17 Facts About Gostha Pal

Gostha Behari Pal was an Indian footballer who played primarily as a defender.

Gostha Pal moved to Calcutta when he was an infant and lived there till his final days.

Gostha Pal was a student of Sarada Charan Aryan Institution in Beniatola.

Gostha Pal later represented Mohun Bagan cricket team many times.

Gostha Pal was married to Pushpa Kundu and gave birth their sons Nirangshu and Sukumar.

Gostha Pal was influenced by legendary footballer Shibdas Bhaduri and choose football later, after watching Mohun Bagan's historic IFA Shield victory in 1911 from gallery.

Gostha Pal was given the title "Chowdhury" during British Raj, but never used it due to nationalist sentiments.

Gostha Pal went on to write his autobiography which is unfinished and unpublished.

Gostha Pal was groomed and coached by Rajen Sen and Major Sailen Bose.

Gostha Pal started playing for Kumartuli Athletic Club at the age of 11, and was spotted there by Kalicharan Mitra, known as Kali Mittir, one of only two Indian members in the governing body of the Indian Football Association at the time.

Gostha Pal was signed by Mohun Bagan at the age of 16, as a replacement for Reverend Sudhir Chatterjee.

Beside playing for Mohun Bagan, Gostha Pal was invited to join newly formed East Bengal Club by its founder president Suresh Chandra Chaudhari in 1920; he joined the team and appeared as captain in Hercules Cup, a 'seven-a-side' competition, and they managed to win title.

Between 1924 and 1935, during the British rule in the country, Gostha Pal represented India national football team in their tours to Ceylon and Australia.

Gostha Pal took part, and captained in India's earliest known matches against visiting European teams.

Gostha Pal was again selected in the Indian team for an away match against Ceylon in 1933 as the captain of IFA XI.

Beside football, Gostha Pal appeared in the silent era movie Gouri Shankar, which was directed by Anandamohan Roy, produced by National Pictures Limited, and released on 26 October 1932.

In 1998, a postage stamp dedicated to Gostha Pal, was unveiled in Calcutta by the India Post.