# Calabar Rovers F.C. > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Calabar_Rovers_F.C. > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Calabar_Rovers_F.C..md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calabar_Rovers_F.C. > Source revision: 1307945469 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Nigerian football club}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Calabar Rovers | image = Calabar_Rovers_F.C._logo.png | fullname = Calabar Rovers Football Club | nickname = | founded = 1976 (reestablished 2008) | ground = [U. J. Esuene Stadium](/source/U._J._Esuene_Stadium) | capacity = 25,000 | chairman = Maurice Inok | manager = [Bob Osim](/source/Bob_Osim) | league = [Nigeria National League](/source/Nigeria_National_League) | season = | position = |pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1= |leftarm1=|body1=FFFFFF|rightarm1=|shorts1=0000ff|socks1=FFFFFF }} '''Calabar Rovers Football Club''' is a Nigerian [football](/source/Association_football) club based in [Calabar](/source/Calabar). They play their games at [U. J. Esuene Stadium](/source/U._J._Esuene_Stadium). ==History== The club was founded in 1976.{{Cite web |title=History of Calabar Rovers Football Club |url=https://roversfc.sitesng.com/en_History.html |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=roversfc.sitesng.com |archive-date=2022-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209132045/https://roversfc.sitesng.com/en_History.html |url-status=live }} They were one of the original members of the Nigerian Second Division which was established in 1979. Under Brazilian coach [Paulo Luiz Campos](/source/Paulo_Luiz_Campos), they adopted a fast-paced style and were promoted after finishing second in 1981. They stayed in the top flight for about a decade before being relegated to the lower leagues in 1993. During that time, they made the semifinals of the [FA Cup](/source/Nigerian_FA_Cup) twice but never won any major accolades. Their last game however was the controversial 13–0 loss to [Akwa United](/source/Akwa_United_F.C.) on August 12, 2006. Already doomed to relegation to the [Nigeria Amateur League](/source/Nigeria_Amateur_League), Rovers had three players sent off in the blowout which allowed Akwa to be promoted to the [Premier League](/source/Nigerian_Premier_League) by a goal differential of one. Rovers, on the other hand, disbanded after the game. ===Return to Nigerian League=== In May 2008, the [Cross River State](/source/Cross_River_State) government announced plans to bring the team back from hiatus and with corporate sponsorship. With the help of United Cement Company (UNICEM), they entered into a player share agreement with newly promoted Dankat FC of Kano for 12 million [naira](/source/naira), and will play in the [Nigeria National League](/source/Nigeria_National_League) in 2008–09. Since the team also acquired Dankat's league slot, they played their first season back in the mostly-northern division A. The team was run for the next five seasons by UNICEM. For part of the 2009 season they played at the [Uyo Township Stadium](/source/Uyo_Township_Stadium) while Esuene stadium was renovated for the [2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup](/source/2009_FIFA_U-17_World_Cup). ==Managers== *{{flagicon|Romania}} [Dorian Marin](/source/Dorian_Marin) (2017–19) *{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [Bob Osim](/source/Bob_Osim) (2019–) ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080417205915/http://www.brasileiroslafora.com.br/paulocampos.html Paulo Campos Official website] (archived 17 April 2008) *[https://web.archive.org/web/20210831114623/http://www.kickoffnigeria.com/static/news/article.php?id=1786 Calabar Rovers plan comeback] (archived 31 August 2021) *[http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/sports/article20//indexn3_html?pdate=090708&ptitle=Rovers%20FC%20resurrects%20as%20Unicem-Rovers%20FC&cpdate=090708 Rovers FC resurrects as Unicem-Rovers FC] *[http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/sports/article20//indexn3_html?pdate=010908&ptitle=Rovers%20will%20bounce%20back,%20says%20Osim&cpdate=010908 Rovers will bounce back, says Osim]{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} *[https://archive.today/20130222194703/http://nigerianpremierleague.com.ng/?p=571 "We deserved the point"-Rovers] (archived 22 February 2013) *[http://www.pioneerng.com/article.php?title=Unicem_Rovers_Defeat_Mighty_Jets&id=3303 UNICEM Rovers defeat Mighty Jets] {{Nigerian Premier League}} Category:Calabar Rovers F.C. Category:Association football clubs established in 1976 Category:Football clubs in Nigeria Category:Calabar Category:1976 establishments in Nigeria {{Nigeria-footyclub-stub}} --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Calabar Rovers F.C.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calabar_Rovers_F.C.) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calabar_Rovers_F.C.?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.