Sporting Bengal United
Full nameSporting Bengal United Football Club
Nickname(s)The Bengal Tigers
Founded1996 (1996)
GroundMile End Stadium, London
Capacity2,000 (439 seated)
ChairmanAroz Miah
ManagerSteven Clark
LeagueEssex Senior League
2022–23Eastern Counties League Division One South, 4th of 19 (promoted via play-offs)
WebsiteClub website

Sporting Bengal United Football Club is an English football team from Mile End, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. They currently play in the Essex Senior League.

History

The club was formed in 1996 to encourage Asian football in London. They initially played in the London Intermediate League until they were granted senior status in 2003 by the London Football Association, following a tour to Bangladesh, where they played the Bangladesh national team.[1] In the same year, Sporting Bengal joined the Kent League. In 2005, they were one of the first Asian teams to play in the FA Cup, along with London APSA of the Essex Senior League, whose roots are in the neighbouring borough of Newham.

The Sporting Bengal set-up is unusual in that it is operated by the Bangladesh Football Association (UK) and players are selected from (and retain their affiliation with) the Sunday league clubs which are affiliated to that organisation. In 2011 the club signed up ex Wycombe Wanderers and Wimbledon striker Shahed Ahmed. They were also unusual in being the only Kent League club to play their home matches north of the River Thames, outside the traditional borders of Kent.

In the earlier years most of their players would chew gua and paan during games until the FA banned a number of players from doing so.

In 2010, Sporting Bengal was targeted by the Bangladesh Football Federation for its players to represent the Bangladesh national squad. Sadiq Sarwar and Shahed Ahmed were selected to represent their country at the 2010 South Asian Games.

Records

  • Best league position: 8th in the Essex Senior League, 2018–19[2]
  • Best FA Cup performance: First qualifying round, 2016–17[2]
  • Best FA Vase performance: Third round, 2011–12[2]
  • Attendance: 4,235 vs Mohammedan Sporting Club[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The unique journey of Sporting Bengal United". The Non-League Paper. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Sporting Bengal United at the Football Club History Database
  3. ↑ Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2012) Non-League Club Directory 2013, p660 ISBN 978-1-869833-77-0
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