[11][12][13][14] They won the opening match of the 1892 Trades Cup by defeating the East Surrey Regiment with the score of 2–1.
[15][16][17] The first Indian club to win the Trades Cup was the National Association who won the trophy in the 1900 edition.
The Indian club from South Calcutta under the guidance of Manmatha Ganguly defeated the British side, Shibpur Engineering College on 11 August 1900 at the Shobhabazar Ground.
[15][18][19] Mohun Bagan completed a hat-trick of Trades Cup titles between 1906 and 1908,[20] which enabled them to make their IFA Shield debut in 1909.
The tournament gives the Kolkata clubs outside the "Big Three" playing in the Premier and lower divisions the chance to field and organise their teams ahead of the start of their league season.