Consadole Sapporo

is a Japanese professional football (soccer) club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Sapporo, on the island of Hokkaidō.

The club name of "Consadole" is made from 'consado' as reverse of Japanese word Dosanko (DO-SA-N-KO, 道産子 = people of Hokkaidō) and the Spanish expression 'Ole'. The name is to symbolize the strong feelings in their hearts that all citizens of Hokkaidō have for the club.

Unlike other teams, as their main homeground Sapporo Dome is also used by a baseball team, their home game are usually moved to Sapporo Atsubetsu Park Stadium.

History

Toshiba S.C. (1935 - 1995)

Consadole's club tradition dates back to 1935 when Toshiba Horikawa-cho Soccer Club was founded in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. They were promoted to the now-defunct Japan Soccer League Division 2 in 1978. They adopted new name Toshiba Soccer Club in 1980 and were promoted to the JSL Division 1 in 1989. Relegating themselves as they were not ready for J. League implementation, they joined the newly formed Japan Football League in 1992 and played the last season as Toshiba S.C. in 1995.

They sought to be a professional club but the owner Toshiba did not regard Kawasaki as an ideal hometown. This was because Verdy Kawasaki, one of the most prominent clubs at that time, was also based in the city, which Toshiba apparently believed was not big enough to accommodate two clubs. (Verdy has since crossed the Tama River to be based in Chōfu City in the west...
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