Brief History - Sporting Bengal Utd FC

It all began with a football tour to Bangladesh in 1996 by a group of the best Bangladeshi players in London. There was realisation that talent was being wasted with the divisions that existed and that nothing had been achieved by individual teams.

It was agreed that a selective team, consisting of all the best players in the community would form Sporting Bengal Utd FC. The formation of Sporting Bengal required the need for co-ordination.

It was further decided that a regulating body should be set up to co-ordinate the future of football within the East London community. This regulating body came in the shape of the Bangladesh Football Association (BFA), also established in 1996. 

Since then, the BFA has been increasing its activities and developing initiatives at a tremendous pace. The BFA is committed to the following aims and objectives: Provide sporting initiatives which will benefit the local community; Work within a spirit of community empowerment; Very committed to the ethos of community partnership; Use sports, especially football, as a tool to enhance community members spiritually, socially, physically and mentally; To challenge the under-representation of Asian Youths in mainstream British sports via the BFA’s representative team, Sporting Bengal Utd FC

Sporting Bengal crowned UK Asian champions

Sporting Bengal were crowned UK Asian champions in Glasgow on Sunday after a thrilling penalty shootout win over Punjab at Celtic Park.

Bengal netted all five spot-kicks in the shootout before Sporting keeper Shamim Zaman produced his second penalty save of the match to keep out Punjab's final effort and secure the trophy.

Sporting have failed to win the UK Asian Championships in five previous appearances and Bengal boss Mamun Chowdhury hailed his players for clinching the memorable triumph.

He said: "I am very proud to have had the opportunity to bring the trophy back to East London - the Bangladeshi football community have waited for over five years for us to win this.

"It is a remarkable achievement by a very young squad and we aim to build on this success in the Kent League this season."

Sporting qualified from their group with a 100 per cent record in Glasgow after recovering from a second-half deficit to beat hosts Semsa 5-2 in their opening clash and seeing off tournament favourites GSA in a 2-0 win.

Goals from Shahed Ahmed and Foisal Haque sealed a crucial 2-0 victory over rivals London Apsa and booked their place in the final against Punjab.

Final opponents Punjab were given an early chance to take the lead from the penalty spot, but Zaman produced a stunning save before Shah Mashud gave Bengal the lead.

Punjab levelled after another penalty and with no further goals, the match went to penalties where Zaman's heroics sealed Bengal's win.