# Honda FC

Honda Football Club (ホンダフットボールクラブ, Honda Futtobōru Kurabu) commonly known as Honda FC (ホンダFC, Honda Efu Shī) is a Japanese professional football club based in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka. They currently play in the Japan Football League, the country's 4th tier of semi-professional league football.

## History

The club was founded as Honda Motor, Honda works team in 1971. They were promoted to the Japan Soccer League Division 2 in 1975 and to the JSL Division 1 in 1981; the closest they came to the title was in 1985–86 and 1990–91 seasons, when they finished in third place. In 1991 they also made the finals of both the Japan Soccer League Cup and Konica Cup, but lost both times. They also made the Emperor's Cup semi-finals in 1990 and 1991. They stayed in the top flight until the conclusion of the league in 1992.
In the early 1990s, the club considered the possibilities of turning professional and participating in J. League. They sought the merger with their sister club Honda Motor Sayama F.C. and Urawa was chosen as a possible hometown. However, they failed to persuade the owner Honda Motor who insisted they should abide by their principle to concentrate on their core business of automobile manufacturing.
As a result of this decision, many players left the club. They played in the newly formed Japan Football League Division 1 in 1992 and finished 9th out of 10. They were relegated to Division 2 where they won the championship in 1993. The 2 divisions of the JFL were merged in 1994 and the club joined the league.
In 1996, they won the championship in the JFL. Around that time, the club made the second effort to be a professional club. They acquired associate membership in J. League under new name Acute Hamamatsu but the inadequate stadium and insufficient local support (the closest professional club is Júbilo Iwata, formerly part of Yamaha Motor Corporation), forced them to give it up. Iwata was a common derby foe in the JSL and their fixtures were known as Tenryu-side Derby (天竜川決戦).
In 1999, the JFL was reorganised as the new JFL. They have been playing in the league since its inception.

## J's Gatekeeper

Honda F.C. does not intend to be promoted to the J. League due to the mandatory loss of corporate backing, although they have been always considered one of the JFL title contenders. They provide a big hurdle for those independent sides who wish to gain promotion. In order to achieve this goal, these teams need to finish in the top two in the league. Honda perennially occupying one of these spots makes their challenge even more difficult. Supporters of these clubs have dubbed Honda F.C. as J's Gatekeeper (the Gatekeeper of J. League) with respect and some resentment.
Honda F.C., having played in the old Japan Soccer League in the past but never contending for the title, has in 2007 given some J1 teams a run for their money in the Emperor's Cup, reaching the quarterfinals after disposing of former champions Kashiwa Reysol and top contenders Nagoya Grampus (their first quarterfinals since 1991). They were nevertheless defeated by J1 champions Kashima Antlers on 22 December. The 2008 cup did not go well for them, as they were eliminated by Sagan Tosu 4–0 in the third round, but they still won the JFL championship.

## Stadium

The club's home arena is the Honda Miyakoda Soccer Stadium located in Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu. It is owned by Honda Motor Company. The stadium was redeveloped in 1996. This reconstruction included the building of a new mobile platform (1,000 seats) and corner floodlights. The stadium now holds 4,000 spectators.

## League & cup record

| Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Promoted | Relegated |
| League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League Cup | Emperor's Cup |
| Season | Division | Tier | Teams | Pos. | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | League Cup | Emperor's Cup |
| 1971 | Western Shizuoka | | | 1st | | | | | | | | | – | Did not qualify |
| 1972 | Shizuoka | | | 1st | | | | | | | | | – | Did not qualify |
| 1973 | Tōkai | - | 8 | 1st | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 48 | 13 | 35 | 25 | – | 3rd round |
| 1974 | Tōkai | - | 10 | 1st | 13 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 53 | 11 | 42 | 21 | – | 2nd round |
| 1975 | JSL Div.2 | 2 | 10 | 4th | 18 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 33 | 29 | 4 | 22 | – | Did not qualify |
| 1976 | JSL Div.2 | 2 | 10 | 4th | 18 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 25 | 17 | 8 | 21 | Quarter final | 1st round |
| 1977 | JSL Div.2 | 2 | 10 | 7th | 18 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 25 | 24 | 1 | 29 | Semi final | 2nd round |
| 1978 | JSL Div.2 | 2 | 10 | 1st | 18 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 39 | 9 | 30 | 57 | Quarter final | 2nd round |
| 1979 | JSL Div.2 | 2 | 10 | 4th | 18 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 31 | 25 | 6 | 44 | 2nd round | 2nd round |
| 1980 | JSL Div.2 | 2 | 10 | 1st | 18 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 43 | 17 | 26 | 28 | 2nd round | 2nd round |
| 1981 | JSL Div.1 | 1 | 10 | 6th | 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 23 | 28 | -5 | 14 | 2nd round | 2nd round |
| 1982 | JSL Div.1 | 1 | 10 | 9th | 18 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 17 | 29 | -12 | 14 | Quarter final | 1st round |
| 1983 | JSL Div.1 | 1 | 10 | 8th | 18 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 17 | 23 | -6 | 14 | Quarter final | Quarter final |
| 1984 | JSL Div.1 | 1 | 10 | 5th | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 23 | 3 | 19 | Semi final | Quarter final |
| 1985–86 | JSL Div.1 | 1 | 12 | 3rd | 22 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 28 | Semi final | 2nd round |
| 1986–87 | JSL Div.1 | 1 | 12 | 9th | 22 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 20 | 24 | -4 | 20 | Semi final | Semi-final |
| 1987–88 | JSL Div.1 | 1 | 12 | 8th | 22 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 19 | 22 | -3 | 20 | Semi final | Quarter final |
| 1988–89 | JSL Div.1 | 1 | 12 | 9th | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 20 | 23 | -3 | 27 | 2nd round | Quarter final |
| 1989–90 | JSL Div.1 | 1 | 12 | 6th | 22 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 32 | 29 | 3 | 22 | 2nd round | 2nd round |
| 1990–91 | JSL Div.1 | 1 | 12 | 3rd | 22 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 29 | 21 | 8 | 38 | Semi final | Semi-final |
| 1991–92 | JSL Div.1 | 1 | 12 | 10th | 22 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 18 | 25 | -7 | 23 | Final | Semi-final |
| 1992 | JFL (former) Div.1 | 1 | 10 | 9th | 18 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 19 | 36 | -17 | 16 | – | 2nd round |
| 1993 | JFL (former) Div.2 | 3 | 10 | 1st | 18 | 15 | - | 3 | 62 | 21 | 41 | - | – | Did not qualify |
| 1994 | JFL (former) | 2 | 16 | 9th | 30 | 12 | - | 18 | 49 | 62 | -13 | - | – | Did not qualify |
| 1995 | JFL (former) | 2 | 16 | 7th | 30 | 16 | - | 14 | 58 | 42 | 16 | 49 | – | 1st round |
| 1996 | JFL (former) | 2 | 16 | 1st | 30 | 25 | - | 5 | 83 | 3 | 48 | 75 | – | 3rd round |
| 1997 | JFL (former) | 2 | 16 | 4th | 30 | 23 | - | 7 | 60 | 37 | 23 | 65 | – | 3rd round |
| 1998 | JFL (former) | 2 | 16 | 5th | 30 | 19 | - | 11 | 57 | 45 | 12 | 54 | – | 4th round |
| 1999 | JFL | 3 | 9 | 2nd | 24 | 18 | 1 | 5 | 69 | 34 | 35 | 50 | – | 3rd round |
| 2000 | JFL | 3 | 12 | 2nd | 22 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 51 | 29 | 22 | 49 | – | 3rd round |
| 2001 | JFL | 3 | 16 | 1st | 30 | 22 | 5 | 3 | 74 | 19 | 55 | 71 | – | 3rd round |
| 2002 | JFL | 3 | 18 | 1st | 17 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 39 | 14 | 25 | 41 | – | 3rd round |
| 2003 | JFL | 3 | 16 | 2nd | 30 | 21 | 4 | 5 | 73 | 30 | 43 | 67 | – | 3rd round |
| 2004 | JFL | 3 | 16 | 2nd | 30 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 64 | 36 | 28 | 62 | – | 4th round |
| 2005 | JFL | 3 | 16 | 5th | 30 | 17 | 5 | 8 | 59 | 37 | 22 | 56 | – | 4th round |
| 2006 | JFL | 3 | 18 | 1st | 34 | 26 | 5 | 3 | 77 | 36 | 41 | 83 | – | 4th round |
| 2007 | JFL | 3 | 18 | 5th | 34 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 61 | 42 | 19 | 58 | – | Quarter final |
| 2008 | JFL | 3 | 18 | 1st | 34 | 22 | 8 | 4 | 80 | 33 | 47 | 74 | – | 3rd round |
| 2009 | JFL | 3 | 18 | 7th | 34 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 49 | 38 | 11 | 51 | – | 2nd round |
| 2010 | JFL | 3 | 18 | 4th | 34 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 52 | 43 | 9 | 59 | – | 2nd round |
| 2011 | JFL | 3 | 18 | 6th | 34 | 15 | 7 | 11 | 40 | 36 | 4 | 52 | – | Did not qualify |
| 2012 | JFL | 3 | 17 | 5th | 32 | 16 | 5 | 11 | 55 | 39 | 16 | 53 | – | Did not qualify |
| 2013 | JFL | 3 | 18 | 5th | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 54 | 38 | 16 | 53 | – | Did not qualify |
| 2014 | JFL | 4 | 14 | 1st | 26 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 58 | 28 | 30 | 53 | – | Did not qualify |
| 2015 | JFL | 4 | 16 | 3rd | 30 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 73 | 22 | 51 | 68 | – | Did not qualify |
| 2016 | JFL | 4 | 16 | 1st | 30 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 52 | 29 | 23 | 61 | – | Round of 16 |
| 2017 | JFL | 4 | 16 | 1st | 30 | 21 | 7 | 2 | 72 | 20 | 52 | 70 | – | 2nd round |
| 2018 | JFL | 4 | 16 | 1st | 30 | 25 | 4 | 1 | 76 | 25 | 51 | 79 | – | 2nd round |
| 2019 | JFL | 4 | 16 | 1st | 30 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 59 | 30 | 29 | 63 | – | Quarter final |
| 2020 | JFL | 4 | 16 | 4th | 15 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 22 | – | Quarter final |
| 2021 | JFL | 4 | 17 | 2nd | 32 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 69 | 25 | 44 | 67 | – | 3rd round |
| 2022 | JFL | 4 | 16 | 3rd | 30 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 47 | 23 | 24 | 56 | – | 2nd round |
| 2023 | JFL | 4 | 15 | 1st | 28 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 48 | 25 | 23 | 50 | – | 2nd round |
| 2024 | JFL | 4 | 16 | TBD | 30 | | | | | | | | – | 2nd round |

### Key

* Pos. = Position in league; P = Games played; W = Games won; D = Games drawn; L = Games lost; F = Goals scored; A = Goals conceded; GD = Goals difference; Pts = Points gained
* Source: JFL, Honda FC website

## Honours

Honda FC honours :
| Honour | No. | Years |
| All Japan Senior Football Championship | 2 | 1974, 1999 |
| Japan Soccer League Division 2 | 2 | 1978, 1980 |
| Japan Football League (former) Division 2 | 1 | 1993 |
| Japan Football League (former) | 1 | 1996 |
| Japan Football League | 10 | 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023 |

## Current squad

As of 4 April 2024.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | JPN | Yuta Aoki (captain) |
| 2 | DF | JPN | Daiki Ikematsu |
| 3 | DF | JPN | Masafumi Miura |
| 4 | DF | JPN | Yuta Hachinohe |
| 5 | MF | JPN | Yuya Suzuki |
| 6 | MF | JPN | Ryusei Kusakari |
| 7 | MF | JPN | Kazuki Matsumoto |
| 8 | MF | JPN | Toshiki Sasaki |
| 9 | FW | JPN | Reon Kodama |
| 10 | MF | JPN | Yuya Tomita |
| 11 | DF | JPN | Hayato Kawabata |
| 13 | FW | JPN | Yuki Okazaki |
| 14 | FW | JPN | Riku Suzuki |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 15 | DF | JPN | Yusuke Kishida |
| 16 | DF | JPN | Tappei Kawanami |
| 17 | MF | JPN | Fumiya Matsuoka |
| 18 | FW | JPN | Yumenosuke Shoji |
| 19 | MF | JPN | Kenshin Iwakiri |
| 20 | GK | JPN | Raisei Ono |
| 21 | GK | JPN | Yuki Kusumoto |
| 22 | DF | JPN | Koshiro Chibana |
| 23 | MF | JPN | Kosuke Shimizu |
| 24 | DF | JPN | Go Nakashima |
| 25 | DF | JPN | Daichi Miwa |
| 26 | MF | JPN | Takaya Hirakawa |

## Coaching staff

| Position | Staff |
| Manager | Hidekazu Kobayashi |
| Assistant Manager | Takahiro Tsuchiya Shota Itokazu |
| Goalkeeper coach | Moto Nakamura |
| Physical coach | Shoji Takagi |
| Analyst | Tatsuya Furuhashi |
| Trainer | Masataka Oba Tomoya Oba |
| Manager | Shunsei Mashiyama |

## Managerial history

| Manager | Nationality | Tenure | Tenure |
| Manager | Nationality | Start | Finish |
| Katsuyoshi Kuwabara | Japan | 1 February 1973 | 31 January 1983 |
| Masakatsu Miyamoto | Japan | 1 February 1983 | 30 June 1990 |
| Masataka Imai | Japan | 1 July 1990 | 31 December 1992 |
| Kazuaki Nagasawa | Japan | 1 February 1997 | 31 January 1998 |
| Akiyoshi Ohashi | Japan | 1 January 2000 | 31 December 2001 |
| Takayoshi Amma | Japan | 1 February 2002 | 31 January 2005 |
| Hideo Yoshizawa | Japan | 1 February 2005 | 31 December 2006 |
| Masakazu Ishibashi | Japan | 1 January 2007 | 31 December 2009 |
| Takahiro Ōkubo | Japan | 1 January 2010 | 31 December 2011 |
| Yoshitaka Maeda | Japan | 1 February 2012 | 31 January 2014 |
| Hiroyasu Ibata | Japan | 1 February 2014 | 31 January 2021 |
| Hiroyuki Abe | Japan | 1 February 2021 | 31 January 2023 |
| Hidekazu Kobayashi | Japan | 1 February 2023 | 31 January 2025 |
| Shota Itokazu | Japan | 1 February 2025 | current |

## Kit evolution

Home kit - 1st :
| 2003 - 2004 | 2005 - 2006 | 2007 - 2008 | 2009 - 2010 | 2011 - 2012 |
| 2013 - 2014 | 2015 - 2016 | 2017 - 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 - |
Away kit - 2nd :
| 2003 - 2004 | 2005 - 2006 | 2007 - 2008 | 2009 - 2010 | 2011 - 2012 |
| 2013 - 2014 | 2015 - 2016 | 2017 - 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 - |