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What is F.C. Machida Zelvia?

The city of Machida is by nature a thriving place for youth soccer. Among former Japan representatives Tsuyoshi Kitazawa, Yasushi Fukunaga, and current F.C. Machida Zelvia player Kazuyuki Toda, Machida city has produced around 40 J-League players. The club’s home stadium, Machida Athletic Stadium, has a capacity of 8924 seats. The last few years has seen the team facing difficult seasons, unable to rise to the J-League due to unmet stadium promotion requirements. However, the stadium is currently going through construction, with plans to increase available seating and meet J-League standards. Through this, the club was able to receive the long-sought after promotion to the J-League this year.

The team’s slogan for 2012 is “ALL POWER MACHIDA ～Machida-ism～”. Having just been raised to a new stage, and full of determination, the team’s current aspirations are to “Challenge the J-League as a unique Machida! Show Japan what Machida is made of!” Standing a step higher than they were last year, F.C. Machida Zelvia strives forward with a new dream, and with a unified club, city, and government supporting them. This is the emphasized Machida-ism.

	Emblem The symbol in the center is constructed by combining the “Z” from Zelvia and the “M” from Machida. The three lines in the middle represent the triple union of “City,” “Government,” and “Team,” expressing the club’s basic stance.
	Logo Mark Zelvia’s tribute to Machida City is expressed through the city’s shape on the left hand side. With the team colour blue as a base, the gold represents the “Pride of Machida.”

Under strengthened leadership

The manager of F.C. Machida Zelvia, starting this year, is none other than the world-renown Osvaldo Ardiles, an experienced man with thick ties to Japan, having managed Shimizu S-Pulse for three years starting in 1996, Yokohama F Marinos for a year and a half in 2000, and Tokyo Verdy 1969 for two years from the summer of 2003. He has a reputation for leading his teams to victory, and helping them make names for themselves. During the last few years, F.C. Machida Zelvia has had a string of excellent leadership, managers with deep attachments to Japan, from Naoki Soma in 2010, Ranko Papović in 2011, and now Osvaldo Ardiles in 2012. The end of the 23rd season saw Machida in 22nd place in the league. They haven’t yet hit their stride, but Machida Zelvia will be something to watch as they rise to a new stage. Just how far will their determination take them? How will Machida-ism be expressed? We can certainly expect great things from them.

Toward a community-based club

nlike F.C. Tokyo, Tokyo Verdy 1969 and other J-League clubs that make Tokyo prefecture their home turf, Machida Zelvia has designated Machida City as its home ground, including it in the club name and openly expressing their love of the community. With F.C. Tokyo aiming to be a J-League club that supports citizens from all walks, and Tokyo Verdy basing itself in Tokyo with a focus on Inagi City, different club management policies such as these have appeared.

F.C. Machida Zelvia is a club that works with the local community in a variety of ways, through events appropriately titled “Hometown Activities.” Some such activities include elementary school visits, supervised soccer teaching, invitations to the club facilities, participating in local events, regional contribution activities, picture-book readings, and shopping mall visits. In addition, beginning with a soccer school geared toward kids of preschool age up to grade six, there are also the anti-ageing and ladies only soccer clinics, cheerleading school and other special activities that the club supports in order to show people how fun soccer is, and also to teach about proper exercise and keeping up a healthy lifestyle.

Furthermore, at the end of F.C. Machida Zelvia home matches, the players from the game invite the children who came and watched the match to join them and play together on the field, part of the activity called “friend’s soccer.” Being able to interact directly with the team’s athletes is a great nurturing factor for these kid’s dreams; the activity effectively contributes to the community.

Against JEF United Chiba – May 13th (Sunday)

They didn’t give up: Packed into the Machida Athletic Stadium, 6,173 spectators cried out heated cheers for their teams, and manager Ardiles gave quick orders from the technical area as the players of Machida Zelvia continued to fight, never stopping. JEF Chiba’s ball possession was a low 38.6 percent compared to Machida Zelvia’s 61.4. Machida set the pace for the match; there were very few long passes made from the defence line, instead the ball was brought forward carefully and gradually, where the opponents defence line was broken with a wedge formation, with the team utilizing side change passes to control the field. Regardless of Osvaldo Ardiles’ recent arrival to the club, it was apparent that his spirit was completely and utterly in the game.

Despite this, for some reason the results displayed on the digital score board at the last whistle read 1 – 6. Even when they lost ground, they were not afraid of making mistakes, and were able to carve their own playing style onto the field. The opposing team took a two point lead in the first half, and Machida naturally started pressing forward toward the enemy goal, which created an opening for JEF Chiba to invade, resulting in an even bigger gap on the score board.

“Keep fighting until the very end!”

A flag with these words written on them rippled in the wind, surrounded by still cheering fans, as the eleven athlete’s shoulders sagged in disappointment. Perhaps it is the supporters that lift the players up the most. A shining moment for “ALL POWER MACHIDA ～Machida-ism～.” The club not only inspires the city it represents, but an opposite effect is seen where the citizens of Machida fight alongside and support the players. Soccer gives birth to enjoyment and happiness. They all love F.C. Machida Zelvia, and they love Machida.