Heritage plaque for CC&FC, one of world’s oldest clubs
Times of India | 25 February 2025
Kolkata: The Calcutta Cricket & Football Club (CC&FC), one of world's oldest and most prestigious institutions, received the heritage plaque by the Kolkata chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Culture (Intach) for its significant contribution to the city's sporting and social history. CC&FC joins the distinguished list of institutions honoured by Intach, including Calcutta Club, Tollygunge Club, and Calcutta Rowing Club.
In the recent past, heritage eateries such as Amber, Trincas, Flurys, Royal, and Aminia, as well as historic buildings like Thapar House and various buildings of Kolkata Police, also received this honour. The award ceremony took place on the club premises on Sunday evening, where GM Kapur, convener of Intach's Kolkata chapter, unveiled the plaque in the presence of club members, heritage enthusiasts, and other dignitaries, including legendary Olympian Gurbux Singh and former tennis icon Leander Paes.
"The heritage honour means a lot to our club and its members as we are all extremely proud of the fact that we are the second oldest cricket club in the world and have so much sporting history attached to us," said Saurav Chatterjee, president of the club. "Club culture is one of the unique aspects of the city, and we have a very important part to play in preserving that club culture."
"CC&FC is one of the oldest sporting institutions in Kolkata. This recognition is part of our effort to highlight heritage structures that have played a crucial role in shaping the city's cultural and social identity," said Kapur.
The origins of CC&FC date back to 1792, when a report in the Madras Courier documented cricket matches played by the Calcutta Cricket Club. Established during the British colonial period, the club played a key role in the development of cricket in India. By 1889-90, it hosted the country's first-ever tour by an English cricket team, an event that contributed to the eventual formation of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
In 1872, the Calcutta Football Club was founded, making it the oldest surviving rugby club outside the United Kingdom. The club was instrumental in establishing the Indian Football Association (IFA) and played a key role in the early development of football in India. In 1965, the Calcutta Cricket Club and Calcutta Football Club merged to form CC&FC, consolidating their legacies under one institution. Today, the club continues to uphold its tradition of excellence in cricket, rugby, football, and other sports.