Marck Espejo with FC Tokyo in the Japan V.League. FC TOKYO PHOTOCe
MANILA, Philippines—Marck Espejo will have to look for a new team come the 2022-23 season after FC Tokyo announced that it would cease its volleyball operations at the end of its campaign in the Japan V.League.
The club announced on its website that the team will only operate until May 2022 and that its dissemination activities as volleyball classes will also be suspended.
“As a result of comprehensive consideration of changes in the surrounding business environment, the possibility of medium to long-term business growth, and measures for commercialization and sophistication plans for the future of V League, it was decided we will suspend activities,” the club announced.
FC Tokyo, which is under Tokyo Gas’ corporate umbrella, started its sporting venture in football in 1934 and it was in 1948 that the company branched out into volleyball.
Founded as a nine-man team, the club slowly rose to relevance first getting promoted to the V.Challenge League in 1998.
“As with football, the volleyball team was able to be promoted to the top league in Japan with the great support of everyone. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has given us a great deal of support.”
FC Tokyo gained promotion to the V.Premier League in 2010 after winning the V.Challenge in 2009.
The club’s highest achievement in the top flight was a runner-up finish in the Emperor’s Cup.
Espejo and the team hold a 4-10 record at the eighth seed in the 2021-22 V.League season.