Nickname(s) The Bengal Tigers Chairman Aroz Miah Arena/Stadium Mile End Stadium | Ground Capacity 2,000 Manager Imrul Gazi Founded 1996 | |
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Full name Sporting Bengal United Football Club Ground Mile End Stadium, London League Essex Senior Football League | ||
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.
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History
The club was formed in 1996 to encourage Asian football in London. They initially played in the London Intermediate League until they gained senior status in 2003, whereupon they 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 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.
The club made history by being the first Asian football team to reach the 3rd round proper of the FA Vase in the 2011–12 campaign.