FC Motown explained

Clubname:FC Motown
Upright:0.8
Fullname:FC Morristown
Nickname:Motown
Founded:2012
Stadium:Ranger Stadium
Madison, New Jersey
MSU Soccer Park
Montclair, New Jersey
Capacity:1,200
5,000
Owntitle:Owner(s)
Owner:Dan Karosen and Scott Kindzierski
Mgrtitle:Head coach
Manager:NPSL: Dilly Duka
USL2: Alan McClintock
League:National Premier Soccer League
USL League Two
Season:2022
Position:National Champions
Website:https://fcmotownsoccer.com/
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American:true

FC Motown is an American soccer club based in Morristown, New Jersey. Founded in 2012, the team currently fields teams in both the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) and USL League Two. In 2020, the team joined the newly formed Northeast Elite Soccer League (NESL) and formed a U23 team that competed in the EDP 23U league.

The team plays its home games at Drew University's Ranger Stadium and Montclair State University's MSU Soccer Park.[1] [2] [3] Since 2022, the club's NPSL team has been coached by former New York Red Bulls player Gideon Baah. On January 4, 2024, Dilly Duka, a former player for a number of MLS teams including the New York Red Bulls, was announced as the club’s new head coach for the NPSL and US Open Cup teams.

Motown has one league championship in the franchise history, winning the 2022 National Premier Soccer League National Championship.

History

FC Morristown was founded in 2012 by Scott Kindzierski and Dan Karosen and began play in the Garden State Soccer League (GSSL), an amateur soccer league for teams based in the state of New Jersey.[4] While fully amateur, the team qualified for the 2017 U.S. Open Cup by beating tournament regular Lansdowne Bhoys FC, 3–2.[5] The team advanced to the second round by beating NPSL side New Jersey Copa FC, 2–1, before falling to Rochester Rhinos of the United Soccer League, 3–0.[6] [7]

In 2017, the team began working with NPSL side Clarkstown SC Eagles and supplied most of Clarkstown's players and staff.[8] Following the season, Clarkstown Eagles re-branded as FC Motown in late 2017.[9]

The following year, Motown finished atop the Keystone Conference table (regular season record of 9–1–0) before winning the conference playoffs all-together by beating West Chester United SC in the final.[10] [11] In the Regional and National Playoff, Motown reached the national final by beating FC Baltimore, New York Cosmos B, and FC Mulhouse Portland with a combined score of 8–3.[12] [13] In the final, the team would fall at home to Miami FC 2, 3–1, in front of a sold-out crowd of 2,143.[14]

Motown still fields a team in the GSSL and are eight-time Super Division Champions, winning the title in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022.[15] Entering the 2018 season, FC Motown had a 23-game undefeated streak in the GSSL before falling to Jackson Lions FC in the middle of the season.[16]

In addition the team was also a Fricker Cup Region 1 finalist in 2016 and regional semifinalist in 2017.[17] The team was also an Amateur Cup Region 1 semifinalist in 2014 and 2015.[18] [19]

Motown took part in the inaugural Lower League eCup during the summer of 2020, a lower league eSports FIFA competition, winning the PS4 title with player Deiver Lopez.

Once back on the field in 2020, the team won the NJ State Cup title defeating Clifton, and the GSSL Super Division title defeating Clifton. The team also formed a U23 team which competed in the EDP and went 7–0 winning the men's central red division.

On January 13, 2021, Motown joined USL League Two alongside its NPSL squad, U23 team, and local amateur sides.[20] Northern Ireland native and NPSL assistant coach Alan McClintock was named head coach of the USL side on March 15, 2021.[21]

FC Motown won the 2022 National Premier Soccer League season Championship beating Crossfire Redmond 4–3 in the championship game.[22] [23] The final at MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field was attended by 2,065 people. The team defeated teams such as West Chester United, Appalachian FC, and Tulsa Athletic en route to the final.[24] [25] Earlier the same year Motown competed in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup tournament and finished with its best performance to date. The team reached the third round, beating West Chester and National Independent Soccer Association side AC Syracuse Pulse. The team fell to Rochester New York FC (formerly the Rochester Rhinos) in penalty kicks in the next round but earned $25,000 as the farthest reaching Open Division that year.[26] [27]

FC Motown has had multiple players sign professional contracts off its squad during its brief history such as Joe Fala with New York Red Bulls 2 and has signed professional talent such as former New York Red Bulls star Dilly Duka and New York Cosmos midfielder Jimmy Mulligan among others. The team has had friendlies against professional teams such as New York City FC, New York Red Bulls II, the Ecuadorian U-20 National Football Team, Peruvian side Sport Boys, and a controlled scrimmage with the Ecuador national football team.

Players & staff

Coaches

Current squad

[28]

Notable players

This list of notable former players comprises players who went on to play professional soccer after playing for the team or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.

Record

Year-by-year

Clarkstown SC Eagles History (2012–2017)!Year!League!Regular Season!Playoffs!U.S. Open Cup!Notes
2012NPSL3rd, Keystone ConferenceDid not qualifyIneligiblePlayed as Jersey City Eagles FC
2013NPSL3rd, Keystone ConferenceDid not qualifyDid not qualify
2014NPSL5th, Keystone ConferenceDid not qualifyDid not qualify
2015NPSL1st, Keystone ConferenceRegional FinalDid not qualifyLost in Northeast Regional Final to New York Cosmos B
2016NPSL1st, Keystone ConferenceNational semifinal1st RoundLost in National semifinal to AFC Cleveland
2017NPSL2nd, Keystone ConferenceNortheast Regional Final1st RoundLost in Northeast Regional Final to Elm City Express
Team History!Year!League!Regular Season!Playoffs!U.S. Open Cup!Notes
2017GSSL1st, Super Division[29] N/A2nd RoundPlayed as a fully amateur side
2018NPSL1st, Keystone ConferenceNational Final2nd RoundLost in National Final to Miami FC 2
2019NPSL3rd, Keystone ConferenceNortheast Regional semifinal1st RoundLost in Northeast Regional semifinal to FC Baltimore Christos
2020NPSLSeason cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic[30] Cancelled
2021NPSL3rd, Keystone ConferenceEast Regional FinalCancelledLost in East Regional Final to FC Baltimore Christos
2022NPSL1st, Keystone ConferenceChampions3rd RoundDefeated Crossfire Redmond in the Championship
2023NPSL1st, Keystone East ConferenceEast Regional Final1st RoundLost to West Chester United SC in the Eastern Regional Final
USL League Two!Year!League!Regular Season!Playoffs!U.S. Open Cup!Notes
2021USL League Two5th, MetropolitanDid not qualifyIneligible
2022USL League Two7th, MetropolitanDid not qualifyDid not qualify
2023USL League Two6th, MetropolitanDid not qualifyDid not qualify

Honors

Honor Champions Runners-up
National championship2018
Regional championship 2021, 2023
Conference championship 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

U.S. Open Cup

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Home Field. FC Motown. December 6, 2018. April 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190424192125/https://fcmotown.com/club/home-field/. dead.
  2. Web site: First Team. FC Motown. July 2, 2024.
  3. Web site: USL2. FC Motown USL2. July 2, 2024.
  4. Web site: FC Motown isn't an ordinary NPSL side, and it shows in Year 1. Reed. Matt. August 4, 2018. NBC Sports. April 24, 2019.
  5. Web site: Sacir Hot talks FC Motown and US Open Cup: "It's kinda surreal". Fido. Austin. October 18, 2016. Once a Metro. April 24, 2019.
  6. Web site: 2017 US Open Cup round 1: FC Motown's extra time free kick is enough to edge NJ Copa FC. Vieira. Romulo. May 14, 2017. TheCup.us. April 24, 2017.
  7. Web site: 2017 US Open Cup round 2: Graf's goal, assist gives Rochester Rhinos a record 16th straight opening win. Doherty. Brendan. May 20, 2017. April 24, 2019.
  8. Web site: Welcome to NPSL: FC Motown – FC Motown. en-US. 2019-04-24. 2019-04-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20190424183511/https://fcmotown.com/welcome-to-npsl-fc-motown/. dead.
  9. Web site: CLARKSTOWN SC EAGLES REBRANDS AS FC MOTOWN. December 6, 2017. National Premier Soccer League. April 24, 2019.
  10. Web site: FC Motown Clinches the Keystone Conference; Team Ranked No. 1. Matthews. Aaron. July 10, 2018. Tap into Madison. April 24, 2019.
  11. Web site: West Chester United knocked out of NPSL playoffs in penalty shootout. Ralph. Matthew. July 15, 2018. Brotherly Game. April 24, 2019.
  12. Web site: FC MOTOWN ADVANCES TO NATIONAL SEMIFINALS WITH 3–2 WIN OVER NEW YORK COSMOS B. July 22, 2018. National Premier Soccer League. April 24, 2019.
  13. Web site: FC MOTOWN DEFEATS FCM PORTLAND 2–1 IN NATIONAL SEMIFINAL. July 29, 2018. National Premier Soccer League. April 24, 2019.
  14. Web site: MIAMI FC 2 CROWNED 2018 NPSL NATIONAL CHAMPIONS. August 5, 2018. National Premier Soccer League. April 24, 2019.
  15. Web site: NJSA – Referee Assignment System. system.njsasoccer.com. 2019-04-24.
  16. Web site: 5–1 loss to @JacksonLionsFC on road snapping our 30 plus wins in a row in GSSL in resounding fashion. Down 2–1 with 20 left and Jackson down to 10 men but it all came on done. Thin bench tonight but the right team ended the streak. Maxi Garcia with goal.. Celtics. FC Motown. 2018-10-13. @fc_motown. en. 2019-04-24.
  17. Web site: Region I Finalizes 2016 Fricker Open Cup Schedule. Fricker. Michael. March 29, 2016. US Amateur Cup Media. April 24, 2019.
  18. Web site: 2014 Cup Qualifiers. United States Adult Soccer Association – Region I. en-us. 2019-04-24. 2019-04-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20190424161956/https://www.usasaregion1.com/page/show/2214406-2014-cup-qualifiers. dead.
  19. Web site: 2015 Cup Qualifiers. United States Adult Soccer Association – Region I. en-us. 2019-04-24. 2017-04-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20170405080714/http://www.usasaregion1.com/page/show/2214355-2015-cup-qualifiers. dead.
  20. Web site: Battista . Mike . FC Motown to join USL League Two for 2021 season . Once A Metro . 13 January 2021 . en . 13 January 2021.
  21. Web site: FC Motown Announces Northern Ireland Native, Alan McClintock As Inaugural USL2 Head Coach . FC Motown . 15 March 2021 . 15 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210315190944/https://fcmotown.com/2021/03/09/fc-motown-announces-northern-ireland-native-alan-mcclintock-as-inaugural-usl2-head-coach/ . dead .
  22. Web site: Cohen . Michael . FC Morristown Wins 2022 NPSL Championship . FOX Sports Radio New Jersey . 11 August 2022 . en . 7 August 2022.
  23. Web site: Battista . Mike . NPSL title win "more about belief" than experience for FC Motown . Once A Metro . 11 August 2022 . en . 8 August 2022.
  24. Web site: Dyer . Kristian . Appalachian FC falls in NPSL East Region Championship to FC Motown after deep run . Watauga Democrat . 11 August 2022 . en . 26 July 2022.
  25. Web site: Tranchina . John . Two late goals lead to heart-breaking loss for Athletic in NPSL semifinals . Tulsa World . 11 August 2022 . en . 30 July 2022.
  26. Web site: Doherty . Brendan . 2022 US Open Cup round 3: Nine-man Rochester NY FC survives after PK shootout vs. FC Motown . thecup.us . 14 August 2022 . en . 22 April 2022.
  27. Web site: DiVeronica . Jeff . FC Motown Earns $25K Prize after Finishing as the Top Open Division Team in the Open Cup . National Premier Soccer League . 14 August 2022 . en . 21 April 2022.
  28. Web site: 2022 National Championship Matchday Guide . National Premier Soccer League . 14 August 2022 . en . 1 August 2022.
  29. Web site: NJSA – Referee Assignment System. system.njsasoccer.com. 2019-07-14.
  30. Web site: Prince-Wright . Joe . 2020 NPSL season cancelled . ProSoccerTalk . NBC Sports . 20 May 2022 . 26 March 2020.