Matsumoto’s ambitious little football club, Matsumoto Yamaga (aka “Gans”) had a stand out season 2009. Besides being the first non-league club to kill a giant in The Emperor’s Cup, they found their circuitous way into the league proper via a series of post-season round robins & plays – explained in admirable simplicity and detail right here – http://welcome.city.matsumoto
.nagano.jp/modules/contents08/index.php?id=18
Please do post your comments to Tim Morley’s excellent review of 2009/preview 2010 as we want to encourage this freelance correspondent to share his thoughts as the new season develops. Trust me, the fame will not be going to his head – he will still only travel on local trains!
Well done Yamaga, thank you Tim, and all the best for 2010.
Jim