[3] The royal houses of Patiala and Cooch Behar, A.A. Apcar of Armenian Club and J Sutherland of Dalhousie AC had financially contributed for the inception of the Shield.

The coveted shield was designed by Walter Locke & Co. (Calcutta) and made by Messrs Elkington & Co.

[4] During the initial years of the competition, the IFA Shield was dominated by British Army teams and the Royal Irish Rifles defeated W.D.R.A.

[6][7][8] That was a historic moment for Indian football as well the struggle for independence, as the natives beat the Englishmen in their own game.

While the Royal Irish Rifles remains the most successful British Army side with 5 titles, East Bengal Club has won the IFA Shield a record 29 times.