F.C. Kariya FC刈谷

FC Kariya (FC刈谷, Efu Shi Kariya) are a Japanese football club based in Kariya, Aichi. They play in the first division of Tokai Adult Soccer League and they're aiming towards professional leagues. In 2021 season, they currently play in the Japan Football League.

History

The club was founded in 1949 as Nippon Denso Soccer Club. They mainly played in the Tokai Regional League; Kariya was already represented in the Japan Soccer League by the club belonging to Toyota Industries (not to be confused with nearby Toyota Motors, which is the club that became Nagoya Grampus).

Nippon Denso were finally promoted to the Japan Football League in 1996. They played their first JFL season under new name DENSO Soccer Club because of the change of their owner's name.

DENSO relinquished the ownership at the end of the 2005 season and non-profit organisation Kaeru Sports Club took over. Their name F.C. Kariya was chosen from entries from the public. Despite this change of ownership, F.C. Kariya did not show much ambition for J. League status in subsequent campaigns and finished in 17th place on the 2009 season of the Japan Football League, being relegated back to the Tokai Regional League after losing a promotion/relegation series to the more ambitious Zweigen Kanazawa.

In 2015 Kariya became champions of the Tokai Adult Soccer League and participated in the 2015 Regional League promotion play-offs, reaching the Top 4, but not the promotion back to JFL. They also featured three times in the Emperor's Cup, reaching 2nd round both in 2007 and in 2012.

In 2020 season, the Tokai Adult Soccer League was held in an irregular knock-out format due to the covid-19 pandemic. Lead by a new manager Koji Kadota, FC Kariya won the tournament to qualify for the regional championship, and achieved runner-up in it, resulting to return to the Japan Football League for the 2021 season.