| 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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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.
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.
Šaćir Hot (2012–2022) NPSL Head Coach
Gideon Baah (2022–2024) NPSL Head Coach Dilly Duka (2024-) NPSL Head CoachThis 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.
| 2012 | NPSL | 3rd, Keystone Conference | Did not qualify | Ineligible | Played as Jersey City Eagles FC | |
| 2013 | NPSL | 3rd, Keystone Conference | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | ||
| 2014 | NPSL | 5th, Keystone Conference | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | ||
| 2015 | NPSL | 1st, Keystone Conference | Regional Final | Did not qualify | Lost in Northeast Regional Final to New York Cosmos B | |
| 2016 | NPSL | 1st, Keystone Conference | National semifinal | 1st Round | Lost in National semifinal to AFC Cleveland | |
| 2017 | NPSL | 2nd, Keystone Conference | Northeast Regional Final | 1st Round | Lost in Northeast Regional Final to Elm City Express |
| 2017 | GSSL | 1st, Super Division[29] | N/A | 2nd Round | Played as a fully amateur side | |
| 2018 | NPSL | 1st, Keystone Conference | National Final | 2nd Round | Lost in National Final to Miami FC 2 | |
| 2019 | NPSL | 3rd, Keystone Conference | Northeast Regional semifinal | 1st Round | Lost in Northeast Regional semifinal to FC Baltimore Christos | |
| 2020 | NPSL | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic[30] | Cancelled | |||
| 2021 | NPSL | 3rd, Keystone Conference | East Regional Final | Cancelled | Lost in East Regional Final to FC Baltimore Christos | |
| 2022 | NPSL | 1st, Keystone Conference | Champions | 3rd Round | Defeated Crossfire Redmond in the Championship | |
| 2023 | NPSL | 1st, Keystone East Conference | East Regional Final | 1st Round | Lost to West Chester United SC in the Eastern Regional Final |
| 2021 | USL League Two | 5th, Metropolitan | Did not qualify | Ineligible | ||
| 2022 | USL League Two | 7th, Metropolitan | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | ||
| 2023 | USL League Two | 6th, Metropolitan | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| Honor | Champions | Runners-up | |
|---|---|---|---|
| National championship | 2018 | ||
| Regional championship | 2021, 2023 | ||
| Conference championship | 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | ||