FC Imabari

FC Imabari (FC今治) is a Japanese football club based in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture. They play in the J3 League. The club was founded in 1976 and was promoted to the Shikoku Football League in 2001. From 2009 to 2011 they were owned by Ehime F.C. as their reserve team, Ehime F.C. Shimanami. After spinning off yet again, the majority of FC Imabari was bought by the former coach of Japan Takeshi Okada in 2014. In February 2016, the club made another step forward toward the J. League as JFA recognised J. League Hundred Year Vision clubs. In November they won the Regional Promotion Series and were promoted to the Japan Football League. During their debut-season in the JFL, they opened their new stadium and got a J3 League license for the 2018 season. In 2019, after finishing 3rd in the JFL, FC Imabari were promoted to the professional ranks of J3 for the first time.