NEROCA Football Club (known fully as North Eastern Re-Organising Cultural Association Football Club) is an Indian professional football club based in Imphal, Manipur, that currently competes in the I-League 2. It previously competed in the I-League, the second tier of the Indian football league system. Founded in 1965, and nicknamed "Orange Brigade", the club made their I-League 2nd Division debut in the 2015–16 season. Winning the 2016–17 league, they secured promotion to the I-League.
NEROCA is the first club from Northeast India to reach the final of the coveted Durand Cup. The club also competes in the Manipur State League.
History
Formation and early years
North Eastern Re-Organising Cultural Association (abbreviated as NEROCA) was established in 1965, with the hope of improving quality in the field of cultural activities and sports in the Indian state of Manipur. It was registered under the Manipur State co-operative Society Registration Act bearing registration No. 1016 of 1972. NEROCA is a registered football club of the Imphal East District Football Association, and affiliated with All Manipur Football Association (AMFA). NEROCA has participated in every edition of the Manipur State League since its inception. The club has a record of second place finish for the first time in the 2007 edition. The club is also a regular participant of Sir Churachand Singh Memorial Football Tournament.
2014–present
In the 9th season of Manipur State League (2014), NEROCA won championship trophy. The club as per norms of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), changed the nomenclature from "NEROCA" to "NEROCA Football Club Imphal", aiming to join I-League 2nd Division. NEROCA then went on to compete in the 2015–16 and 2016–17 I-League 2nd Division seasons. They emerged as champions of the 2016–17 season with 26 points in 10 matches from the final round, and qualified for the 2017–18 season of the I-League. They also clinched the title of Manipur State League in 2016.
The biggest achievement of NEROCA is emerging as the runners-up in the 2017–18 I-League. Under the coaching of Gift Raikhan, they finished campaign with 32 points from 18 matches. In that season, NEROCA brought Vector X as their official shirt sponsor. In the 2020–21 I-League, NEROCA finished bottom of the Relegation Stage and got formally relegated, but were reinstated by AIFF after viewing the situation of COVID-19 pandemic.
On 4 July 2021, NEROCA signed Khogen Singh as their head coach for the 2021–22 I-League season, and began the league journey with a 3–2 win against Sreenidi Deccan on 27 December 2021. They achieved seventh position in league table. They later participated in 2022 Durand Cup. In 2022–23 I-League, NEROCA they finished on tenth position, and later, failed to qualify for the 2023 Indian Super Cup. In October, the club roped in Malaysian manager Jacob Joseph as head coach for 2023–24 league season. In April 2024, NEROCA along with TRAU, refused to travel to Mizoram to play Aizawl in their away matches and the games were cancelled by the AIFF; Both the teams from Manipur were relegated to I-League 2. The club took part in the 2024–25 I-League 2.
Crest, colours & kits
In the official club crest, there is map of Manipur in background and an anchor of sailing boat in foreground.
The official colours of NEROCA are orange and green.
Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors
Stadium
Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal, Manipur, is used as the home ground of NEROCA Football Club for all their home matches in both the domestic and regional leagues. Opened in 1999, the stadium is owned by All Manipur Football Association and has a capacity of 35,285 spectators. Their first home match in the I-League was played on 15 December 2017 against Chennai City FC.
Support and rivalry
Supporters
NEROCA had the 2nd highest average attendance for the 2018–19 I League season. In the 2017–18 season, NEROCA had the highest attendance in the I-League, with the record attendance of 35,285 at the Khuman Lampak Stadium.
Rivalries
NEROCA have participated in the Imphal Derby with city rival TRAU. The two clubs are the only two from Imphal to have played professional league football. The Imphal Derby gained fame in 2022 during the 131st edition of Durand Cup when competitive football returned to the city after COVID-19 pandemic in India. The Government of Manipur declared a half-holiday for all governmental and educational institutions in build-up to the match on 18 August, where NEROCA defeated TRAU by 3–1 in Group-C opener.
In the Northeast Derby (I-League), they have a rivalry with Mizoram-based club Aizawl.
Players
First-team squad
- As of 30 January 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Personnel
Current technical staff
- As of 20 July 2022
Team records
- Key
- Tms. = Number of teams
- Pos. = Position in league
- Attendance/G = Average league attendance
Overall records
updated on 28 May 2017
Top scorers
- As of 4 May 2023
Other records
- Fastest goal for the club in I-League: Katsumi Yusa — 13 seconds; NEROCA vs Churchill Brothers (2018–19)
Notable players
Past and present internationals
- The players below had senior/youth international cap(s) for their respective countries. Players whose name is listed, represented their countries before or after playing for NEROCA FC.
Managerial record
Information correct after match played on 7 March 2022. Only competitive matches are counted.
Honours
League
- I-League
- Runners-up (1): 2017–18
- I-League 2nd Division
- Champions (1): 2016–17
- Third place (1): 2015–16
- Manipur State League
- Champions (2): 2014, 2016
- Runners-up (1): 2009
Cup
- Durand Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2016
- Tiddim Invitation Football Trophy
- Champions (1): 2004
- Runners-up (2): 2005, 2007
- Churachand Singh Trophy
- Champions (6): 2000, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2016, 2018–19, 2019
- Runners-up (2): 2002, 2008
- Bodousa Cup
- Runners-up (2): 2010, 2015
- Shirui Lily Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2011
Award
- I-League Fair Play Award: 2017–18
Other department
Futsal
NEROCA operates futsal departments and is affiliated to the Futsal Association of India (FAI). The club clinched AMFA (All Manipur Football Association) Futsal Cup in 2005, defeating SSU in final. The club is currently competing in Col. Arunkumar Memorial Inter-club Futsal Tournament, achieved third place in the 2023 edition.
- Honours
- AMFA Futsal Cup
- Champions (1): 2005
- Col. Arunkumar Memorial Championship
- Third place (1): 2023
See also
- List of football clubs in Manipur
- Sports in Manipur
References
Cited sources
Bibliography
- Sharma, Nikhil Paramjit; Gupta, Shantanu (4 February 2019). India's Football Dream. SAGE Publications India. ISBN 9789353283063. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
- Shreekumar, S. S. (15 August 2020). THE BEST WAY FORWARD FOR INDIA'S FOOTBALL. HSRA Publications. ISBN 9788194721697. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
Further reading
- Sarkar, Dhiman (25 March 2018). "India's football past gasping for survival". hindustantimes.com. Kolkata: Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- "NEROCA FC vs. Aizawl FC – Football Match Summary – January 30, 2021". ESPN. 30 January 2021. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
- Quadri, Abreshmina S. (2 January 2018). "Mohun Bagan coach Sanjoy Sen steps down after loss to Chennai City FC". indiatoday.com. India Today. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
- "DEBUTANT NEROCA FC BOLSTER SQUAD FOR MAIDEN I-LEAGUE APPEARANCE". theindianleague.in. 21 June 2017. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- "I-League: Kanoute brace propels Aizawl past TRAU, Arrows draws with NEROCA". sportstar.thehindu.com. Sportstar. 11 February 2020. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- Mukherjee, Soham (1 February 2019). "I-League 2018–19: Katsumi Yusa's brace helps NEROCA do the double over Indian Arrows". goal.com. Goal. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- Sharda, Deepankar (12 December 2016). "Minerva FC to debut in 2017 I-League". tribuneindia.com. Chandigarh: The Tribune India News. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
- Bhutkar, Prasad (13 April 2017). "10-men Kenkre FC pay the penalty as they slump to a 1–0 defeat". footballcounter.com. Mumbai: Football Counter India. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
- "I-League 2018/19: Neroca's Katsumi Yusa hits new record in the I-League history". xtratime.in. Kolkata. 15 December 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
- Guha, Sayantan (8 June 2022). ""Wanted to show India that even a 28-year-old could coach a team at this level" — Rajasthan United boss Francesc Bonet opens up about the ups and downs of the I-League season". sportskeeda.com. Sportskeeda. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- "Thank You Manuel Retamero Fraile". Facebook.com. 11 March 2019. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- Ingale, Shreyash (4 July 2019). "NEROCA set to appoint Gift Raikhan as head coach for upcoming I League season". iftwc.com. Indian Football Team for World Cup. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- "I-League: Juan Quero Barraso's strike helps Minerva Punjab secure 1–0 win over Neroca FC". The Indian Express. PTI. 23 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- "I-League: Sergio Mendi hat-trick leads NEROCA 3–2 win over Sreenidi Deccan". The Times of India. Kolkata. PTI. 27 December 2021. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- "Shillong Lajong return to Hero I-League after four years". the-aiff.com. New Delhi: All India Football Federation. 21 May 2022. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- "Sreenidi Deccan begin campaign in style; slam four past hapless Neroca FC". i-league.org. Hyderabad: All India Football Federation. 29 October 2023. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- "Shillong Lajong held by NEROCA in season's first home game". i-league.org. Shillong: All India Football Federation. 9 November 2023. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- "I-League 2023–24: Shillong Lajong held by NEROCA in season's first home game". sportstar.thehindu.com. Shillong: Sportstar. Press Trust of India. 9 November 2023. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- Media Team, AIFF (18 June 2024). "16 tournaments, 11,000 players: A hectic 2023–24 domestic season with class and character". the-aiff.com. New Delhi: All India Football Federation. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- "Resilient Real Kashmir begin season with 3 points against NEROCA". i-league.org. 13 November 2022. Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
External links
- NEROCA FC at BeSoccer
- NEROCA FC at Global Sports Archive
