NEROCA Football Club (known fully as North Eastern Re-Organising Cultural Association Football Club) is an Indian professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

club based in

Imphal Imphal (; , ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the city contains the ruins of Kangla Palace (officially known as Kangla Fort), the royal seat of the former Kingdom of Manipur, surrounded by a ...

Manipur Manipur () is a state in northeastern India with Imphal as its capital. It borders the Indian states of Assam to the west, Mizoram to the south, and Nagaland to the north and shares the international border with Myanmar, specifically t ...

, that currently competes in the

I-League 2 The I-League 2 is an Indian men's professional association football, football league. It is the 3rd tier of the Indian football league system, behind the Indian Super League and the I-League. It operates as a system of promotion and relegation ...

. It previously competed in the

I-League The I-League is the men's second professional football division of the Indian football league system behind the Indian Super League. Administered by the All India Football Federation, it is currently contested by 13 clubs. It operates as a s ...

, the second tier of the

Indian football league system The Indian football league system is the league structure of football club competitions in India. The highest level of men's club football competition is the Indian Super League. Indian Women's League, founded in 2016, is the highest level of ...

. Founded in 1965, and nicknamed "Orange Brigade", the club made their

I-League 2nd Division The I-League 2 is an Indian men's professional association football, football league. It is the 3rd tier of the Indian football league system, behind the Indian Super League and the I-League. It operates as a system of promotion and relegation ...

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 Northeast India, officially the North Eastern Region (NER), is the easternmost region of India representing both a geographic and political Administrative divisions of India, administrative division of the country. It comprises eight States and ...

to reach the final of the coveted

Durand Cup The Durand Cup (also called the IndianOil Durand Cup Powered by Coal India Limited for sponsorship reasons) is an annual domestic football competition in India which was first held in 1888 in Annadale, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Hosted by the ...

. The club also competes in the

Manipur State League The Manipur State League is the highest state-level football league in Manipur, India. It has been organised since 2006 by the All Manipur Football Association under the Vision India program with guidance from the AFC and the AIFF. History The ...

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

. 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 The All Manipur Football Association (AMFA) is the state governing body of association football, football in Manipur. It is affiliated with the All India Football Federation, the national governing body. It sends state teams for Santosh Trophy ...

(AMFA). NEROCA has participated in every edition of the

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 All India Football Federation (AIFF) is the governing body of football, futsal and beach soccer in India. It is a member of FIFA, and is affiliated with the Asian Football Confederation and South Asian Football Federation. It is affiliated wit ...

(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 A single-elimination knockout, or sudden-death tournament is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of a match-up is immediately eliminated from the tournament. Each winner will play another in the next round, until the final match-up, w ...

, and qualified for the 2017–18 season of the

. They also clinched the title of Manipur State League in

2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...

. The biggest achievement of NEROCA is emerging as the runners-up in the

2017–18 I-League The 2017–18 I-League was the 11th season of the I-League. Aizawl were the defending champions. NEROCA entered as the promoted team from the 2016–17 I-League 2nd Division. The season began on 25 November 2017. Minerva Punjab won their first ...

. Under the coaching of

Gift Raikhan Gift Raikhan (born 25 May 1981) is an Indian football coach and a former player who played as a left-back. He also managed Manipur football team in Santosh Trophy. Playing career During a playing career which spanned six seasons, Raikhan play ...

, 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 The 2020–21 I-League (known as the ''Hero I-League'' for sponsorship reasons) was the 14th season of the I-League, one of the top tier Indian professional football leagues, since its establishment in 2007. The tournament was hosted in bio-sec ...

, NEROCA finished bottom of the

Relegation Stage Promotion and relegation is used by sports leagues as a process where teams can move up and down among divisions in a league system, based on their performance over a season. Leagues that use promotion and relegation systems are sometimes call ...

and got formally relegated, but were reinstated by AIFF after viewing the situation of

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. On 4 July 2021, NEROCA signed

Khogen Singh Wangkhem Khogen Singh (born 1 February 1971) is a former Indian football player and current head coach of I-League club NEROCA. He was head coach of I-League side, Minerva Punjab, whom he led to the 2017–18 title. Playing career Born in ...

as their head coach for the 2021–22 I-League season, and began the league journey with a 3–2 win against

Sreenidi Deccan Sreenidi Deccan Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in Hyderabad, Telangana. It was established on 1 January 2015 as a football academy in Hyderabad, and later was launched from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh in 2021. The ...

on 27 December 2021. They achieved seventh position in league table. They later participated in

2022 Durand Cup The 2022 Durand Cup (also known as IndianOil Durand Cup due to sponsorship ties with Indian Oil Corporation) was the 131st edition of the Durand Cup, the oldest football tournament in Asia, and also the first edition since it was supported by t ...

. In 2022–23 I-League, NEROCA they finished on tenth position, and later, failed to qualify for the

2023 Indian Super Cup The 2023 Super Cup (also known as the 2023 Hero Super Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the third edition of the Super Cup and the 41st season of the national knockout football competition in India. The competition was sponsored by Hero MotoCor ...

. In October, the club roped in Malaysian manager

Jacob Joseph Jacob Joseph (; 1840 – July 28, 1902) served as chief rabbi of New York City's Association of American Orthodox Hebrew Congregations, a federation of Eastern European Jewish synagogues, from 1888 until his death in 1902. Born in Krozhe, a pro ...

as head coach for 2023–24 league season. In April 2024, NEROCA along with TRAU, refused to travel to Mizoram to play

Aizawl Aizawl (, American English, US: , British English, UK: ; Mizo language, Mizo: ), formerly known as Aijal, is the capital city and the most populous city of Mizoram, India. It is also the third largest city in northeast India. It is situated ato ...

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 The 2024–25 I-League 2 was the 17th season of the I-League 2 since its establishment in 2008. It was also the 3rd season as the third tier of the Indian football league system. The top two clubs secured a place in the 2025–26 I-League seas ...

, in which they later fought in the relegation stage alongside city rival TRAU.

Crest, colours & kits

In the official club crest, there is map of

in background and an

anchor An anchor is a device, normally made of metal, used to secure a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the craft from drifting due to wind or current. The word derives from Latin ', which itself comes from the Greek (). Anch ...

of sailing boat in foreground. The official colours of NEROCA are

orange Orange most often refers to: *Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis'' ** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower ** Orange juice *Orange (colour), the color of an orange fruit, occurs between red and yellow in the vi ...

and

green Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by a com ...

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Stadium

Khuman Lampak Main Stadium The Khuman Lampak Main Stadium is a multi-use stadium located in Imphal, in the Indian state of Manipur. It is used mostly for football and athletics, and hosts the majority matches of the Manipur State League. The stadium holds 35,285 people ...

, 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

and has a capacity of 35,285 spectators. Their first home match in the

was played on 15 December 2017 against

Chennai City FC Chennai City Football Club was an Indian professional football club based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The club predominantly competed in the I-League, which was then highest division of Indian football league system. They have also appeared in th ...

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 Trogir () is a historic town and harbour on the Adriatic coast in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia, with a population of 10,107 (2021) and a total municipal population of 12,393 (2021). The historic part of the city is situated on a small island b ...

. 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

when competitive football returned to the city after

COVID-19 pandemic in India The COVID-19 pandemic in India is a part of the COVID-19 pandemic, worldwide pandemic of COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019 () caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As of , according to Indian government ...

. The

Government of Manipur The Government of Manipur (; /mə.ni.pur lə́i.ŋak/), also known as the State Government of Manipur, or locally as State Government, is the supreme governing authority of the Indian state of Manipur and its 16 districts. It consists of an ex ...

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) Northeast Derby or North-East Derby is the name given to the football matches played among the northeastern teams in the national leagues: ISL, I-League, I-League 2, and I-League 3. History The first match of a northeast derby in I-League ...

, they have a rivalry with

Mizoram Mizoram is a states and union territories of India, state in northeastern India, with Aizawl as its Capital city, capital and largest city. It shares 722-kilometres (449 miles) of international borders with Bangladesh to the west, and Myanmar t ...

-based club

Players

First-team squad

Personnel

Current technical staff

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

Other records

* Fastest goal for the club in

Katsumi Yusa is a Japanese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Primeiro Fukushima. Career Sanfrecce Hiroshima Yusa debuted for Sanfrecce Hiroshima in a 2-2 home draw against Gamba Osaka in the 2007 J1 League on 1 December. Yusa also ...

— 13 seconds; NEROCA vs

Churchill Brothers Churchill Brothers Futebol Clube de Goa (simply known as Churchill Brothers) is an Indian professional football club based in Margao, Goa, that competes in the Indian Super League, alongside the Goa Professional League (reserves). Founded in 1 ...

( 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''.

India

Tomba Singh Wangkheirakpam Tomba Singh (born 3 April 1982) is an Indian former footballer who played as a midfielder. He is the current assistant coach of the I-League club NEROCA. Career Tomba began his footballing career with YWC, Thambalkhong in the ...

(2016) *

Sushil Kumar Singh Chongtham Sushil Kumar Singh is an Indian football player. He is currently playing for NEROCA F.C. in Manipur's local statewide league. Club career Mahindra United Singh started his footballing career at Mahindra United in the I-League and ...

(2016–2018) * Govin Singh (2016–2018) *

Arata Izumi is a professional coach and former footballer who played as a midfielder. He was recently the assistant coach of I-League club Inter Kashi. Born in Japan, Izumi represented India at the international level. Izumi played nine matches for India ...

(2017) *

Gouramangi Singh Gouramangi Singh Moirangthem (born 25 January 1986) is an Indian former professional footballer. He is currently the assistant coach of Indian Super League club Goa. Club career A product of the Tata Football Academy, he has plied his trade w ...

(2017–2018)

Asia

* Akhlidin Israilov (2017) * Nick Ward (2018–2019) *

Chencho Gyeltshen Chencho Gyeltshen (Dzongkha: བཙན་སྐྱོགས་རྒྱལ་མཚན; born 10 May 1996) is a Bhutanese professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Bhutan national team. Gyeltshen is the all-time leading internation ...

(2019) * Prakash Budhathoki (2020–2021) * Mohamad Kdouh (2020–2022) * Bektur Talgat Uulu (2022–) * Mirjalol Kosimov (2022–2023)

North America

Fabien Vorbe Jean Francis Fabien Vorbe (born 4 January 1990) is a Haitian professional footballer who last played for NEROCA F.C. in the I-League. Career Youth and College Vorbe began his career in 2005 with first division Haitian club Violette AC at age ...

(2017–2018) *

Judah García Judah Emmanuel García (born 24 October 2000) is a Trinidadian professional Association football, footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder#Attacking midfielder, attacking midfielder for Super League Greece 2, Greek Super League 2 club A ...

(2020–2021) *

Marvin Phillip Marvin Phillip (born 1 August 1984) is a Trinidadian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for AC Port of Spain and the Trinidad and Tobago national team. He made his debut for Trinidad and Tobago against Panama on 31 January 2007 ...

(2019–2020) *

Nathaniel Garcia Nathaniel Garcia (born 24 April 1993) is a Trinidadian professional Association football, football player who plays as a midfielder for Martyr's Memorial A-Division League team Friends Club and Trinidad and Tobago national football team. Caree ...

(2020–2021) *

Richard Roy Richard Roy is a Canadian director, actor and screenwriter. He has directed several feature films in French as well as television films and series for the English-language market. He was raised in the village of Saint-Agapit, in Lotbinière Reg ...

(2017–2018) * Taryk Sampson (2019–2020) *

Jourdaine Fletcher Jourdaine Ronaldo Fletcher (born 23 September 1997) is a Jamaican professional footballer who plays as a forward for Montego Bay United. Club career Early career Fletcher played for Cornwall College in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where he won the D ...

(2022–2023) * Fabian Reid (2023–2024)

Africa

* Varney Kallon (2016–2019, 2020) *

Eduardo Ferreira Eduardo Soares Ferreira (born October 8, 1983) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back. Born in Brazil, he played for the Equatorial Guinea national team. Club career After a stint with South African club Mamelodi Sundowns, Fe ...

(2018–2019) * Boubacar Diarra (2019–2020) * Sekle Yawo Zico (2019–2020) * Gaty Kouami (2019–2020) * David Simbo (2022–) * Michael Kporvi (2023–)

Europe

Attila Busai Attila Busai (born 21 January 1989) is a Hungarian football player who plays for BKV Előre SC. Club statistics ''Updated to games played as of 28 July 2018.'' Honours Ferencváros *Nemzeti Bajnokság I: 2015–16, runner-up 2014–15 *Ma ...

(2020) *

Sergio Mendigutxia Sergio Mendigutxia Iglesias (born 12 June 1993), commonly known by his nickname Mendi, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a forward for DPMM FC II of the Brunei Super League. Club career Europe Born in Avilés, Asturias, Mend ...

(2021–2022) *

Marius Leca Marius Sebastian Leca (born 6 July 2000) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a defender for FC Romania. Club career In October 2023, Leca joined Indian I-League club NEROCA on a season-long deal. In July 2024, Leca joined Engl ...

(2023–2024)

Managerial record

''Information correct after match played on 7 March 2022. Only competitive matches are counted.''

Honours

League

**Runners-up (1): 2017–18 *

**Champions (1): 2016–17 **Third place (1): 2015–16 *

**Champions (2):

2014 The year 2014 was marked by the surge of the Western African Ebola epidemic, West African Ebola epidemic, which began in 2013, becoming the List of Ebola outbreaks, most widespread outbreak of the Ebola, Ebola virus in human history, resul ...

**Runners-up (2): 2007, 2009

Cup

**Runners-up (1):

* Tiddim Invitation Football Trophy **Champions (1): 2004 **Runners-up (2): 2005, 2007 *

Churachand Singh Trophy Churachand Singh Trophy, also known as the Churachand Singh Invitation Trophy (Sir Churachand Singh Memorial Football Tournament), is an annual Indian football tournament held in Manipur and organized by All Manipur Football Association (A.M.F ...

**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 Shirui Lily Cup, also known as the Shirui Lily National Level Football Knockout Cup, is an Indian football tournament held in Ukhrul Ukhrul District( Tangkhul pronunciation:/ˈuːkˌɹəl or ˈuːkˌɹʊl/ is one of the hilly disctrict in t ...

**Runners-up (1): 2011

Award

Fair Play Award: 2017–18

Other department

Futsal

NEROCA operates

futsal Futsal is a variant of association football played between two teams of five players each on a court smaller than a football pitch. Its rules are based on the Laws of the Game (association football), Laws of the Game of association football, and i ...

departments and is affiliated to the

Futsal Association of India Futsal Association of India (FAI) is the governing body of state-level futsal and Asian Premier Futsal Championship in India. FAI has been developing futsal through various district and state championships. FAI organised its 1st Youth Futsal C ...

(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

References

Cited sources Bibliography * * Further reading * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

External links

NEROCA FC
at BeSoccer
NEROCA FC
at Global Sports Archive {{Football in Manipur NEROCA FC Association football clubs established in 1965 I-League clubs I-League 2 clubs Football clubs in Manipur 1965 establishments in India