Saturday, 07 December 2024

Fagiano Okayama

  • Hits: 1987

 

Fagiano Okayama was created in 2004 with the specific aim of eventually achieving promotion to the J.League and bringing football to Okayama prefecture.The team does have antecedents, in the "River Free Kickers" (RFK) Okayama team which was initially formed in 1975, and played in the Okayama prefectural league throughout its existence. Fagiano Okayama's organizers convinced RFK to serve as the "foundation" of the new team, so that it would not have to start its climb from the very bottom of the amateur league ladder. However, RFK only contributed a handful of players to the new team, and an entirely separate management corporation was organized, so essentially 2004 should be viewed as the team's launch date.

Fagiano takes its name from the Italian word for "Pheasant", reflecting the choice of the Japanese Pheasant as its mascot. After its formation and entry to the Okayama League Division 1, Fagiano made quick progress up the amateur league ladder while attracting a steady inflow of organizational support from local businesses. Promotion to the J.League was achieved in dramatic style, with an away victory on the last day of the 2009 season. Since then the Plucky Pheasants have remained among the also-rans in the J2, but their habit of attracting young stars from J1 teams for a season of "preparation" has given fans a lot of entertainment and ties to much larger teams.  A promotion bid may be possible in the near future.

Team Name:

Emblem

Mascot

Team Flag:

Home Uniform -- Away Uniform

Management Corporation:  Fagiano Okayama Sports Club Co., Ltd.
Established:  2004
President: Masaaki Kimura

Investors: Funded by local government and local companies

Address:  3-1-15 Kosei-cho, Okayama City, Okayama 700-0985

Hometown Area: Okayama, Kurashiki and Tsuyama cities, Okayama Prefecture

Home Stadium:  Okayama "Momotaro" Stadium (capacity: 20,000)

Joined J. League: 2009