The 1980s: A Brief Stumble

The heady successes of the 1970s did not cascade into the 1980s. Squabbles between PK and Dr. Das become way too frequent and PK was left with little choice but to leave the club. Dr. Das’s reign as the club supreme also came to an end in 1978.

To make matters worse came the darkest day in Calcutta’s football history, the 16th of August 1980. East Bengal and Mohun Bagan clashed at the Eden Gardens in a crucial play-off match. Bad blood between the players soon translated into agitation in the galleries. Soon a riot-like situation broke out in the stands. In the mad rush to leave the ground, a horrific stampede left several dead and innumerable injured. Critics often single out this match as a turning point for soccer craze in Calcutta; post the Eden bloodbath, a large section of upper-class and upper-middle class supporters moved away from football.

1984 saw Mr. Paltu Das win the club elections. An extremely pragmatic individual, Mr. Das played an important role in resurrecting the club’s fortunes. An average team started taking confident strides towards brilliance all over again. In 1986, East Bengal became the first Indian club to represent the country in the finals of Asian Cup Championship in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) in 1985-86.

The late 1980s saw East Bengal rise to national prominence yet again. Players like Manoranjan Bhattacharya, Bhaskar Ganguly, Krishanu Dey and Bikash Panji came into the limelight.

Compiled by: Ranadurjay Talukdar