FC Motown
Full nameFC Morristown
Nickname(s)Motown
Founded2012
StadiumRanger Stadium
Madison, New Jersey
Capacity1,200
Owner(s)Dan Karosen and Scott Kindzierski
Head coachNPSL: Dilly Duka
USL2: Alan McClintock
LeagueNational Premier Soccer League
USL League Two
2022National Champions
WebsiteClub website

FC Motown is an American soccer club based in Morristown, New Jersey. Founded in 2012, the team currently plays 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] 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.[2] While fully amateur, the team qualified for the 2017 U.S. Open Cup by beating tournament regular Lansdowne Bhoys FC, 3–2.[3] 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.[4][5]

In 2017, the team began working with NPSL side Clarkstown SC Eagles and supplied most of Clarkstown's players and staff.[6] Following the season, Clarkstown Eagles re-branded as FC Motown in late 2017.[7]

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.[8][9] 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.[10][11] 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.[12]

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.[13] 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.[14]

Clarkstown SC Eagles Logo (2013–2017)

In addition the team was also a Fricker Cup Region 1 finalist in 2016 and regional semifinalist in 2017.[15] The team was also an Amateur Cup Region 1 semifinalist in 2014 and 2015.[16][17]

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.[18] Northern Ireland native and NPSL assistant coach Alan McClintock was named head coach of the USL side on March 15, 2021.[19]

FC Motown won the 2022 National Premier Soccer League season Championship beating Crossfire Redmond 4–3 in the championship game.[20][21] 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.[22][23] 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.[24][25]

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

  • Northern Ireland Alan McClintock (2018– ) U23 Head Coach, (2020– ) USL2 Head Coach (2023– )

Current squad

As of August 7, 2022[26]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
0 GK United States USA Joshua Schaffer
1 GK United States USA David Greczek
2 DF United States USA Brian Paredes
3 DF Haiti HAI Jean Voltaire
4 MF United States USA Danny Cordeiro
6 DF United States USA Mike da Fonte
7 FW United States USA Joe Fala
8 FW United States USA Ryan Peterson
9 MF United States USA Babacar Diene
10 MF Haiti HAI Junior Delva
No. Pos. Nation Player
13 DF United States USA Marcus Hackett
16 MF United States USA Coby Rodriguez
18 FW Senegal SEN Ben Assane
19 DF United States USA Zach Perez
20 FW United States USA Hayden Criollo
21 FW United States USA Franco Catania
22 MF Ghana GHA Nii Ashitey
23 MF Haiti HAI Nerlin Saint-Vil
25 MF Haiti HAI Samuel Pompée
27 FW England ENG Joe Holland

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
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
Team History
Year League Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Notes
2017 GSSL 1st, Super Division[27] 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[28] 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
USL League Two
Year League Regular Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Notes
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

Honors

HonorChampionsRunners-up
National Premier Soccer LeagueNational championship20222018
Regional championship2018, 20222021, 2023
Conference championship2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023

U.S. Open Cup

References

  1. ↑ "Home Field". FC Motown. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  2. ↑ Reed, Matt (August 4, 2018). "FC Motown isn't an ordinary NPSL side, and it shows in Year 1". NBC Sports. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  3. ↑ Fido, Austin (October 18, 2016). "Sacir Hot talks FC Motown and US Open Cup: "It's kinda surreal"". Once a Metro. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  4. ↑ Vieira, Romulo (May 14, 2017). "2017 US Open Cup round 1: FC Motown's extra time free kick is enough to edge NJ Copa FC". TheCup.us. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  5. ↑ Doherty, Brendan (May 20, 2017). "2017 US Open Cup round 2: Graf's goal, assist gives Rochester Rhinos a record 16th straight opening win". Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Welcome to NPSL: FC Motown – FC Motown". Archived from the original on 2019-04-24. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  7. ↑ "CLARKSTOWN SC EAGLES REBRANDS AS FC MOTOWN". National Premier Soccer League. December 6, 2017. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  8. ↑ Matthews, Aaron (July 10, 2018). "FC Motown Clinches the Keystone Conference; Team Ranked No. 1". Tap into Madison. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  9. ↑ Ralph, Matthew (July 15, 2018). "West Chester United knocked out of NPSL playoffs in penalty shootout". Brotherly Game. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  10. ↑ "FC MOTOWN ADVANCES TO NATIONAL SEMIFINALS WITH 3–2 WIN OVER NEW YORK COSMOS B". National Premier Soccer League. July 22, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  11. ↑ "FC MOTOWN DEFEATS FCM PORTLAND 2–1 IN NATIONAL SEMIFINAL". National Premier Soccer League. July 29, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  12. ↑ "MIAMI FC 2 CROWNED 2018 NPSL NATIONAL CHAMPIONS". National Premier Soccer League. August 5, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  13. ↑ "NJSA – Referee Assignment System". system.njsasoccer.com. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  14. ↑ Celtics, FC Motown (2018-10-13). "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". @fc_motown. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  15. ↑ Fricker, Michael (March 29, 2016). "Region I Finalizes 2016 Fricker Open Cup Schedule". US Amateur Cup Media. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  16. ↑ "2014 Cup Qualifiers". United States Adult Soccer Association – Region I. Archived from the original on 2019-04-24. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  17. ↑ "2015 Cup Qualifiers". United States Adult Soccer Association – Region I. Archived from the original on 2017-04-05. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  18. ↑ Battista, Mike (13 January 2021). "FC Motown to join USL League Two for 2021 season". Once A Metro. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  19. ↑ "FC Motown Announces Northern Ireland Native, Alan McClintock As Inaugural USL2 Head Coach". FC Motown. Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  20. ↑ Cohen, Michael (7 August 2022). "FC Morristown Wins 2022 NPSL Championship". FOX Sports Radio New Jersey. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  21. ↑ Battista, Mike (8 August 2022). "NPSL title win "more about belief" than experience for FC Motown". Once A Metro. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  22. ↑ Dyer, Kristian (26 July 2022). "Appalachian FC falls in NPSL East Region Championship to FC Motown after deep run". Watauga Democrat. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  23. ↑ Tranchina, John (30 July 2022). "Two late goals lead to heart-breaking loss for Athletic in NPSL semifinals". Tulsa World. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  24. ↑ Doherty, Brendan (22 April 2022). "2022 US Open Cup round 3: Nine-man Rochester NY FC survives after PK shootout vs. FC Motown". thecup.us. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  25. ↑ DiVeronica, Jeff (21 April 2022). "FC Motown Earns $25K Prize after Finishing as the Top Open Division Team in the Open Cup". National Premier Soccer League. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  26. ↑ "2022 National Championship Matchday Guide". National Premier Soccer League. National Premier Soccer League. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  27. ↑ "NJSA – Referee Assignment System". system.njsasoccer.com. Retrieved 2019-07-14.
  28. ↑ Prince-Wright, Joe (26 March 2020). "2020 NPSL season cancelled". ProSoccerTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
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