Calcutta Police

Calcutta Cricket Club

The history of CC&FC dates back to 1792, when the club was established by the name of "Calcutta Cricket Club Clippers". It was primarily a cricket institution in the East India Company rule in India. The club was also founded as one of the earliest known gentlemen's clubs (for Europeans only) in Calcutta, then capital of British India. Recent evidence in the form of an article published in the Hicky's Bengal Gazette, suggests the club (described as "Gentlemen of Calcutta Cricket Club") existed in 1780 – that would make it the oldest cricket club in the world. In 1792 during their tour in India, Eton cricket team (Old Etonians) appeared in an exhibition match against Calcutta Cricket Club. By 1825, CC&FC established themselves as one of the formidable sides in Bengal Presidency, alongside British Army-operated cricket teams in the country.

Calcutta Football Club

Incorporated in 1872, Calcutta Football Club predominately introduced rugby in the country. Outside the United Kingdom, it is the oldest patron club that went on to form the Rugby Football Union (RFU). As per the Amrita Bazar Patrika, the club's membership was restricted to people belonging to the upper strata of British middle class. They later contributed in introducing and developing association football; Nagendra Prasad Sarbadhikari (founding father of football in India) taught the game to his classmates of the prestigious Hare School compound in 1877, after observing British soldiers playing the game in the Calcutta FC ground. CC&FC soon emerged as one of the prestigious private members' clubs in Asia; By January 1873, nearly 137 members had enrolled, while European women were granted membership in the first half of the 19th century. The club became one of the founding members of the Indian Football Association (IFA) in 1893, then headed by British administrators. The primary sport Rugby, later suffered because of the departure of British regiments. Bicycle Polo division (now known as Cycle Polo) was formed in 1901–02, and being played since then in CC&FC.

Merger and later years (1960s–present)

CC&FC were the founding members of the CAB (Cricket Association of Bengal), IFA (Indian Football Association) and BHA (Hockey Bengal formerly known as Bengal Hockey Association). CC&FC has many tournaments where outsiders also take part. We have coaching schemes for youngsters in cricket, football, swimming and rugby.

After acquiring both "Ballygunge Cricket Club" (1864–1950) and "Calcutta Football Club" (1872–77; 1884–1965) in 1965, the institution completed all the absorptions to introduce themselves under the name of "Calcutta Cricket and Football Club" (CC&FC). Sports still being practised at the club include: cricket, football, field hockey, rugby, cycle polo, swimming, tennis, and bridge. The football team competed in both the Premier Division A and B of Calcutta Football League. The club's cricket and football teams usually participated in their respective divisions as "Calcutta Cricket Club" for cricket and "Calcutta Football Club" for football. Their hockey and rugby teams participate under the combined name of "Calcutta Cricket and Football Club".

CC&FC has been hosting various tournaments, including Merchants' Cup (a corporate open tournament) since 1970s for both football and cricket. Merchants' Cup in hockey hosted by the club until its discontinuation in 2005, while cricket tournaments at the club are being sponsored by the Indian Premier League outfit Kolkata Knight Riders. Other tournaments such as J. Thomas Cup in rugby, and Georgiadi 7s tournament are also hosted at the club ground. In November 2017, the club organized their 225th anniversary celebration, marking the 225 years of cricket in India, with presence of noted international cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar, Saurav Ganguly, MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, VVS Laxman, and Virat Kohli. In June 2023, Indian Football Association made an official announcement of merger of the both Premier Division A and B of Calcutta Football League (CFL), ahead of 125th edition, and allowed CC&FC to compete in Group I.