NEROCA FC

NEROCA Football Club (known fully as North Eastern Re-Organising Cultural Association Football Club) is an Indian professional football club based in Imphal, Manipur, that competed in I-League, the second tier of Indian football league system. Founded in 1965, and nicknamed "Orange Brigade", the club made their I-League 2nd Division debut in the 2015–16 season. Winning the 2016–17 league, they secured promotion to the I-League.

NEROCA is the only club from Northeast India to reach the final of the coveted Durand Cup. The club also competes in Manipur State League.

Formation and early years
North Eastern Re-Organising Cultural Association (NEROCA) was established in 1965 with the hope of improving quality in the field of cultural activities and sports in the Indian state of Manipur. 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 Imphal East District Football Association, and affiliated with All Manipur Football Association (AMFA). NEROCA has participated in the Manipur State League (MSL), since its inception and finished second-placed in the MSL 2007. 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 (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, and qualified for the 2017–18 season of the I-League. They also clinched the title of Manipur State League in 2016.

The biggest achievement of NEROCA is emerging as the runners-up in the 2017–18 I-League. Under the coaching of Gift Raikhan, 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, NEROCA finished bottom of the Relegation Stage and got formally relegated, but were reinstated by AIFF after viewing the situation of COVID-19 pandemic.

On 4 July 2021, NEROCA signed Khogen Singh as their head coach for the 2021–22 I-League season, and began the league journey with a 3–2 win against Sreenidi Deccan on 27 December 2021. They achieved seventh position in league table. They later participated in 2022 Durand Cup. In 2022–23 I-League, NEROCA they finished on tenth position, and later, failed to qualify for the 2023 Indian Super Cup. In October, the club roped in Malaysian manager Jacob Joseph as head coach for 2023–24 league season. In April 2024, NEROCA along with TRAU, refused to travel to Mizoram to play Aizawl in their away matches and the games were cancelled by the AIFF; Both the teams from Manipur were relegated to I-League 2.

Crest, colours & kits
In the official club crest, there is map of Manipur in background and an anchor of sailing boat in foreground.

The official colours of NEROCA are orange and green.

Stadium
Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal, Manipur, 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 All Manipur Football Association and has a capacity of 35,285 spectators. Their first home match in the I-League was played on 15 December 2017 against Chennai City FC.

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. 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 Durand Cup when competitive football returned to the city after COVID-19 pandemic in India. The Government of Manipur 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), they have a rivalry with Mizoram-based club Aizawl.

Team records

 * Key
 * Tms. = Number of teams
 * Pos. = Position in league
 * Attendance/G = Average league attendance

Overall records
updated on 28 May 2017

Other records

 * Fastest goal in a match in the history of I-League: 🇯🇵 Katsumi Yusa — 13 seconds, NEROCA vs Churchill Brothers (2018–19)

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 (2016)
 * 🇮🇳 Sushil Kumar Singh (2016–2018)
 * 🇮🇳 Govin Singh (2016–2018)
 * 🇮🇳 Arata Izumi (2017)
 * 🇮🇳 Gouramangi Singh (2017–2018)

Asia

 * 🇰🇬 Akhlidin Israilov (2017)
 * 🇦🇺 Nick Ward (2018–2019)
 * Chencho Gyeltshen (2019)
 * Prakash Budhathoki (2020–2021)
 * 🇱🇧 Mohamad Kdouh (2020–2022)
 * 🇰🇬 Bektur Talgat Uulu (2022–)
 * 🇺🇿 Mirjalol Kosimov (2022–2023)

North America

 * Fabien Vorbe (2017–2018)
 * Judah García (2020–2021)
 * Marvin Phillip (2019–2020)
 * Nathaniel Garcia (2020–2021)
 * Richard Roy (2017–2018)
 * Taryk Sampson (2019–2020)
 * 🇯🇲 Jourdaine Fletcher (2022–2023)
 * 🇯🇲 Fabian Reid (2023–2024)

Africa

 * 🇱🇷 Varney Kallon (2016–2019, 2020)
 * Eduardo Ferreira (2018–2019)
 * 🇲🇱 Boubacar Diarra (2019–2020)
 * Sekle Yawo Zico (2019–2020)
 * Gaty Kouami (2019–2020)
 * 🇸🇱 David Simbo (2022–)
 * 🇬🇭 Michael Kporvi (2023–)

Europe

 * 🇭🇺 Attila Busai (2020)
 * 🇪🇸 Sergio Mendigutxia (2021–2022)
 * Marius Leca (2023–2024)

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

League

 * I-League
 * Runners-up (1): 2017–18
 * I-League 2nd Division
 * Champions (1): 2016–17
 * Third place (1): 2015–16
 * Manipur State League
 * Champions (2): 2014, 2016
 * Runners-up (1): 2009

Cup

 * Durand Cup
 * Runners-up (1): 2016
 * Tiddim Invitation Football Trophy
 * Champions (1): 2004
 * Runners-up (2): 2005, 2007
 * Churachand Singh Trophy
 * 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
 * Runners-up (1): 2011

Award

 * I-League Fair Play Award: 2017–18

Futsal
NEROCA operates futsal departments and is affiliated to the Futsal Association of India (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