“I still remember the day Morgan (Trevor) sir came to the club for the first time,” expressed Saumik Dey, former East Bengal captain, his voice laced with gratitude. “Tall, sharp, in a suit – a gentleman. He had some charisma.”
Dey, who captained East Bengal in 2010 and played close to 300 matches for the club as a left-back, delved nostalgically into the glory days under their favourite “Morgan sir. In a candid conversation, Dey shared memories of the club’s resurgence under Morgan and the remarkable unity he instilled in the team.
The conversation also aimed to shed light on what has been going wrong for the current East Bengal squad. Dey, an integral part of the club’s golden era, winning multiple trophies like the Fed Cup, Durand Cup, Shield, and numerous Calcutta League titles, recalled the transformative days when Morgan took charge of the Red and Golds. The team was going through a rough patch, morale was low, and motivation was scarce.
“‘Who is the captain?’ – he asked on the first morning in training, and I stepped forward,” said Dey. When he explained the squad’s state, Morgan’s words were simple yet powerful: “‘You take care of the dressing room; I’ll look after everything else. Of course, I’ll be there with you.’” Dey was immediately inspired and felt a renewed sense of purpose with Morgan’s leadership from that first day.
According to Dey, Morgan fundamentally changed the team’s decorum for the better. Strict standards of punctuality and discipline were put into place, yet there was always an undercurrent of joy and camaraderie. No one felt fear – instead, they felt encouraged to strive for their best. “He is the best foreign coach I’ve worked with,” said Dey, brimming with respect for the British coach’s approach.
Dey also recalled the unique financial sanctions Morgan implemented to reinforce discipline. “One thousand rupees for being late to training, five thousand for an unnecessary yellow card in a match, and ten thousand for a red.” As Dey shared this, a wistful smile crossed his face. “There’s more to it!” he added, knowing the writer’s curiosity had been piqued.
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“If it was an 8 a.m. training slot, the reporting time was 7:30,” Dey explained. “He used to wait inside the dressing room before 7:30 and monitor who was entering the ground at what time.” Practice sessions under Morgan were intense and competitive, so much so that occasional tussles broke out among teammates. “There were even separate sanctions for players involved in those,” he added, laughing at the memory.
Of course, the obvious question arose: how much money was collected, and what happened to it? Dey chuckled. “We used to collect an average of Rs. 50,000 every two months.” And the best part? “Morgan sir would take us out for lunch with that money, and those were the best days.”
Dey elaborated on how these team lunches fostered unity and strengthened their chemistry. “We had so many such lunches, and our bond became stronger than ever. You could see the result – we became a dominant side again.”
Under Morgan’s guidance, East Bengal lifted trophies like the IFA Shield, Durand Cup, and Fed Cup. Although they finished second in the I-League on two occasions, Morgan led the team to its best-ever performance in the AFC Cup, reaching the semifinals in 2013, only to fall to the formidable Kuwait FC on aggregate.
“He was like a father-figure to us,” Dey said, his tone affectionate. “I do miss him.”
Reflecting on the club’s current struggles, Dey sighed. “It’s tough to see my beloved club going through these hard times. I hope they find their chemistry again and bring back the glorious days.”
With that heartfelt wish, Dey signed off; his words a poignant reminder of the Red and Golds’ cherished past under the legendary Trevor Morgan.
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