New Wave Kitakyushu
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese football
club based in Kitakyushu
, Fukuoka Prefecture
. The club's name was changed from as of 1 December 2009. They played in the Japan Football League
from 2008-2009, and were promoted to J. League Division 2
(J2) for the 2010 season.
by Yawata Steel F.C. Yawata was a founding member of the JSL in 1965
, and finished as runner up in its first two seasons in that league. Yawata was renamed New Nippon Steel F.C. in 1970, when Yawata Steel merged with Fuji Steel to form (New) Nippon Steel
. It ultimately was relegated to the Second Division in 1982
, then relegated from the Second Division to Kyushu regional league after 1990-91
season, and has never returned.
In 2001, Mitsubishi Chemical Kurosaki F.C., which had been a member of Kyushu regional league since 1973, became community-oriented club (New Wave) Kitakyushu F.C.
In 2007 New Wave took second place in the All Japan Regional Football Promotion League Series
, and was promoted to the JFL for the 2008 season.
The team applied for J. League Associate Membership
in January 2008, and the application was accepted at the J. League
board meeting on February 19, 2008.
On 1 April 2009, the club made an announcement that they would be accepting suggestions for a new name. This was because the name "New Wave" may cause trademark or tradename disputes. Therefore, the new name had to be something not yet registered as a trademark
.
On 2 October 2009, they announced that the new club name for the 2010 season would be . According to the official news release, the name "Giravanz" is coined from two Italian
words: "Girasole", which means "sunflower", and "Avanzare", which means "moving forward". (The sunflower is one of Kitakyushu's symbol flowers.)
On 23 November 2009, after a 2-1 win away against Arte Takasaki
, Kitakyushu secured a top four position in the JFL for the 2009 season, regardless of the result at the final week of 2009 JFL. This means they will play in J. League Division 2
for the 2010 season, something which was confirmed by the J.League board meeting on 30 November 2009.
In its inaugural year in the pro ranks, despite attaining a large number of draw matches, Kitakyushu set new records
for fewest wins and points in the season standings.
Key
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club based in Kitakyushu
Kitakyushu, Fukuoka
is a city located in Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyūshū, Japan. It is midway between Tokyo and Shanghai.- Demographics :Kitakyūshū has a population of just under one million...
, Fukuoka Prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
. The club's name was changed from as of 1 December 2009. They played in the Japan Football League
Japan Football League
The is the 3rd tier of the Japanese association football league system, following J. League Division 1 and J. League Division 2. Also known as the JFL, it is generally considered as the top amateur league in Japan although in reality it is a semi-professional league as many full-time footballers...
from 2008-2009, and were promoted to J. League Division 2
J. League Division 2
The or is the second division of and is the second-tier professional association football league in Japan. Currently, J. League Division 2 is the second level of the Japanese association football league system. The first tier is represented by J...
(J2) for the 2010 season.
History
The club was formed in 1947 as part of Mitsubishi Chemical's Kurosaki factory. Most of its career was spent in the regional and prefectural leagues, as Kitakyushu was represented in the Japan Soccer LeagueJapan Soccer League
, or JSL, was the top flight soccer league in Japan between 1965 and 1992, and was the precursor to the current professional league, the J. League. JSL was the second national league of a team sport in Japan after the professional Japanese Baseball League that was founded in 1936...
by Yawata Steel F.C. Yawata was a founding member of the JSL in 1965
Japan Soccer League 1965
The 1965 season in Japanese football saw the formation of the Japan Soccer League, the first national league in Japan for football clubs.-Japan Soccer League:-Promotion/Relegation Series:Nagoya Bank stays in JSL.-All-Star Game:-References:...
, and finished as runner up in its first two seasons in that league. Yawata was renamed New Nippon Steel F.C. in 1970, when Yawata Steel merged with Fuji Steel to form (New) Nippon Steel
Nippon Steel
, also referred to as , was formed in 1970. Nippon Steel Corporation is the world's 4th largest steel producer by volume.-Early years:Nippon Steel was created by the merger of two giants, Yawata Iron & Steel and Fuji Iron & Steel...
. It ultimately was relegated to the Second Division in 1982
Japan Soccer League 1982
-First Division:Mitsubishi tied Yanmar's four championships with its own run.NKK could not adjust to the top flight for this season and was relegated instantly, thereby becoming the first Japanese team to go straight back down one season after promotion...
, then relegated from the Second Division to Kyushu regional league after 1990-91
Japan Soccer League 1990-91
-First Division:Yanmar Diesel, four-time champions in the 1970s, was relegated for the first time after an aimless decade. Nippon Kokan, who two seasons before was contending for the title, was relegated as well and would cease to exist by the middle of the decade....
season, and has never returned.
In 2001, Mitsubishi Chemical Kurosaki F.C., which had been a member of Kyushu regional league since 1973, became community-oriented club (New Wave) Kitakyushu F.C.
In 2007 New Wave took second place in the All Japan Regional Football Promotion League Series
All Japan Regional Football Promotion League Series
The All Japan Regional Promotion League Series is a play-off tournament meant as a transition for Japanese football clubs competing in regional leagues to the bottom national tier .-History:Until 1976, the main entrance route for regional clubs to the Japan Soccer League was...
, and was promoted to the JFL for the 2008 season.
The team applied for J. League Associate Membership
J. League Associate Membership
J. League Associate Membership is a status given to Japanese non-league football clubs. The applicant must have an intention to become a professional club and to join the professional league, J. League, governed in the top two levels of the Japanese football pyramid...
in January 2008, and the application was accepted at the J. League
J. League
The or is the top division of and is the top professional association football league in Japan. It is one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football and the only league given top class 'A' ranking by the AFC. Currently, J. League Division 1 is the first level of the Japanese...
board meeting on February 19, 2008.
On 1 April 2009, the club made an announcement that they would be accepting suggestions for a new name. This was because the name "New Wave" may cause trademark or tradename disputes. Therefore, the new name had to be something not yet registered as a trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
.
On 2 October 2009, they announced that the new club name for the 2010 season would be . According to the official news release, the name "Giravanz" is coined from two Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
words: "Girasole", which means "sunflower", and "Avanzare", which means "moving forward". (The sunflower is one of Kitakyushu's symbol flowers.)
On 23 November 2009, after a 2-1 win away against Arte Takasaki
Arte Takasaki
are a football club based in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. They play in the Japan Football League. Their team colours are black and red.Arte means art in Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.-History:...
, Kitakyushu secured a top four position in the JFL for the 2009 season, regardless of the result at the final week of 2009 JFL. This means they will play in J. League Division 2
J. League Division 2
The or is the second division of and is the second-tier professional association football league in Japan. Currently, J. League Division 2 is the second level of the Japanese association football league system. The first tier is represented by J...
for the 2010 season, something which was confirmed by the J.League board meeting on 30 November 2009.
In its inaugural year in the pro ranks, despite attaining a large number of draw matches, Kitakyushu set new records
J. League records
-Individual:*Most career goals : 157 goals*Most career hat-tricks : 8 times*Most career appearances : 412 appearances*Most goals in a season : 36 goals*Most hat-tricks in a season : 5 times*Most goals in a game : 5 goals**Kashima Antlers *Longest uninterrupted spell in J1: 17 years **Kashima...
for fewest wins and points in the season standings.
Current Squad
Record as J. League member
| Season | Div. | Tms. | Pos. | Attendance/G | J. League Cup J. League Cup J. League Cup is a Japanese football competition organized by J. League. It is also known as Yamazaki Nabisco Cup or Nabisco Cup because confectionery/bakery company Yamazaki Nabisco have sponsored the competition since its inception in 1992.It is generally regarded as the Japanese equivalent to... |
Emperor's Cup Emperor's Cup , commonly known as or , is a Japanese association football competition. It has the longest tradition of any football tournament in Japan, dating back to 1921, before the formation of the J. League, Japan Football League and their predecessor, Japan Soccer League... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | J2 | 19 | 19 | 4,189 | - | 3rd Round |
Key
- Tms. = Number of teams
- Pos. = Position in league
- Attendance/G = Average league attendance
External links
- Official "Giravanz" site (in Japanese)
- Old "New Wave" official site (in Japanese)
- Kitakyushu Football Club (in Japanese) club organization and subsidiary teams