Factfile
Founded: 1978
President: Nino Rastelli
Manager: Massimo Mazza
Stadio: Dario Ballotta
Nicknames: Granata, Borghigiani (Villagers) and Lupi
So far on the nerd’s guide we have done the small, the historic and the down right bizarre, however we have yet to do a club so minuscule on the Italian football landscape that its very existence is a complete mystery to 99% of the Italian population. Welcome to the world of AS Fidentina.
This tiny club hails from the village of Fidenza (Population roughly 27,000) about 23km west of Parma. Founded back in 1978 by a group of local youngsters who frequented a bar in the town, this small club would go on to excite and thrill locals for years to come.
Enthused by the idea of a fresh football team for the village the bartender of the pub the boys attended became the clubs first sponsor and president and as such GS Bar Marisa was born. The name however did soon change to GS Amateurs Fidenza.
While technically not the only club in the Village, Ac Fidenza had been around since 1922, the Granata soon gathered a decent following due to the clubs insistence on giving local boys a chance to play the game that they loved. It was this connection with the townspeople that prompted another name change this time to the Current AS Fidentina.
The new name harked back to Roman times when the area was settled, around 41Bc, and named Fidentia. The impracticality of fielding only players from the village meant success on the pitch was never truly obtainable. However in more recent years due to the support of fans and local entrepreneurs the club has reached heights never before thought possible.
What are these dizzying heights you say, well it is the Eccellenza Emilia-Romagna Girone A (Italy’s Fifth and highest amateur tier). While many may snort and laugh at a club who are proud to have reached such inauspicious environs the very fact that a club so small is only two promotions, albeit near impossible promotions, away from Lega Pro is a remarkable achievement.
As for the clubs greatest hour there can be little argument. The day is Sunday the 19th December 2004, Fidentina take to the field against Village rivals AC Fidenza in the Promzione Emilia-Romagna, while Fidenza themselves are no powerhouses of the Italian game they are relative behemoths compared to Fidentina.
Despite being given little chance of victory the Granata tear into Fidenza, with club legend Marco Palmucci and captain Matteo Massenza leading the charge. There sheer determination proves enough in the end as Fidentina score the only goal of the game to silence and stun the bigger Fidenza.
On the whole it is not a result that will go down in Italian football folklore, but to Fidentina it is perhaps the greatest result ever achieved.
Football clubs come in all shapes and sizes and while yes only the big and prestigious get there name up in lights, without little clubs like Fidentina plugging away at a grassroot level football will lose its soul.
Fidentina you may not have heard of them, you may not care about them, but they are the backbone of the game we love, Calcio.
Ultras:
Despite being such a small club, it did once have a sizable enough Ultra following
The group in question was called Yogola Fidentina, they created a fierce some enough atmosphere for any visiting side considering the level that the club played at.
Sadly however the group is no more due to perceived persecutions and crackdown on Ultra culture, the group frittered away into obscurity.
Check out the group in its heyday HERE.
Stadio
The club currently play at the Stadio Dario Ballotta which they share with rivals Fidenza
Like what you say, check out more on the mighty Fidentina on there website HERE.
or visit there YouTube Channel or finally follow them on Facebook.
As for next weeks Nerd’s guide it’s still in the developmental stage so stay tuned to see who we come up with.
The post The Calcio nerd’s guide: Fidentina appeared first on Italian Football Daily.
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