmanaged the club from 2010 to 2012 and helped the team reaching finals of 2011 Durand Cup and 2012 IFA Shield

In2013,the club won their maidenIFA Shieldtitle by defeatingEast Bengal FCin the final by 1–0 margin.[57][58]In that competition (Semi-finals), they also defeated a foreign sideDeportivo SaprissaofCosta Rica.[59]After the end of2013–14 I-League season,Unitedfinished on tenth position with 26 points in 24 matches and was evicted from I-League for not fulfilling theAsian Football Confederation's club licensing criteria.[60][61]

On 24 July 2015, it was announced that the club appointedBino Georgeas the new head coach.[62]United emerged as champions in the2019–20 Calcutta Premier Division Bwith 28 points in 14 matches and earned promotion to Division A.[63]In that season, United reached to the semi-finals of the2020 IFA Shieldbut lost toGeorge Telegraph SCby 2–1.[64][65][66]

2021–present[edit]

United SC maintained good form in domestic league, as they moved to championship round of2022–23 I-League 2.[67][68][69]At the end of the round in May, they finished in fifth position.[70][71][72][73]In June 2023, the Indian Football Association (IFA) announced the merger of both Premier Division A and B of theCalcutta Football League,ahead of its 125th edition, in which United was allowed to compete in Group I.[74][75][76][77]In 2023–24 I-League 2, the club was managed by Ranjan Bhattacharjee.[78]Inthat league season,United SC earned sixth-place finish with 15 points in 14 matches.[79][80]

Crest & colours[edit]

The club crest is designed in the shape of a blue and white circle, that includes wordsUnited Sports Clubin the blue strip.[81]This is to show United Sports Club as the main name of the club. Inside the crest, there is aPeafowlon top of afootball.

United SC players (in pink) in action againstSporting CGin an I-League match at the Duler Stadium in Mapusa, December 2013.

While the crest isblueandwhite,the official colours of United SC arepurpleandyellow.[82]While still sponsored and owned byChirag Computers,United Sports Club's official colours were purple and white. The home kit for United SC includes a purple and yellow jersey with purple shorts and white socks while the away kit is all white with red socks.

Ownership[edit]

Originally established in 1927 as theEverReady Association,the club was renamed as the United Sports Club in 2006, following financial backing by Chirag Computers, a subsidiary of RP Group Company.[83][84]With the inflow of sponsorship thereafter, the club clinched promotion to the first division of theI-Leaguein 2008.

In 2011, Prayag Group (also known as Chirag United Sports Pvt. Ltd.) bought the majority stake of the club, and rebranded it as "Prayag United".[85][86][87]Alokesh Kundu and Siddhartha Bhattacharya became General Secretary and Director of United Sports respectively.[88]The club in headquartered in 33/8, Nabi Krishna Ghoshal Road.[89]

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors[edit]

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2007–2011 Chirag Computers[90]
2011–2013 Prayag Group[85]
2013–2014
2015–2018 Vamos Krishi Bharati[91]

Stadium[edit]

An outside view of theKalyani Municipal Corporation Stadium

United Sports Club currently plays at the 20,000 seatingKalyani Municipal Corporation StadiuminKalyani.[92][93]Though the officials initially said that club would move toSiliguri,they have decided to stay in Kalyani for the 2013–14 season and continued there.[39][94]

TheSalt Lake Stadium,hosted I-League home matches ofUnited Sports,alongsideEast BengalandMohun Bagan.

Previously, the club used the iconic 85,000 seaterSalt Lake StadiuminKolkata[95][96][97]for their home matches of theI-League[98]andCalcutta Football League.[99][100]

Players[edit]

First-team squad[edit]

As of 20 January 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules.Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK IndiaIND Suvam Sen
4 DF IndiaIND Susovan Ghosh
5 DF IndiaIND Pravat Soren
6 MF IndiaIND Sanjib Mondal
7 MF IndiaIND Prasanta Das
9 FW IndiaIND Sahil Harijan
11 DF IndiaIND Sujal Munda
12 MF IndiaIND Prabik Ghising
14 MF IndiaIND Bijay Bahadur
15 MF IndiaIND Sudipta Malakar
17 FW IndiaIND Gaurab Das
18 DF IndiaIND Sayan Das
19 DF IndiaIND Rahul Kuddes
20 MF IndiaIND Dilip Orawn
23 DF IndiaIND Soubik Bal
No. Pos. Nation Player
24 MF IndiaIND Dipesh Murmu
25 FW IndiaIND Parvaj Bhuiya
27 FW IndiaIND Suman Sarkar
28 DF IndiaIND Monotosh Chakladar
31 GK IndiaIND Sourav Samanta
34 MF IndiaIND Sajan Sahani
35 MF IndiaIND Amarnath Baskey
42 GK IndiaIND Raunak Ghosh

Technical staff[edit]

Title Name
Owner IndiaNabab Bhattacharya
Head coach BelgiumSteve Herbots

Notable players[edit]

World Cup player

Costa Ricanfootballer Carlos Hernández, appeared in the2006 FIFA World Cup,also played for the club from 2012 to 2013.

Foreign players

Noted Indian internationals

Honours[edit]

League[edit]

Cup[edit]

Team records[edit]

Seasonal records[edit]

1storW Winners
2ndorRU Runners-up
Promoted
Relegated
Top scorer in division
Results of league and cup competitions by season
Season Division P W D L F A Pts Pos Federation Cup Super Cup Asia Round reached Name Goals
League Top goalscorer
2007 NFL2 5 2 1 2 6 5 7 3rd
2008 IL2 5 4 1 0 9 4 13 1st
2008–09 IL 22 6 8 8 20 26 26 8th Group
2009–10 IL 26 8 8 10 33 39 32 8th Group BrazilEdmilson 9
2010–11 IL 26 5 14 7 31 36 29 8th Group IndiaSunil Chhetri 7
2011–12 IL 26 11 9 6 41 29 42 7th Group GhanaYusif Yakubu 12
2012–13 IL 26 13 5 8 55 35 44 4th Group NigeriaRanti Martins 26
2013–14 IL 24 5 11 8 22 32 26 10th Group LiberiaEric Brown 10
2015 IL2 14 5 2 7 24 28 17 5th Group

Managerial records[edit]

Other records[edit]

Other departments[edit]

Football: youth section and academy[edit]

In 2013, United SC launched its U20 team to participate in theElite League (India)as Prayag United U20[157]and competed in 2012 and2013 I-League U20.[158][159][160]The club's U19 team[161][162]was formed in 2010 and competed in the2010and 2012 editions of U19 I-League.[163]They later participated in the league during the2014–15 I-League U19season from group A –Kolkatazone and moved to final round.[164][165][166][167]They have also participated in 2017–18 edition of youth league.[168]Club's under-19 team also took part in IFA U19 Calcutta Football League.[169]

United SC's reserve team also participated in regional tournaments like All India Steel Express Football Championship.[170]The club has been operating United Sports Football School for youth development, having two campuses in Shyamnagar, and Doon Heritage School in Siliguri.[171]In December 2023, football academy of United SC gained 'elite category' accreditation by theAll India Football Federation.[172]

Honours

Men's cricket[edit]

United SC operates men's cricket team, which is affiliated to theCricket Association of Bengal(CAB).

Honours
  • CC&FC Merchant's Cup
    • Champions (1): 2021–22[177]

See also[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ^Fourth oldest football tournament,organized by theIFA(W.B.), and played between the local clubs ofWest Bengaland other invited ones.
  2. ^From 2015 to2018,the IFA Shield was designed as an youth tournament wherein youth teams of all divisions were allowed to participate (ref.:"IFA Shield now U-19 tournament".Telegraph India.10 January 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 27 January 2016.Retrieved16 February2016.).

References[edit]

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Bibliography[edit]

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]