Omiya Ardija - last updated on 4 October 2008
(Courtesy of Johnny Beaufays)
Club name: Thespa Kusatsu (大宮アルディージャ
)
Foundation: 1964
City: Ōmiya-ku
Colours: Orange and blue
Website: www.ardija.co.jp
Honours:
Omiya Ardija has currently no honours.
A bit of history:
Omiya Ardija is a professional football club in the J. League, based in Ōmiya-ku in Saitama, Saitama, Japan. (Its "hometown" designated by the league is the whole Saitama city, which is shared with Urawa Red Diamonds (the Reds).)
It competes in the J1 premiership from 2005, promoted from the runner-up in the J2 in 2004. Although its home field is Ōmiya Park Soccer Stadium, most of its home matches are to be held in Saitama Stadium 2002 and Urawa Komaba Stadium (they are also home stadiums for the Reds.) until expansion of spectator capacity of its permanent home in Ōmiya to satisfy J1 requirements can be completed.
It started in 1964 as NTT Saitama Soccer Selection in Urawa and founded as the NTT Kantō Soccer Club in 1969, then became NTT Sport Community K.K. based in Ōmiya in 1998 to participate in the J. League. The nickname "Ardija" is a transcription of the Spanish language ardilla (squirrel) which is the mascot of Ōmiya and the Park.
Its match with the Urawa Red Diamonds has been called the "Saitama Derby" by the mass media. However, Urawa's enthusiasm towards soccer which lured Mitsubishi Motors that had little local connection there to franchise is not found in Ōmiya. Stadium attendance for the Ardija is much lower than that of the Reds.
Club crests: (roll on the crest to get more informations)
Omiya Ardija
Club mascot: (roll on the crest to get more informations)
Omiya Ardija -
Ardi-kun
