A perfectly well-balanced side consisting of 4 Europeans (Bagorro, Pinho, Mestre and Brandao) besides local talent, and with excellent performers in every department, it wasn’t surprising that Salgaocar Sports club made an immediate impact on Goan football. Then playing a 3-2-5 formation, with Mestre under the bar, rivals found a tough time in finding the back of the net. A strong defence with the likes of Alcantra Barreto, Candido Abreu, Menino Figueiredo and Caetano Rodrigues provided good protection to the goal-keeper. Vassu Raiturkar with his brilliant dribbling ability toyed with many a team and he was aptly supported in the mid-field by Pinho. The strike – force consisting of Suresh Kuchadkar, Ainsao Coutinho, Anthony, Santan and Pinho fetched goals for the team with relative ease.

The first major challenge for this newly formed team was the ‘Taca de Ouro’ (Gold Cup), a tournament instituted by late Mr. V. M. Salgaocar in 1956. A brilliant performance by the side under the guidance of Portuguese Player/Coach Bagorro, Salgaocar Sports Club, then in the Second Division notched an impressive 3-1 victory over First Division city rivals Vasco SC to etch their name on the trophy. They repeated this impressive feat again in 1957 and 1958, and on virtue of winning the trophy trice, retained the original gold cup.

1956–57 season also saw Salgaocar SC make their debut in the Goa Second Division League which they won with an unbeaten record to make it to the top echelons of Goan football.

After two seasons in the Goa First Division, Salgaocar Sports Club was crowned as Champion Club of Goa when they clinched the Goa First Division League in 1960 in just their third season in the top flight. They successfully managed to retain the trophy till 1963-64 season. On the way to one of the First Division titles, Salgaocar Sports Club thrashed Sporting Clube De Goa (Portuguese Military team) 19-1, the biggest win by the club till date. Despite losing out on the title to city rivals Vasco SC in the 1964-65 season, they came back strongly and clinched the coveted title again in 1965-66.

The 1961 Salgaocar SC Football team that won the Goa League title

In 1962, Salgaocar Sports Club became the first team from Goa to take part in a major outstation tournament when it participated in the 1962 Durand Cup. Football fans in Delhi heaped praises galore on the Goan style of play. Then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who played a pivotal role in the liberation of Goa, was absolutely delighted at the news of a Goan team’s participation at a tournament in Delhi that he hosted a tea party at his official residence for the team.

The 1962 Salgaocar SC team that participated in the Durand Cup along with then Prime Minister of India the late Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru at his official residence at 10 Race Course Road.

Standing (L to R): Fenelon D'Souza, Keshav Nagvenkar, Candido Abreu, Menino Figuereido, Unnikrishnan (Manager), Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru (Then Prime Minister of India), Joaquim Goes, Ainsao Coutinho, Caetano D'Souza, Wilson Mazarello, Pompeu Colaco, Anthony. Sitting (L to R): Fanchu Rodrigues, Eustaquio D'Souza, Johny, Vassu Raiturkar, Ernesto, Peter Gomes, Caetano, Alex.

In 1965, the club achieved another milestone when they finished runners-up in the Nagpur Rovers.

Late Mr. V. M Salgaocar started the club with an aim of promoting Goan football talent, and on 12^th December 1965 a major part of that dream was realized when Salgaocar Sports Club Carmona born player Menino Figuereido became the first Goan player to don the colours of the country when he represented India for a friendly match against USSR in Bombay.

Menino Figuereido, Salgaocar SC and Goa's first International Football Player