Northcliff United
 | |
| Full name | Northcliff United Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) |
The Cliff United |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Ground |
FIH Stadium (capacity: 83,000) |
| Manager | Vacant |
| League | Super League Football |
Northcliff United, is a Florian professional football club based in Northcliff. Founded in 2017, the club has traditionally worn red and black kits. Northcliff United play their home matches at FIH Stadium. The club play in the highest level of Florian football,Super League Football. They are nicknamed The Cliff.
The Northcliff club established itself as a major force in the Confederate States of Floria, and one of the major forces globally since 2019. Northcliff United have won a total of 16 titles, 14 of which are domestic, making it the most successful Florian club in history by this measure. United have also never been relegated and is one of the most widely supported teams on Micras.
Domestically, the Reds have won a record 4 top-flight titles, a record five Florian Super Cups, one Florian League Cup, and a record three Florian Cup titles. In Apollonian football, they have won the AEFA Champions' League twice, most recently in 2021, and have reached the semi finals of the AEFA Cup in recent years. United have long-standing rivalries with Dragonmoor FC and Northcliff City. Matchups between both teams are considered one of the most violent in the sport.
The controversial private shareholding organisation, Floria International Holdings (formerly Trueman International) is the club's owner and because of this, the club became one of the wealthiest in the world.
History
Northcliff United was formed in 2017 after the Confederate States of Floria's Micrasian bid was accepted. It came second in the inaugural Florian Premier League season, therefore qualifying for the AEFA Cup. On July 15th, 2017, the team was moved to the southern town of Oldhaven due to the Xhusor War. After the war, it returned to Northcliff, however, it was forced to play in its reserve team's stadium after the main stadium was heavily damaged. On the 29th of August, it eventually returned after renovations were completed. From the 2018–19 Super League Football season, the team moved out of Northcliff Arena whilst it was being demolished and reconstructed. The team played selected home matches at Northcliff Stadium, the largest stadium on Micras. On the 16th of August 2018, Northcliff United appointed former Senya boss, Draco Sanchez after Josh Harper's contract ended. On the 9th of March, Northcliff United won the inaugural Super League Football season after a record-breaking thirty game winning streak. In the same season, United in its first-ever AEFA Champions' League campaign reached the semi-finals only to be agonisingly knocked out by an injury-time goal by Plava Zvezda Grendbej. On May 18th 2019, the club won their first-ever Florian Cup after beating Dragonmoor FC 3-2 after extra time in what is regarded as the most thrilling cup final in Florian history.
United won the 2019 Florian Super Cup against Ostville Wednesday after a Cristiano Ramirez penalty in the 60th minute of the match awarded by VAR. On the 13th of December 2019, United won the Florian League Cup for the first time beating Birmingham United 1-0 on a wet night in Sports City. After their victory, they became the first Florian team to win every major domestic competition. United became the first team to win Super League Football back to back, winning the 2019-20 season ten points clear of nearest challengers Blackoak City. On the 12th of May 2020, Northcliff United finally broke their Apollonian curse and won the AEFA Champions' League winning 9–8 on penalties in the final after a 0–0 draw against Urzi Magalatska FK. The team became the first Florian team to win an Apollonian title following the win. The following season United would go back to back in the Champions League beating Lamantian side King's Lynn Town FC 3–1 in the final. Four days afterwards, United would beat local rivals Northcliff City 2–0 in the Florian Cup final.
On the 9th of September 2021, star forward and club captain Cristiano Ramirez left the club for a challenge overseas with Sverige Tiem signalling a new era for the club moving forward. On the 17th of October 2021, Steve Owen was sacked after a shock 5-2 defeat to Oldhaven Rangers and poor form in the FMF Champions' League. he was replaced with former Floria National team assistant coach, Reynard Dubois. Despite United having its most dominant season since 2018–19, United would suffer its earliest exit out of the international competition losing on away goals to Dynamo Deacon in the FMF Champions' League after reaching the semi-final stage the previous year. League form suffered in the latter parts of the season leading to Dragonmoor FC all but snatching the title with two games left. United was also defeated by city rivals Northcliff City in the 2022 Florian Cup Semi-finals leading to United's first trophyless season. On the final day of the season, United would miss out on FMF Champions' League football on goal difference, leading to the immediate sacking of Reynard Dubois. Russell Jordan was hired as his replacement.
Jordan's first season was a success returning Northcliff United to the summit of Florian football winning the 2022-23 SLF season unbeaten and reaching the AEFA Champions' League final. However, the team gradually declined in form losing out on the title again in the 2023-24 season to Dragonmoor after a poor start. Jordan would be relieved of managerial duties after a woeful record of 3-4-4 to start the season leaving the team 12th in the standings, the lowest it's ever been.
Club identity
Colours
Since foundation, Northcliff United have represented the western area of Northcliff. As a result, red, white and black have been the traditional colours of the club.
Mottos, mascot and anthems
Grounds
Northcliff Arena
Northcliff University Stadium and Sports City
FIH Stadium
After playing two seasons of rotating matches at Sports City and Northcliff Stadium, FIH Stadium became the teams' permanent home in early 2021. Jointly owned with Northcliff Falcons, the Floria International Holdings Stadium hosted its first match to the public in the Northcliff City Derby, with United ending up as 1-0 victors.
Support
Northcliff United is the most popular football club in the Confederate States of Floria ahead of biggest rivals, Dragonmoor FC and is one of the most popular teams internationally. Many of the club's supporters groups are or have been linked to football hooliganism and these supporters play a huge part in Floria's national ultras group, the Red Army. The main supporters/ultras group of Northcliff United is called The Cliff which stand behind the players tunnel chanting songs, waving flags and banging drums throughout the game.
Rivalries
Northcliff United's two biggest rivals are Dragonmoor FC and Northcliff City. Clashes between both of teams attract much publicity and both are very violent. Security for these matches are extremely high however incidents such as pitch invasions and throwing flares onto the pitch still regularly happen.
The club also has a significant rivalry with Wolfpine United, one of Floria's so called 'hooligan' clubs based in Greater Northcliff.
Ownership and finances
Sponsors
Currently, FS, Titan Automotives and Floria International Holdings, who owns the football club, are the main sponsors of Northcliff United. The club also has official partners such as Hook Solutions and FLO Railways.
Gopnikas, was the club's kit supplier from its formation until the end of the 2018-19 season, however, due to political tensions between Krasnocoria and Floria, the club decided to switch to a domestic supplier. Northcliff United's first sponsor was DrAgon however the sponsorship deal ended after Floria International Holdings bought the club in March 2019.
Northcliff United's current shirt sponsor is Titan Automotives, one of Micras's leading automotive manufacturers. The club and Titan have been partners since the start of the 2021–22 season.
Players
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FMF eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FMF nationality.
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Former players
Honours
- As of the 2023–24 season.
| Type | Competition | Titles | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | Super League Football/ Florian Premier League | 4 | 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2022–23 |
| Florian Cup | 3 | 2019, 2020, 2021 | |
| Florian League Cup | 1 | 2020 | |
| Florian Super Cup | 6 | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023 | |
| Apollonian | AEFA Champions' League | 2† | 2019–20, 2020–21 |
| AEFA Cup | 0 | ||
| International | FMF Champions' League | 0 |
†-Shared record
Minor
Coaching staff
| Head coach |  Russell Jordan
|
| Assistant coach | Robert Sims
|
| Assistant coach |  Jim Spencer
|
Kits
Northcliff United Play in a red shirt, black shorts and white socks. |
The shirt is white with bue zigzags,nlue shorts and white socks. |
All black kit with red trimmings. |
