Shillong Football: A peek through the century

By Sumar Sing Sawian
Shillong Lajong Football Club, has not only carved itself a niche in the realm of football, but had also created history of being the only team from North East India to qualify for the I-League. This is the greatest hallmark in the history of Shillong football which is over a century old if we take 1896 as its starting point.
It has been a long way since the days when footballers played barefooted in the Polo ground, which continues to be the focal point of the most popular sport, attracting keen spectators cheering away, whistling and also jeering. During those years when British soldiers were stationed in Shillong, the local lads had quickly picked up the trick of the trade.
U Morendro Doonai, recipient of British War and Victory Medals, had recounted in this memoirs, as narrated by Babu Wilson Reade Phanwar- a renowned footballer of those days, the name of other outstanding footballers like Willip Lewis, Jogendra (Kendro) Dkhar, and other Bengalle players, playing against the British army teams.
Eventually football clubs were formed including the Shillong Town Club, Christian Athletic Club (CAC), Hills United Club, vying against each other to win the “Earl Cup.” The standard of football had then gradually improved with the participation of the 1/8th Gurkha army teams.
Star players of those days also happened to be intellectuals and society leaders like Rai Bahadur Ropmay, Rai Sahib Hormu Diengdoh, who was also the Editor of the first Khasi newspaper “U Khasi Mynta,” Wilson Reade Phanwar, Captain H Lyngdoh, Chandra Nath Roy Sawian, Josing Rynjah who was also the president of the Laban Sports Club.
In later years the Shillong football fans thoroughly enjoyed exhibition matches of Shillong XI against visiting Calcutta too teams like Mohan Bagan, East Bengal, Mohammodan Sporting and others usually played at the Garrison ground in Laban.
On one occasion Shillong Town Club defeated East Bengal. The Shillong team was then honoured by the Calcutta team, allowing Shillong Town Club to officially don the yellow and red colours of East Bengal.
Shillong XI had produced outstanding players the likes of Shlur Nongbri who was selected in the Indian Olympic team, Bah Trait who played for the Indian Navy and others. The Shillong State Transport team has to its credit of being the first ever Shillong team to win the coveted Bordoloi Trophy played in Gauhati.
Ever since there is no looking back for Shillong football, and right now there are three footballers Shillong Lajong juniors who are undergoing further training at Siageise Denmark. The trio namely Lairamluaha, E Uegeneson Lyngdoh and Lalthuammawia Ralte are doing well according to the Director of FCV Vikings Gert Hansen. The Denmark based club is a famous name in the Danish 1st Division League.