East Bengal finished the 2008 Calcutta Premier Division in 3rd place with 25 points from 14 matches behind champions Mohun Bagan and runners-up Mohammedan Sporting.[1][2]
East Bengal started the Federation Cup campaign as defending champions and was allotted into Group C alongside JCT, New Delhi Heroes and Sporting Club de Goa. East Bengal won all the group matches and reached the semi-finals where they lost to their arch-rivals Mohun Bagan in the penalty shoot-out after the game ended 1–1 in regulation time.[3][4]
^Chaudhuri, Arunava (26 February 2009). "30th Federation Cup 2008". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.