North Eastern Re-Organising Cultural Association[12] (NEROCA)[13] was established in 1965[14][15] 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).[16] NEROCA has participated in the
Manipur State League (MSL),[17][18] since its inception and finished second-placed in the MSL 2007.[19] The club is also a regular participant of
Sir Churachand Singh Memorial Football Tournament.[20]
2014–present
In the 9th season of Manipur State League (2014), NEROCA won championship trophy.[21] The club as per norms of the
All India Football Federation (AIFF), changed the nomenclature from "NEROCA" to "NEROCA Football Club Imphal",[22] aiming to join I-League 2nd Division.[23][24] NEROCA then went on to compete in the 2015–16[25][26] and 2016–17 I-League 2nd Division seasons.[27][28] 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.[29] They also clinched the title of Manipur State League in
2016.[30]
The biggest achievement of NEROCA is emerging as the runners-up in the
2017–18 I-League.[31] Under the coaching of
Gift Raikhan,[32] they finished campaign with 32 points from 18 matches.[33] In that season, NEROCA brought Vector X as their official shirt sponsor.[34] 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.[35][36]
On 4 July 2021, NEROCA signed
Khogen Singh as their head coach for the
2021–22 I-League season,[37] and began the league journey with a 3–2 win against
Sreenidi Deccan on 27 December 2021.[38] They achieved seventh position in league table.[39] They later participated in
2022 Durand Cup.[40] In 2022–23 I-League, NEROCA they finished on tenth position, and later, failed to qualify for the
2023 Indian Super Cup.[41] In October, the club roped in Malaysian manager
Jacob Joseph as head coach for 2023–24 league season.[42] 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.[43][44][45]
Crest, colours & kits
In the official club crest, there is map of
Manipur in background and an
anchor of sailing boat in foreground.[46]
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.[62]
Players of NEROCA (in light orange) in action against rival TRAU during an Imphal Derby match in I-League in March 2024.
NEROCA have participated in the
Imphal Derby with city rival
TRAU.[63][64][65] The two clubs are the only two from Imphal to have played professional league football.[66] 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.[67][68] The
Government of Manipur declared a half-holiday for all governmental and educational institutions in build-up to the match on 18 August,[69] where NEROCA defeated TRAU by 3–1 in Group-C opener.[70]
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.[76]
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.[142] The club is currently competing in Col. Arunkumar Memorial Inter-club Futsal Tournament, achieved third place in the 2023 edition.[143][144]
^
abNoor, Azim (8 October 2023).
"Bekas Jurulatih Malaysia Kini Berkelana Di India" [Former Malaysian national team coach now moving towards India]. makanbola.com (in Malay). Kuala Lumpur: Ultra Sukan News. Archived from
the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
^Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin.
"Israilov, Akhlidin". national-football-teams.com. National Football Teams. Archived from
the original on 10 March 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
^Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin.
"Chencho Gyeltshen". www.national-football-teams.com. Archived from
the original on 7 February 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
Sharda, Deepankar (12 December 2016).
"Minerva FC to debut in 2017 I-League". tribuneindia.com. Chandigarh: The Tribune India News. Archived from
the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
North Eastern Re-Organising Cultural Association[12] (NEROCA)[13] was established in 1965[14][15] 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).[16] NEROCA has participated in the
Manipur State League (MSL),[17][18] since its inception and finished second-placed in the MSL 2007.[19] The club is also a regular participant of
Sir Churachand Singh Memorial Football Tournament.[20]
2014–present
In the 9th season of Manipur State League (2014), NEROCA won championship trophy.[21] The club as per norms of the
All India Football Federation (AIFF), changed the nomenclature from "NEROCA" to "NEROCA Football Club Imphal",[22] aiming to join I-League 2nd Division.[23][24] NEROCA then went on to compete in the 2015–16[25][26] and 2016–17 I-League 2nd Division seasons.[27][28] 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.[29] They also clinched the title of Manipur State League in
2016.[30]
The biggest achievement of NEROCA is emerging as the runners-up in the
2017–18 I-League.[31] Under the coaching of
Gift Raikhan,[32] they finished campaign with 32 points from 18 matches.[33] In that season, NEROCA brought Vector X as their official shirt sponsor.[34] 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.[35][36]
On 4 July 2021, NEROCA signed
Khogen Singh as their head coach for the
2021–22 I-League season,[37] and began the league journey with a 3–2 win against
Sreenidi Deccan on 27 December 2021.[38] They achieved seventh position in league table.[39] They later participated in
2022 Durand Cup.[40] In 2022–23 I-League, NEROCA they finished on tenth position, and later, failed to qualify for the
2023 Indian Super Cup.[41] In October, the club roped in Malaysian manager
Jacob Joseph as head coach for 2023–24 league season.[42] 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.[43][44][45]
Crest, colours & kits
In the official club crest, there is map of
Manipur in background and an
anchor of sailing boat in foreground.[46]
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.[62]
Players of NEROCA (in light orange) in action against rival TRAU during an Imphal Derby match in I-League in March 2024.
NEROCA have participated in the
Imphal Derby with city rival
TRAU.[63][64][65] The two clubs are the only two from Imphal to have played professional league football.[66] 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.[67][68] The
Government of Manipur declared a half-holiday for all governmental and educational institutions in build-up to the match on 18 August,[69] where NEROCA defeated TRAU by 3–1 in Group-C opener.[70]
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.[76]
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.[142] The club is currently competing in Col. Arunkumar Memorial Inter-club Futsal Tournament, achieved third place in the 2023 edition.[143][144]
^
abNoor, Azim (8 October 2023).
"Bekas Jurulatih Malaysia Kini Berkelana Di India" [Former Malaysian national team coach now moving towards India]. makanbola.com (in Malay). Kuala Lumpur: Ultra Sukan News. Archived from
the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
^Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin.
"Israilov, Akhlidin". national-football-teams.com. National Football Teams. Archived from
the original on 10 March 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
^Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin.
"Chencho Gyeltshen". www.national-football-teams.com. Archived from
the original on 7 February 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
Sharda, Deepankar (12 December 2016).
"Minerva FC to debut in 2017 I-League". tribuneindia.com. Chandigarh: The Tribune India News. Archived from
the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.