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| Full name | FC Morristown Celtics |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Motown |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Stadium | Ranger Stadium Madison, New Jersey MSU Soccer Park Montclair, New Jersey |
| Capacity | 1,200 (Ranger) 5,000 (MSU) |
| Owner(s) | Dan Karosen Scott Kindzierski |
| Head coach | Dilly Duka |
| League | National Premier Soccer League |
| 2024 | 1st, Keystone East Conf. Playoffs: National Final |
| Website | https://www.stasoccer.org/team/fc-motown-sta/ |
 | |
| Full name | FC Morristown STA |
|---|---|
| Nicknames | Motown, STA |
| Founded | 2021 |
| Stadium | Ranger Stadium Madison, New Jersey MSU Soccer Park Montclair, New Jersey |
| Capacity | 1,200 (Ranger) 5,000 (MSU) |
| Owner(s) | Dan Karosen Scott Kindzierski Shane Bullock |
| Head coach | Tom Shields |
| League | USL League Two |
| 2024 | 2nd, Metropolitan Div. Playoffs: Conf. Qualifying Round |
| Website | Link |
FC Motown is an American soccer club based inMorristown, New Jersey. Founded in 2012, the team currently fields teams in both theNational Premier Soccer League (NPSL) andUSL League Two. In 2020, the team formed a U23 side that competes in the EDP 23U league.
The team plays its home games atDrew University's Ranger Stadium andMontclair State University'sMSU Soccer Park.[1][2][3] Since 2024, the club's NPSL team has been coached by formerNew York Red Bulls playerDilly Duka.
Motown has one league championship in the franchise history, winning the2022 National Premier Soccer League National Championship.
FC Morristown was founded in 2012 by Scott Kindzierski and Dan Karosen and began playing in theGarden State Soccer League (GSSL), an amateur soccer league governed by the New Jersey Soccer Association (NJSA) and theUnited States Adult Soccer Association (USASA).[4] The team's first head coach was formerNew York Red Bulls Homegrown playerŠaćir Hot. The organization fielded a team in the GSSL up until the end of the 2021–22 season, winning the Super Division eight times in that span (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022).[5] Entering the 2018 season, Motown held a 23-game undefeated streak in the GSSL before falling toJackson Lions FC in the middle of the season.[6]
Motown regularly entered its GSSL team into the NJSA Men's Open State Cup, which it won on four occasions (2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022).[7][8] In addition the team was also a Fricker CupRegion 1 finalist in 2016 and regional semifinalist in 2017.[9] The team was also an Amateur Cup Region 1 semifinalist in 2014 and 2015.[10][11]
In 2018, Motown joined the Northeast Elite Soccer League (NESL) – a league founded by members of USASA Region I that was to be played alongside the team's regular seasons.[12] Motown partnered with fellow New Jersey amateur sideJackson Lions FC to formMotown Lions, which won the inaugural NESL Championship overWest Chester United SC, 3–1.[13][14] Motown and Jackson separated for the 2019 NESL season, which saw Motown return to the league final but lose in a rematch against West Chester, 3–2.[15] Due to COVID and other circumstances the league ceased play in 2021.
While fully amateur, the teamqualified for the2017 U.S. Open Cup by beating tournament regularLansdowne Bhoys FC, 3–2.[16] The team advanced to the second round by beating NPSL sideNew Jersey Copa FC, 2–1, before falling toRochester Rhinos of theUnited Soccer League, 3–0.[17][18]
In 2017, the team began working with NPSL side Clarkstown SC Eagles and supplied most of Clarkstown's players and staff.[19]
In 2020, Motown formed a U23 team which competes in the EDP. The team went 7–0 in its first season, winning the Men's Central Red Division.
On December 6, 2017, the NPSL announced Clarkstown SC Eagles would officially rebrand as FC Motown for 2018.[20] Like Clarkstown, Motown would also compete in the league's Keystone Conference in the Northeast Region. Hot remained the team's head coach in the NPSL and GSSL.
Motown qualified for the2018 U.S. Open Cup via the automatic bid Clarkstown had earned with its2017 results.[21] The team defeatedNew York Red Bulls U-23 of thePremier Development League at Ranger Stadium in the First Round, 2–1, thanks to a first half brace from former professionalDilly Duka.[22] In the Second Round, Motown hostedPenn FC of the second divisionUnited Soccer League at Ranger Stadium. Duka scored to give the team a lead but three goals in the last eleven minutes eliminated Motown, 3–1.[23]
In theregular season, Motown finished first in the Keystone Conference with nine wins and one loss. In the conference playoffs, the team beat fourth seedFC Monmouth in the semifinal before beatingWest Chester United SC in the final via a penalty kick shootout to capture its first Keystone Conference title.[24][25] In theNortheast Region Playoffs, second seed Motown beat third seedFC Baltimore and first seedNew York Cosmos B to win its first regional championship.[26] In the national semifinal, Motown hostedFC Mulhouse Portland at Ranger Stadium and won in extra time, 2–1.[27]
In the 2018 NPSL National Championship game, top seed Motown hosted second seedMiami FC 2 – which had played professionally in theNorth American Soccer League the previous season. Motown lost, 3–1, in front of a sold-out crowd of 2,143 at Ranger Stadium.[28]
In the2019 U.S. Open Cup, Motown once again faced New York Red Bulls U-23 of USL League Two, formerly known as the PDL, in the First Round. Playing as the away team at MSU Soccer Park, Motown lost on penalty kicks, 4–4 (5:3 pks), in front of over 300 people.[29]
Motown finished theregular season third in the Keystone Conference with six wins, one draw, and three loses. In the conference playoffs, third seed Motown beat second seed West Chester United SC, 3–2. The team hosted the conference final versus fourth seedPhiladelphia Lone Star FC and won, 2–0, for its second straight Keystone championship. In the Northeast Region Semifinal, third seed Motown lost to second seed FC Baltimore, 1–0.
Motown qualified for the2020 U.S. Open Cup and was scheduled to host local qualifierNew York Pancyprian-Freedoms in the First Round, with the winner hosting USL Championship sideSaint Louis FC in the Second Round. However the tournament was suspended in mid-March and eventually cancelled in August due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[30]
In late March, the2020 NPSL season was also cancelled due to COVID.[31] Motown did continue to play in state leagues however, winning the GSSL Super Division and NJSA Men's Open State Cup later in the year once play resumed.
NPSL
The team returned to NPSL play in the Keystone Conference following the COVID stoppage. Theregular season saw Motown finish third in the conference with seven wins, two draws, and one loss. In the conference playoffs, third seed Motown beat second seedAtlantic City FC on the road, 3–2, behind three first half goals from Marcus Hackett,Roy Boateng, andRyan Peterson. In the conference final, Motown hosted fourth seed FC Monmouth at MSU Soccer Park and won, 2–0, off a brace from Peterson. The team entered the Northeast Region Playoffs, hosted by FC Baltimore Christos, as the third seed. In the semifinals, Motown beat second seedGeorgia Revolution FC, 2–1, off a late goal from Boateng. In the region final, Motown lost to first seed Baltimore Christos, 3–3 (4:3 on penalty kicks).
USL
On January 13, 2021,USL League Two announced FC Motown as its latest expansion side and would compete in the Metropolitan Division beginning in the 2021 season alongside teams like theLong Island Rough Riders,Morris Elite SC, and New York Red Bulls U-23.[32][33] Northern Ireland native and NPSL assistant coach Alan McClintock was named inaugural head coach of the USL side on March 15, 2021.[34]
In theregular season, Motown finished fifth in the Metropolitan Division and missed the playoffs.
NPSL
Following two cancelled editions of the tournament Motown returned to the U.S. Open Cup in2022. The team achieved its best performance in the tournament to date, reaching the Third Round and earning $25,000 as the farthest reaching Open Division that year.[35] Motown beat West Chester in the First Round at Montclair State following a protest and replay in only the second successful protest in the tournament since 1995.[36] Motown hostedNational Independent Soccer Association sideAC Syracuse Pulse in the Second Round and earned its first win over a professional side, 1–0 AET, but lost on the road toRochester New York FC (formerly the Rochester Rhinos) in penalty kicks in the next round.[37]
Hot and the team parted ways following the USOC.Gideon Baah, a former New York Red Bulls player who'd been playing with the side in the competition, was named the NPSL team's new head coach ahead of the regular season.
Motown finished theregular season first in the Keystone Conference, beating outElectric City Shock SC on tiebreakers for the first seed. In the conference playoffs, Motown beat Pennsylvania sidePhiladelphia Ukrainian Nationals and West Chester United to capture the conference championship. In the Northeast Region Playoffs, top seed Motown beat the New York Shockers andAppalachian FC at home to claim the organization's second-ever regional championship.[38] The team's only road game in the playoffs came in the national final four, where third seed Motown beat second seedTulsa Athletic, 2–1.[39]
In the 2022 NPSL National Championship game, Motown beat fourth seedCrossfire Redmond, 4–3, in front of 2,065 fans at MSU Soccer Park.[40][41] Coby Handy Jean Rodriguez was named Man of the Match for scoring a late brace to equalize and eventually win the team's first-ever national title.
USL
On January 17, it was announced that Motown's USL League Two team would be partnered with youth club STA Soccer.[42] The team was renamed toFC Motown STA. FormerRutgers Scarlet Knights men's soccer assistant coach and STA Technical Director Tom Shields was named the team's head coach.[43]
In theregular season, STA finished seventh in the Metropolitan Division and missed the playoffs.Peter Stroud was named to the USL League Two All-Conference team (Eastern) and the All-League team.[44][45]
NPSL
In the2023 U.S. Open Cup, Motown lost in the First Round to USL League Two sideManhattan SC in extra time, 2–1.
This season, the NPSL split the Keystone Conference in two to form the Keystone West Conference and the Keystone East Conference. Motown, playing in the latter, finished theregular season in first place and undefeated. The team beat second seed Atlantic City FC to win the Keystone East Conference championship. In the East Region Playoffs, Motown beatHartford City FC in the semifinals but lost to rivals West Chester United in the regional final, 4–1.
Following the playoff exit, Baah announced he was leaving the head coaching role.[46]
USL
In theregular season, STA finished sixth in the Metropolitan Division and missed the playoffs.
NPSL
On January 5, 2024, former Motown captain and Major League Soccer midfielderDilly Duka was named the third-ever coach of Motown's first team.[47]
Motown qualified for its seven straight U.S. Open Cup tournament in 2024, falling to Division III professional sideNew York City FC II of MLS Next Pro, 3–0, in theFirst Round.[48]
In theregular season, the team went undefeated in the Keystone East Conference. Haitian midfielder Maudwindo Germain was named the conference's Most Valuable Player.[49] Motown entered the conference playoffs as the top seed, beating Jackson Lions FC in the final for its sixth straight conference championship. In the East Region playoffs, #1 seed Motown beatVirginia Dream FC off a second half goal past formerD.C. United andUnited States men's national soccer team keeperBill Hamid. The team won its third regional championship in team history by beating New York Shockers, 5–0, in the final.
Motown reached the 2024 NPSL National Championship Game by beating Columbus United FC, 2–0, at Drew University in the National Semifinals. Hosting its third-ever NPSL Final, Motown lost, 2–1, toEl Farolito in front of 1,300 fans at Rangers Stadium.[50]
USL
Motown STA competed in the USL's Metropolitan Division, finishing theregular season in second place with a record of eight wins, three draws, and one loss. The team qualified for the USL League Two postseason for the first time as a wildcard. In the Eastern Conference Qualifying Round STA went on the road and ledWestern Mass Pioneers late but fell in extra time, 3–1.[51]
NPSL
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| USL
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
NPSL
Dilly Duka - Head coach Touré Weaver - Assistant coach Adam Kelemet - Assistant coach Gregory Irwin - General ManagerUSL
Tom Shields - Head coach
Alan McClintock - Assistant coach Zach Roth - Goalkeeper coach Gregory Irwin - General ManagerEDP
Alan McClintock - Head coachŠaćir Hot (2012–2022) NPSL head coach
Gideon Baah (2022–2024) NPSL head coach Alan McClintock (2021–2022) USL head coachThis list of notable former players comprises players who went on to play professional soccer after playing for the team or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.
R. J. AllenNii Armah AshiteyGideon Baah
Nelson BecerraRoy BoatengSamad BounthongMike da Fonte
Babacar DieneDilly DukaKene EzeJoe Fala
Christiano FrançoisHunter FreemanDavid Greczek
Joe Holland
Kodai Iida
Julius James
Daryl KavanaghMichael KnappMitchell LurieBrendan McSorleyJimmy Mulligan Nicolas NéeZach PerezRyan PetersonSamuel Pompée
Sidney RiveraPeter Stroud
Tony Tchani
Christopher Tiao Cameron VickersSam Williams
El Mahdi Youssoufi| Player name | College | Years with Motown (NPSL & USL) | Draft year | Round | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Knapp | Montclair State | 2019, 2024 | 2022 MLS SuperDraft | Round 3 (61st overall) | Austin FC |
| Kyle Linhares | Georgetown | 2022, 2023 | 2024 MLS SuperDraft | Round 2 (40th overall) | Portland Timbers |
| Maximus Jennings | Georgetown | 2022, 2023, 2024 | 2024 MLS SuperDraft | Round 3 (76th overall) | Real Salt Lake |
| Brendan McSorley | Providence | 2023 | 2024 MLS SuperDraft | Round 3 (79th overall) | St. Louis City SC |
| Emil Jääskeläinen | Akron | 2023 | 2025 MLS SuperDraft | Round 1 (7th overall) | St. Louis City SC |
| Max Murray | Vermont | 2024 | 2025 MLS SuperDraft | Round 1 (17th overall) | New York City FC |
| Daniel Ittycheria | Princeton | 2024 | 2025 MLS SuperDraft | Round 2 (40th overall) | D.C. United |
| Samuel Sarver | Indiana | 2023 | 2025 MLS SuperDraft | Round 2 (41th overall) | FC Dallas |
| Nick Collins | Rutgers | 2024 | 2025 MLS SuperDraft | Round 3 (85th overall) | Minnesota United FC |
| Tomas Hut | Syracuse | 2022 | 2026 MLS SuperDraft | Round 1 (21st overall) | New York Red Bulls |
| Kenan Hot | Duke | 2021, 2025 | 2026 MLS SuperDraft | Round 2 (32nd overall) | Inter Miami CF |
| Year | League | Regular season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | NPSL | 3rd, Keystone Conference | Did not qualify | Ineligible | Played as Jersey City Eagles FC |
| 2013 | NPSL | 3rd, Keystone Conference | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | |
| 2014 | NPSL | 5th, Keystone Conference | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | |
| 2015 | NPSL | 1st, Keystone Conference | Regional Final | Did not qualify | Lost in Northeast Regional Final toNew York Cosmos B |
| 2016 | NPSL | 1st, Keystone Conference | National semifinal | 1st Round | Lost in National semifinal toAFC Cleveland |
| 2017 | NPSL | 2nd, Keystone Conference | Northeast Regional Final | 1st Round | Lost in Northeast Regional Final toElm City Express |
Note: Clarkstown & Motown history and records are considered separate. However, Motown acquiring Clarkstown's NPSL franchise is officially considered a "rebrand" and the team qualified for the2018 U.S. Open Cup based on the Eagles' 2017 NPSL results.
| Year | League | Regular season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | GSSL | 1st, Super Division[54] | N/A | 2nd Round | Played as a fully amateur side |
| 2018 | NPSL | 1st, Keystone Conference | National Final | 2nd Round | Lost in National Final toMiami FC 2 |
| 2019 | NPSL | 3rd, Keystone Conference | Northeast Regional semifinal | 1st Round | Lost in Northeast Regional semifinal toFC Baltimore Christos |
| 2020 | NPSL | Season cancelled due toCOVID-19 pandemic[55] | Cancelled | ||
| 2021 | NPSL | 3rd, Keystone Conference | East Regional Final | Cancelled | Lost in East Regional Final toFC Baltimore Christos |
| 2022 | NPSL | 1st, Keystone Conference | Champions | 3rd Round | Won National Final versusCrossfire Redmond |
| 2023 | NPSL | 1st, Keystone East Conference | East Regional Final | 1st Round | Lost in Eastern Regional Final toWest Chester United SC |
| 2024 | NPSL | 1st, Keystone East Conference | National Final | 1st Round | Lost in National Final toEl Farolito |
| 2025 | NPSL | 2nd, Keystone East Conference | Conference Semifinal | 1st Round | Lost in Keystone East Conference Semifinal toJackson Lions FC |
| Year | League | Regular season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | USL League Two | 5th, Metropolitan | Did not qualify | Ineligible | |
| 2022 | USL League Two | 7th, Metropolitan | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | |
| 2023 | USL League Two | 6th, Metropolitan | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | |
| 2024 | USL League Two | 2nd, Metropolitan | Conference Qualifying Round | Did not qualify | Lost in Eastern Conference Qualifying Round toWestern Mass Pioneers |
| 2025 | USL League Two | 1st, Metropolitan | Conference Qualifying Round | Did not qualify | Unbeaten Regular Season Champions at 11-1-0, Lost in Eastern Conference Semifinals toVermont Green FC |
| Honor | Champions | Runners-up | |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Premier Soccer League | National championship | 2022 | 2018,2024 |
| Regional championship | 2018,2022,2024 | 2021,2023 | |
| Conference championship | 2018,2019,2021,2022,2023,2024 | ||
| USL League Two | Division championship | 2025 | 2024 |
USASA Region I Werner Fricker Open Cup
Northeast Elite Super League
New Jersey Soccer Association Men's Open State Cup
Lower League eCup
It's kinda surreal when you think about this team going from playing in a co-ed league to knocking out Lansdowne and playing the U-20 Ecuador National Team [a recent scrimmage for FC Motown].
Fun game today against NYCFC. Thanks to them for hosting us. Great experiences for the players.
Fun last minute scrimmage scheduled for today against the Ecuadorian National Team (in town for Honduras friendly). Will be a closed door affair at Red Bull's training facility.
Big Thanks to the Ecuadorian National Team for a controlled scrimmage. Would like to stress controlled with a heroic 0-0 result.
New York City FC II beat FC Motown, 3-1. The game was three 30 minute periods and trialist heavy for #NYCFC.
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