Kerala
Full nameFootball Club Kerala[1]
Nickname(s)Red Warriors
FoundedJune 6, 2014 (2014-06-06)
GroundThrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium
Capacity15,000
OwnerFC Kerala Sports Ltd.
LeagueKerala Premier League

Football Club Kerala is an Indian professional football club based in Thrissur, Kerala.[2] The club made its debut in national level football through the I-League 2nd Division in 2017–18.[1] They also compete in the Kerala Premier League.[3]

Name

FC Kerala is a crowd-funded venture that started in 2014 with aim of reaching out to football fans in the state better than predecessors who hit financial crisis. The name FC Kerala was set up to make it Kerala's own club. Narayana Menon, CEO of the club said that its main aim is to become Football team of the people.[4]

History

FC Kerala, formed in 2014, began its journey by playing in Kerala Premier League, a professional league organised by Kerala Football Association. After three years, the club made its debut in I-League 2nd Division.[5] FC Kerala claimed victory in the first match after overcoming Fateh Hyderabad 2–1.[6]

In the 2019–20 2nd Division League, FC Kerala played 7 matches in group C and earned 9 points, but later pulled out to financial crisis.[7] In December 2022, the club participated in Dausa Gold Cup in Rajasthan,[8] in which they won title with 1–0 win over I-League side Rajasthan United in final.

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2017—2019 Yogakshemam Loans
2020—present Yoga Loans

Stadium

Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium

FC Kerala uses the Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium as their home ground. It has artificial turf and seating capacity of 15,000 spectators. Opened in 1978,[9][10] it is commonly known as Palace Stadium or TMC Stadium.

Supporters

A recognised Thrissur-based fan club by the name Red Warriors has been in support since 2017. The Municipal Corporation Stadium has seen an average attendance close to 15,000.

Current squad

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK India IND Muhammed Shibili
2 DF India IND Safwan A.
3 DF India IND Melwin Thomas
5 DF India IND Muhamed Shabin
8 DF India IND Ranoof KA
9 MF India IND Muhammed Hashif
11 MF India IND Abhishek S.
12 MF India IND Muhammed Thafrique
13 DF India IND Vishnu K Raj
14 MF India IND Jibin PE
15 MF India IND Asif Cherukunnan
16 GK India IND Jithu T. R.
17 DF India IND Amal KA
18 DF India IND Sreejith D.
19 FW Ghana GHA Charles Offei
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 DF India IND Arun Vinod
21 MF India IND Muhammed Ashiq
22 DF India IND Vishnu PU
23 DF India IND Saran Babu
24 FW India IND Jeril Joy
25 DF India IND Akhil Johnson
32 DF India IND Rafid C.
26 DF India IND Akhil Philip
28 DF India IND Yadhu Krishnan
29 DF India IND Sheheen
41 DF India IND Pius Saju
43 DF India IND Alet Johny
51 DF India IND Sujith VR
55 DF India IND Vineesh Kumar

Current technical staff

As of 20 August 2020
Position Name
Head coach Vacant
Assistant coach India K. A. Navas
Physio India Haider Ali
Technical director India V. A. Narayana Menon

Youth programmes

In 2020, FC Kerala announced that they are opening a residential Football Academy in Thrissur. Currently, the club runs a Soccer School in Thrissur, where close to 800 children, aged between 5 and 20, train under the guidance of India's finest football coaches.[11]

With the launch of Residential Academy, FC Kerala gives the chances to youth players to be associated with the professional way of the FC Kerala family. FC Kerala also aims at personality development of the players thus moulding them as future citizens.[12]

The club's U-13, U-15 and U-18 teams have participated in the respective AIFF Youth I-League tournaments, while the U-9, U-10, & U-11 play in the regional AIFF Baby League tournaments.

The youth teams (various age divisions) of FC Kerala play at the Thrissur Corporation Stadium, St. Alosius School Ground and Sri Kerala Varma College Ground.

See also

Honours

League

Semi-final (1): 2018–19[13]

Cup

  • Dausa Gold Cup
    • Winners (1): 2022[14]

References

  1. 1 2 "Eighteen teams, including 7 reserve sides of ISL clubs to contest in revamped 2017-18 Second Division league". firstpost.com. First Post. 20 February 2018. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  2. ↑ Rayan, Stan (19 November 2022). "Kerala Premier League to begin on November 24". thehindu.com. Kochi: The Hindu. Archived from the original on 15 December 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  3. ↑ "Kerala Premier League to begin on 6th March, read the full fixtures". thefangarage.com. Archived from the original on 5 April 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  4. ↑ "People's FC Kerala have I-League and Indian Super League in their sights". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  5. ↑ "EIGHTEEN TEAMS WILL CONTEST IN SECOND DIVISION LEAGUE 2017-18". aiff.com. All India Football Federation. 21 February 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  6. ↑ "I-League 2nd division round-up: Mohammedan Sporting Club maintain their winning streak". sportskeeda.com. 17 March 2018. Archived from the original on 18 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  7. ↑ "FC Kerala pull out of I-league second division". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  8. ↑ Jain, Mahesh (28 December 2022). "गोल्ड कप ऑल इंडिया फुटबॉल टूर्नामेंट: सेमीफाइनल में पहुंची राजस्थान यूनाइटेड व केरल एफसी" [Gold Cup All India Football Tournament: Rajasthan United and Kerala FC reached the semi-finals]. patrika.com (in Hindi). Dausa. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  9. ↑ "Municipal Stadium". espncricinfo.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "Synthetic turf for stadium". The Hindu. 24 November 2012. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  11. ↑ "FC Kerala announce opening of Residential Football Academy!". Arunava about football. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  12. ↑ "FC Kerala to start residential football academy". Sportstar The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  13. ↑ "KPL 2018-19 Matches". KFA. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  14. ↑ "Dausa Gold Cup: FC Kerala Champions". Time.news. 1 January 2023. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.

Further reading

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