Monday, 09 December 2024

Avispa Fukuoka

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Avispa Fukuoka has roots that go back to 1982, but only arrived in its current home of Fukuoka at the start of the J.League era. Chuo Bouhan Soccer Club was originally formed in Shizuoka prefecture, and remained in the Shizuoka area until 1995. The team was one of the founding members of the JFL, the amateur league which represented Japan's second tier when the J.League was formed. Between 1992 and 1995, the team made good progress through the JFL ranks, and it began to develop professional ambitions. However, there were already two J.League teams located in the prefecture: Shimizu S-Pulse and Jubilo Iwata, and the J.League was skeptical about allowing a third team to set up operations in this relatively small area.

Fortunately for the club, the city of Fukuoka, in Kyushu, was eager to create a J.League team to represent the Kyushu region. Chuo Bouhan was convinced to move its entire operation - players, coaches, sponsors and all - to Fukuoka, where it took the official name Fukuoka Blux. The move had a positive impact on the team, and it quickly climbed the rankings, winning the JFL championship in 1995, and thereby gaining admission to the J.League. With its entry to the professional ranks, the team changed its name and its mascot, adopting the Spanish word "Avispa" (wasp), and a mascot based on the aggressive yellowjackets that are common in the Kyushu area. .

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Home Uniform   --   Away Uniform

Management Corporation: Avispa Fukuoka Co., Ltd.
Established: 29 September 1994
President: Tadashi Otsuka
Investors: A consortium of 91 organizations including Fukuoka City, Coca Cola West Japan, and Sanyo Shimpan
Address: 1-2-17 Kashiihamafuto, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City,Fukuoka 813-8585
Hometown Area: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Home Stadium: Hakata-no-mori (LEVEL-5) Stadium (capacity: 22,563)
Joined J. League: 1996