Football Team Late 20s
In 1920, Club was second in the League Championship contests, the Calcutta FC being the champions that year. It also went up to the semi-final in the IFA Shield tournament but surprisingly lost to Kumartuli by 1-2 goals.
In 1921, Mohun Bagan again achieved runners up position in Calcutta League just two points behind Dalhousie Club. The first ever derby encounter between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal held in this year on 8th August, In semifinal of Cooch Behar cup. That match was ended in a 0-0 draw. In the replay match on 10th August Mohun Bagan defeated East Bengal 3-0.
In 1922, Mohun Bagan invited a team of South African Indian footballers to play couple of friendly matches, won one and lost the other. In this year Mohun Bagan won Cooch Behar cup defeating East Bengal 2-0.
In 1923, Mohun Bagan reached the final of IFA Shield but lost the opportunity to become champion after a 0-3 loss to Calcutta Football Club by on a rain soaked ground . In this year, Mohun Bagan got the invitation to take part in Rover’s Cup. Mohun Bagan played very well and reached the final. Unfortunately, in the final club lost to Derham’s Light Infantry by 4 goals to 1, but during this tournament Mohun Bagan got huge support.
In 1924, Mohun Bagan lost one of its big well-wishers, the first club President Mr. Bhupendra Nath Bose. After this incident, Sir Rajendra Nath Mukherjee became the new President of Mohun Bagan club. Dwijendra Nath Basu and D. N. Guin were selected as the Honorary Joint Secretary of the club.
In 1925, Mohun Bagan created another history by getting invitation as the first ever-Indian football club for playing in the Durand Cup. In those days only British military teams had the sole right to participate in the Durand Cup. Mohun Bagan reached the semi-final by defeating Royal Berkshire regiment in the first round, the York Lancaster Regiment in the second round and the Essex Regiment in the third round but lost to Sherwood Forest at the Semi-final after a good fight. In the same year club took second position in the Calcutta League just one point behind Calcutta FC. Dwijendra Nath Bose was elected the Honorary General Secretary of the club in this year.
In 1926, the club reached the third round of IFA Shield but lost to Sherwood Forest and lost Durand Cup to Derham’s Light Infantry.
In 1927, Gujarat suffered a heavy flood situation and a Flood Relief Fund was constructed to support to the people of Gujarat. Mohun Bagan played some exhibition matches at Bombay to raise fund for this purpose. In this year Club won the Governor’s Cup of Hazaribagh but was unable to make any impact in the Durand Cup, which was, held at Shimla, even in presence of some great players like Samad, Balaidas Chatterjee. Mohun Bagan lost to the Wiltshire Regiment in the IFA Shield competition by 2-1.
In 1928, Mohun Bagan won the Power League for the first time, Cooch Behar Cup for the fourth time and Lakshmibilas Cup for the third time. The club finished third in the Calcutta Football League, winning all the matches in the first half except that with the Dalhousie AC, who became the champions. In the IFA Shield competition Mohun Bagan lost to the same club.
In 1929, there was some unpleasantness at the League Game between the Dalhousie Club and Mohun Bagan, resulting in the withdrawal of nearly all the Indian Clubs from the IFA and the Calcutta League.But there was a happy ending to the dispute. There was an amicable settlement agreed to by all the clubs, under which the Indian Clubs earned equal representation with the European Clubs on the Council of the IFA. The Indian Clubs revert their decision of withdrawal and played in the IFA Shield and League subsequently. Mohun Bagan finished second in the League competition, Dalhousie being the champions. The club lost to Royal Irish Fusiliers , one of the strongest sides then in India by 1-0 in the fourth round of IFA Shield . Mohun Bagan took part in Durand Cup contest but lost to the Sandemanians.