Dhaka Wanderers

Establishment and early years (1937–1948)

The club was established as the Dhaka Muslim Wanderers Club in 1937 in the Kalta Bazar market area of Dhaka, British regime. The founding members consisted of the area's Muslim youth community, including notable figures such as Yar Mohammed, Abdullah Hai, Siraj Uddin, Abdul Qader, Abdus Sadek Shona, Mohon, Abdus Sayeed Mutkar, Alauddin, Chan Mia, Shamsuddin Shaju, Jumman Bepari, and Shahabuddin. Among them, Yar Mohammed and Abdullah Hai served as the club's first president and secretary, respectively. The club initially concentrated exclusively on football but later broadened its scope to incorporate hockey and cricket teams.

Following the growing influence of sports-loving members from the Nawab family of Dhaka, the club was renamed Dhaka Wanderers Club in 1939. In the same year, they won the Second Division Football League of Dhaka and entered the First Division in 1940. During this period, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (later known as Bangabandhu) was known to have played for the club. In 1944, Wanderers reached the semi-finals of the prestigious Ronaldshay Shield, which was the club's biggest achievement during the British rule. The club tent at that time was located south of the land now occupied by the Outer Stadium Ground.

Strongest in East Pakistan (1948–1956)

Following the Partition of India, Wajeed Ali Miazi, the club's goalkeeper and captain, served as its football secretary from 1949–1950 and joint secretary from 1951–1960. Notably, Miazi had begun acting as player-cum-coach in 1947. In 1949, the club finished runners-up in the First Division and were also joint champions of the Ronaldshay Shield. The tournament final against Commilla Mohammedan, held at the Dhaka Sporting Association ground on 25 September 1949, ended in a 0–0 draw. The Wanderers' starting eleven consisted of Wajeed Ali Miazi, Sheikh Shaheb Ali, Nur Mia, Mahbub, Nozor Mohammed, Soleman, Khan Majlish, Moharaj, Sadek, Yusuf Reza, and Shamsu. This joint cup triumph marked the beginning of the club's domination of the domestic football scene over the next decade.

The club won its maiden First Division title in 1950 and achieved successive league triumphs by 1951. The following year, Bengal Government Press stopped Wanderers from claiming their third-consecutive league title. In the title-deciding match on 1 August 1952, Pressmen defeated Wanderers 2–0. Although Wanderers still had two league matches remaining, they were seven points behind the eventual champions, confirming their finish as runners-up. Nonetheless, in 1953, the club clinched their third First Division title. Notably, they defeated Wari Club 12–1 in a league fixture held on 27 July, during which center-forward, Abu Sayed Rafiqul Bari, better known as Bahram, scored five goals. On 31 July, the club sealed the league title with a 3–0 victory over eventual runners-up, Azad SC, with goals coming from Raushan Ali "Robson", George Macwa, and Abdur Rahim. In the same year, the club traveled to West Bengal to participate in the IFA Shield in Calcutta, India. After receiving a bye in the first round, the club drew twice 0–0 against compatriot side Chittagong Mohammedan before winning the third replay of their second round fixture on 10 September by 2–0. The scorers were Abdur Rahim and Rashid. In the third round, the club were eliminated 1–0 by Hindustan Aircraft FC in the replay on 13 September after a goalless draw.

In 1954, under the captaincy of Abdur Rahim, Wanderers retained the First Division League title. The club's center-forward, Bahram, finished as the league's top scorer, while their left-inside, Ashraf Chowdhury, finished second on the goal scorers list. In the same year, Wanderers once again participated in the IFA Shield. In the first-round match, held on 7 September, the club defeated local side, Kalighat Club 3–1, with goals from Bahram, Ashraf, and Rashid. In the second-round match against local league champions, Mohun Bagan, held on 11 September, the game was abandoned due to poor lighting at the East Bengal–Mohun Bagan Ground, while the visitors trailed 1–2 in front of more than 30,000 spectators. The visitors scored their only goal through Ashraf. Eventually, in the replayed match held on 14 September, Wanderers were eliminated from the tournament after losing 0–4 to Mohun Bagan.

In 1955, Wanderers won their third-consecutive First Division League title. However, controversy over the league season remains, as it was abandoned midway due to regional flood. The club was leading the points table until the league was abandoned, and according to their officials during that period, Wanderers were eventually declared champions by the authorities that year. On 14 August 1955, the club defeated I.G. Police XI 2–1 in the Independence Day Tournament final held in Mohammedan Sports Ground in Dhaka. Both goals were scored by the club's Anglo-Indian right-outside, Robson. In the same year, the club participated in the IFA Shield for the third consecutive year. Beginning in the first round on 21 September, they defeated Maharana Club of Guwahati 2–0, with goals from Abdur Rahim and Tajul Islam Manna. In the second round, held on 23 September, the club were eliminated after a 1–0 defeat to Sibasagar Amateur Club.