Dalhousie Athletic Club (Bengali: ডালহৌসি অ্যাথলেটিক ক্লাব) is an Indian professional sports club based in Kolkata, West Bengal, best known for its football section.[2][3][4][5][6] It was established in 1880,[7] during the British rule in India.[8][9][10] Dalhousie has competed in the Premier Division of Calcutta Football League for a long time.[11]

Dalhousie AC's club tent is located in Mayo Road, Kolkata Maidan, in Esplanade. Besides sporting achievements, the club is also known for organizing cultural activities alongside social initiatives.[12]

History

Formation and early history

Dalhousie AC was founded as the Trades Club in 1878, and is the second oldest football club established in the country.[3][14][15][16] The athletic division was incorporated by the British employees of jute mills and members of then established organizations such as the Naval Volunteers, Police, Customs and the Armenian Club.[17][18] Trades Club was renamed as "Dalhousie Club" in 1980,[19][20] after the famous Dalhousie Institute, which was situated on the south side of Dalhousie Square and was originally constructed as a Monumental Hall.[21][22][23] The club later won prestigious Calcutta Football League four times in 1910, 1921, 1928 and 1929.[24][25] With having British officials in club committee, Dalhousie instituted and organized Trades Cup (the second oldest football tournament in the country) in 1889, with the help of trading community of Calcutta.[26][27] It was the first open football tournament in India, where Indian, British, regimental and college clubs participated,[28] and the club clinched the trophy in inaugural edition defeating Howrah AC 2–1.[29] Dalhousie later achieved the prestigious IFA Shield title in 1897, and 1905.[30][31] In 1905, the club reached Gladstone Cup final,[32] held in Chinsurah, but lost 6–1 to Mohun Bagan.[33][34] In Kolkata football during the British Raj, Dalhousie predominantly had a fierce rivalry with Calcutta Rangers Club, which was a non-civilian team.[35]