Sunday, 28 February 2021

BELARUSIAN FAN GROUPS PROTEST AGAINST POLITICAL SITUATION

The Belarusian football season kicks off this Tuesday with the Super Cup between BATE Borisov and Shakhtyor Soligorsk at the FC Minsk Stadium. Fans are allowed to attend games in Belarus as they have been throughout most of the pandemic. However, the 2021 season may have a different look to it as many fan groups protest about the political situation following the presidential election in August which caused huge protests across the county. Many countries and the European Union have refused to accept the result of the election and all opposition candidates have filed appeals to the Central Election Commission. 

Fan groups from Premier League sides BATE Borisov, Slutsk, Neman Grodno, Dynamo Brest, Shakhtyor Soligorsk, Vitebsk along with Second League side FC Molodechno have announced they will not be attending games in protest against the political situation in the country. More clubs are likely to follow this stance.  

CYMRU PREMIER LEAGUE RE-STARTS THIS WEEK

The JD Cymru Premier re-starts this week after being suspended due to COVID just prior to Christmas. The New Saints (played 17 with 44 points) are currently top of the league closely followed by Connah's Key Nomads (played 16 with 41 points).  Newtown AFC and Aberystwyth Town occupy the relegation zone who are the only two sides to have unbroken membership of the Welsh top tier since it's formation in 1992. (Artwork courtesy of @jamiedoesvidz).

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES 
Tuesday 2nd March 
Newtown AFC v Pen-y-Bont - 8pm

Saturday 6th March (2.30pm) 
Caernarfon Town v Aberystwyth Town 
Cefn Druids v Barry Town United 
Connah's Quay Nomads v Newtown AFC 
Flint Town United v Pen-y-Bont 
Haverfordwest County v Cardiff Metropolitan University
The New Saints v Bala Town - 5pm 

Tuesday 9th March (7.45pm)
Aberystwyth Town v Haverfordwest County 
Barry Town United v Pen-y-Bont 
Cefn Druids v Newtown AFC 
Flint Town United v Connah's Quay Nomads 

Saturday 13th March (2.30pm)
Barry Town United v Aberystwyth Town 
Cefn Druids v Bala Town 
Flint Town United v Caernarfon Town 
Haverfordwest County v The New Saints 
Newtown AFC v Cardiff Metropolitan University 
Pen-y-Bont v Connah's Quay Nomads 

Tuesday 16th March (7.45pm)
Bala Town v Connah's Quay Nomads 
Pen-y-Bont v Barry Town United 
The New Saints v Cefn Druids 

Saturday 20th March (2.30pm)
Aberystwyth Town v Newtown 
Bala Town v Caernarfon Town 
Cardiff Metropolitan University v Cefn Druids
Connah's Quay Nomads v Haverfordwest County 
Pen-y-Bont v Flint Town United 

Saturday 27th March (2.30pm)
Aberystwyth Town v Pen-y-Bont 
Barry Town United v Bala Town 
Caernarfon Town v Cardiff Metropolitan University 
Flint Town United v The New Saints 
Newtown AFC v Haverfordwest County

STATEMENT FROM THE HERTS SENIOR COUNTY LEAGUE - CUP COMPETITION PLANNED FOR APRIL

 





PLEASE HELP CROCKENHILL FC




From Go Fund Me Page

"As some of you are aware we are a football club situated in Crockenhill FC and have been established since the 1940s, last year being our 75th anniversary of playing football matches! The club holds many memories, has a nostalgic feel and was recently showcased in the The Bromley Boys film.

Unfortunately we recently have had trespassers that have damaged our property, pitch, fencing and historic turnstiles by illegally coming on to the property and destroying it. We need money for materials, tools and we will do much of the labour ourselves to cut down the costs.  We are volunteers and receive no council support and have been asked by some kind hearted people to set this page up as they wanted to help support our club! We have been involved with the club for thirty years and have struggled to keep it going but we do for all the amazing football ground hoppers, players and people that love football and the family orientated club!!  If you can donate that would be amazing and once Covid is over you are more than welcome to visit and watch a match with us!"

IF YOU ARE A LOCAL (OR EVEN WORLDWIDE BUSINESS) OR SOMEONE WITH SOME SPARE CASH LYING (A MILLIONAIRE OR LOCAL CELEBRITY?) ABOUT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE A SUBSTANTIAL DONATION THAT WOULD HELP OUT SUCH A FANTASTIC CLUB WITH THE BEST BAR AND ONE OF THE BEST GROUNDS IN NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL. 

Thursday, 25 February 2021

BELARUSIAN PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY GAME RESULTS PAGE

Don't forget there is an up to date list of pre-season friendly results from Belarus on the link to the page of results - CLICK HERE

Tuesday, 23 February 2021

FROM CUMBRIA TO COLOMBIA - AROUND THE WORLD IN FOUR CLUBS

It's not been a great first season back in the football league for BARROW AFC. Ian Evatt who had taken The Bluebirds to the Vanarama National League title in 2019/20 left in July to join Bolton Wanderers and was replaced by former Blackburn Rover's player and Oldham Athletic boss David Dunn. He lasted until December winning 2 games in 22 played and was replaced by Michael Jolley who was last in charge of Grimsby Town in 2019 - He lasted only 7 games where the team won just one game. Former Leicester City boss Rob Kelly is now in temporary charge starting with their game at Oldham Athletic tonight - He took charge of three games in December of which he won two. The club have lost their last four league games - Following their trip to Boundary Park tonight they travel to Bolton Wanderers on Saturday. They are currently second bottom in SkyBet League Two but do have games in hand over the teams above them. 

AJAX currently lead the way in the Dutch top tier - they are six points ahead of second placed PSV Eindhoven with a game in hand. They have only lost 2 league games of their 22 played which came away at FC Groningen and at home to FC Twente. They have scored an incredible amount of 72 goals which amounts to 3.27 per game - this is helped by their 0-13 victory at VVV Venlo in October. Their next Eredivisie game is on Sunday at PSV Eindhoven which is an all important top of the table clash. Since 2000 only AZ Alkmaar (08/09), FC Twente (09/10) and Feyenoord (2016/17) have won the title aside from Ajax or PSV. 

It's been a season to forget for CLUB DEPORTIVO MARINO who play in the Spanish Segunda B Division Group 4A which is the third tier of the game in Spain. CD Marino are based in Los Cristianos in Tenerife - How we'd all love to be soaking up the Sun there at this time! They have only won one league game so far which was away at San Fernando CD which ended 2-3. Kiko De Diego is the man in charge at the moment who previously was in charge of UD Las Zocas who are also from Tenerife and played in the Tercera Divison (fourth tier) up to 2019. Marino have found goals hard to come by with Senegalese striker Ahmed and midfielder Samuel Arbelo top scorers on two goals each. Arbelo started his career with CD Tenerife playing for their reserve team in the Tercera Division. 

Boca Juniors de Cali are named after the famous Argentinian Club Atletico Boca Juniors club. CBJ currently played in the Colombian Catergoria Primera B which is the second tier of football in Colombia. The club were formed in 1937 but disbanded in 1958 due to financial problems. In the early 1950s the club had been runner's up in the top division. In 1987 the club was reformed as an amateur club and football academy with many players moving on to play in professional football. The club was owned by the owner of Universitario Popayan who moved to Cali for the second half of the 2019 season and was rebranded as Boca Juniors to see a return for the club to professional football after a 61 year absence. 

Boca Juniors next league game is away to Tigres (9th) on Sunday. They are currently in 10th place of 16 teams.

Monday, 22 February 2021

HOW THINGS STAND IN THE SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP

POS TEAM  GD  PTS  PP FORM 
1.   RANGERS   30  +64  82  106 WWWDWW
2.  CELTIC   30 +41 64  88 WWWWWL
3.   HIBERNIAN   29 +15  52 79 WLWWWW
4.   ABERDEEN   30 +3 48  72 DLLDLW
5.   LIVINGSTON  29 +1 40 67 WDWLLD
6.   ST MIRREN   29  -6  35  62 LWLDDD
7.DUNDEE UNITED  30 -15 34 58 LLLWWL
8.  ST JOHNSTONE  30 -8  33 57 DWLWLW
9.   MOTHERWELL  29  -20  28  55 WWLWLL
10.   ROSS COUNTY  29  -31  26  53 LLLLLW
11.  KILMARNOCK 30 -16 24 48 LLLLLL
12.  HAMILTON ACADEMICAL 29 -28 24 51 LLDWDL
KEY
CHAMPIONS QUALIFY FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE THIRD QR
RUNNERS UP QUALIFY FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SECOND QR
3rd/4th QUALIFY FOR EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE SECOND QR
11th PLACE PLAY RELEGATION/PROMOTION PLAY OFF
12th PLACE RELEGATION
AFTER 33 MATCHES THE LEAGUE SPLITS INTO TWO SECTIONS (TOP SIX AND BOTTOM SIX) WITH THE TEAMS PLAYING EACH OTHER ONCE. 

Rangers are very close to being confirmed title winners - If they win their next two games against Livingston and St Mirren it will put them on 88 points going into the game at Celtic on Sunday 21st March. If Celtic win their two games against Aberdeen and Dundee United it will put them on 70 points being able to get to a maximum of 88 points therefore there is a chance Rangers could officially win the title at Celtic Park. 

With an eight point gap between Abderdeen in fourth and Livingston in fifth it now looks like The Dons and Hibs will finish in the Europa Conference League places. 

At the bottom of the table Ross County's amazing 1-0 win at home to Celtic has given their survival hopes a real boost. 

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES 

Wednesday 24th February 
St Mirren v Motherwell

Saturday 27th February
Celtic v Aberdeen 
Hibernian v Motherwell 
Kilmarnock v Dundee United 
St Mirren v Ross County

Wednesday 3rd March 
Hamilton Academical v St Johnstone 
Livingston v Rangers

Saturday 6th March 
Aberdeen v Hamilton Academical
Motherwell v Livingston 
Rangers v St Mirren 
Ross County v Kilmarnock 
St Johnstone v Hibernian 

Sunday 7th March
Dundee United v Celtic 

Saturday 13th March 
Livingston v Hamilton Academical 
Ross County v Hibernian 

Saturday 20th March
Dundee United v Aberdeen 
Hamilton Academical v St Mirren 
Kilmarnock v Motherwell
Livingston v Hibernian 
St Johnstone v Ross County 

Sunday 21st March 
Celtic v Rangers

BELARUSIAN FOOTBALL FIXTURES INCLUDING FIRST FOUR WEEKS OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE

BELARUSIAN SUPER CUP 2021 
Tuesday 2nd March 
Shakhtyor Soligorsk v BATE Borisov 

BELARUSIAN CUP 2020/21 QUARTER-FINALS FIRST-LEG 
Saturday 6th March (KO UK time)
FC Minsk v Isloch - 11.30am 
Torpedo-Belaz Zhodino v Arsenal Dzerzhinsk - 1.30pm
Sunday 7th March
BATE Borisov v Vitesbsk - 11.30am 
Shakhtyor Soligorsk v Neman Grodno -1.30pm 

Second Legs due to be played on Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th April

PREMIER LEAGUE WEEK ONE 
to be played March 12th-14th
Isloch v Slavia Mozyr 
Smorgon v Energetyk-BGU
Shakhtyor Soligorsk v FC Minsk
Rukh Brest v FC Gomel
Sputnik Rechitsa v Dynamo Brest
BATE Borisov v Slutsk
Neman Grodno v Vitebsk
Dynamo Minsk v Torpedo-BelAZ

The game of the opening weekend has to be Dynamo Minsk v Torpedo-Belaz Zhodino. Both teams who finished 6th and 3rd last season are expected to do well this season. 

First League champion's Sputnik Rechitsa have a home game against what will be a new look Dynamo Brest team. FC Gomel mark their return to the top tier with a trip to Rukh Brest who with all their signings (mostly from Dynamo Brest) are one of the teams people are predicting to be challenging for the title in 2021. 

An indication as to how strong Smorgon (sixth in the first league last season) will be could be formed from their result against Energetyk-BGU who I think may be in and around 10th to 14th place in the table this season. 

PREMIER LEAGUE WEEK TWO
March 19th-21st
Slavia Mozyr v Torpedo-Belaz Zhodino
Vitebsk v Dynamo Minsk
Slutsk v Neman Grodno
Dynamo Brest v BATE
Gomel v Sputnik Rechitsa
FC Minsk v Rukh Brest 
Energetik-BGU v Shakhtyor Soligorsk
Isloch v Smorgon

PREMIER LEAGUE WEEK THREE 
April 2nd -4th
Smorgon v Slavia Mozyr
Shakhtyor Soligorsk v Isloch
Rukh Brest v Energetyk-BGU
Sputnik Rechitsa v FC Minsk
BATE v FC Gomel
Neman Grodno v Dynamo Brest
Dynamo Minsk v Slutsk
Torpedo-Belaz Zhodino v Vitebsk

PREMIER LEAGUE WEEK FOUR 
April 9th-11th 
Slavia Mozye v Vitebsk
Slutsk v Torpedo-Belaz Zhodino 
Dynamo Brest v Dynamo Minsk
FC Gomel v Neman Grodno
FC Minsk v BATE Borisov 
Energetyk-BGU v Sputnik Rechitsa 
Isloch v Rukh Brest 
Smorgon v Shakhytor Soligorsk 

Friday, 19 February 2021

SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP AND CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND FIXTURES

ALL 3pm kick offs unless stated
Saturday 20th February

Premiership 
Aberdeen v Kilmarnock 
Hibernian v Hamilton Academical 
Motherwell v St Johnstone 
St Mirren v Livingston 

Championship 
Arbroath v Raith Rovers 
Ayr United v Inverness Caledonian Thistle 
Dundee v Queen of the South 
Dunfermline Athletic v Alloa Athletic 
Heart of Midlothian v Greenock Morton

Sunday 21st February

Premiership
Rangers v Dundee United 
Ross County v Celtic - 7.30pm 

Thursday, 18 February 2021

BATE BORISOV DRAW 1-1 AGAINST FC NOAH OF LATVIA - LINE UP DETAILS


Former Isloch manager Vitaly Zhukovsky's reign with BATE Borisov is under way with their most recent friendly game in Turkey against Latvian side FC Noah ending 1-1 with thei goal coming from Anton Saroka. The following players were all involved in the game played earlier today - 


Anton Chichkan (GK)- 16 league appearances last season -25 year old 
Andrey Kudravets (GK) - 17 year old goalkeeper who is yet to make a league appearance. 
Alexander Filipovich - 27 league appearances last season - 26 year old 
Danila Nechaev - 19 league appearances last season for Belshina Bobrusik - 21 year old 
Boris Kopitovich - 26 year old who rejoined BATE from Serbian side Čukarički in July 2019 - He made 6 league appearance last season. 
Nikita Supranovich - 19 year old who is yet to make a league appearance.
Semen Lazarchik - 20 year old defender who joins from Isloch where he made 2 league appearances last season. 
Pavel Ryback - 37 year old experienced defender who also joins from Isloch - He played 14 times in the league for The Wolves last season. 
Jakov Filipovic - 28 year old who made 20 appearances for BATE in the league last season. 
Vladislav Malkevich - 21 year old who made 17 league appearances for Slavia Mozyr last season. 
Sergey Volkov - 22 year old signing from Vitebsk where he played 26 times in the league last season. 
Evgeni Yablonskiy - 25 year old midfielder who has been with BATE for a number of years - 27 league appearances last season. 
Shahboz Umarov - 21 year old midfielder who was one of Energetyk's best players last season - made 30 apperances for The Students scoring 4 goals. 
Nikolay Signevich - 28 year old who made 4 league appearances for BATE last season - Recently with FC Khimiki in the Russian Premier League. 
Maksim Volodko - 28 year old recently signed from Russian side FC Tambov. 
Pavel Nekhaichik - 28 league games and 13 goals for BATE last season - Aged 32.
Aleksey Nosko - 28 league games for Energetyk last season. Aged 24. 
Anton Saroka - 28 year old attacker - He made 6 first team league apperances for BATE last season. 
Nemanja Milic - Serbian forward who netted 8 goals in 24 league games for BATE last season - Aged 30.
Grigoriy Martyanov - 18 year old who has yet to make a first team appearance for BATE. 
Pavel Pashevich - 19 year old who played on loan for Gorodeya last season - yet to make the break through for BATE.
Nuradeen Idris - 19 year old forward who played with the reserve team last season. 
Aleksey Shalashnikov - 18 year old defender yet to make a first team appearance for BATE. 
Dmitry Bessmertny - 24 year old midfielder who made 20 league apperances for BATE last season. 


Tuesday, 16 February 2021

EUROPA LEAGUE ROUND OF 32 FIXTURES THIS THURSDAY

5.55pm kick off
Dynamo Kiev v Club Brugge
FK Krasnodar v Dinamo Zagreb
Olympiakos v PSV Eindhoven
Real Sociedad v Manchester United
Red Star Belgrade v AC Milan 
RZ Pellets WAC v Tottenham Hotspur
Slavia Prague v Leicester City 
Sporting Braga v Roma
Young Boys v Bayer 04 Leverkusen 

8pm kick off
Benfica v Arsenal  
Granada v Napoli
Lille v Ajax
Maccabi Tel-Aviv v Shakhtar Donetsk 
Molde v 1899 Hoffenheim 
Royal Antwerp v Rangers 
SV Red Bull Salzburg v Villarreal 

These is lots of British interest in the Europa League this Thursday evening as Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City, Manchester United, Rangers and Arsenal are in action. 

Rangers play Royal Antwerp who are currently second in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League. Arsenal play Benfica who are fourth in the Portuguese Primeira League.
The Foxes opponents Slavia Prague are ten points clear from their city rival's Sparta at the top of Czech Fortuna Liga.

RZ Pellets WAC (aka Wolfsberger AC) are currently 6th in the Tipco Austrian Bundesliga. Spurs have lost their last three away games - 0-1 at Brighton, 4-5 at Everton in the FA Cup and 0-3 at Manchester City at the weekend.

It'll be a tough game for Manchester United as well as Real Sociedad are in fifth place of La Liga. 

FA WOMEN'S SUPER LEAGUE AND CHAMPIONSHIP - HOW THINGS CURRENTLY STAND?

BARCLAYS FA WOMEN'S SUPER LEAGUE CURRENT TABLE (STEP ONE)
POS TEAM P GD  PTS FORM
1.  CHELSEA  15 +39 38  WWWLWW
2.   MANCHESTER CITY 14  +35  33  WWWWWW
3.   MANCHESTER UNITED 15  +16  32  WLWWLL
4.   ARSENAL   13  +26  23  WLWDLL
5.   EVERTON   13  +4  19  LLWLDD
6.   READING   15  -5  19  WLDDWD 
7.   BRIGHTON & HA   15  -19  15  LDLLWW
8.   TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 12 -10 12 DWWWLL
9.  BIRMINGHAM CITY  11 -6 11 LWLDLD 
10.   ASTON VILLA   12  -19  10  WLLDLW
11.   WEST HAM UNITED   13  -16  LWLLDL
12.   BRISTOL CITY  14  -45  LLLWDL
KEY 
DENOTES QUALIFICATION FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SECOND ROUND
DENOTES QUALIFICATION FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIRST ROUND 
DENOTES RELEGATION  TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND PROMOTION TO THE WSL 

THE FA WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP  (STEP TWO) 
POS TEAM   P GD  PTS   FORM  
1.    LEICESTER CITY  13  +21  32  WWWWWW
2.  DURHAM  14 +13 32 DWWDWW
3.   SHEFFIELD UNITED 15 +18 28 DDLWWW
4.   LIVERPOOL   13  +10  22  DWWLLD
5.   LONDON CITY LIONESSES   15  +4  22  DDDWWW
6.   LEWES   14 -5  18  WLDLWL
7.  BLACKBURN ROVERS   14  -3   17  DDLLDD
8.  CRYSTAL PALACE  14 -2  16 LWDLDW
9.   LONDON BEES   15  -26   LDDLLL
10.   CHARLTON ATHLETIC   12  -10  LLLLDD
11. COVENTRY UNITED   13  -20  LLLDLL

The race for the title in the FA WSL is looking to be an exciting one - Chelsea, last season's champions, are the favourites but Manchester City are only five points behind with a game in hand. They are followed by Manchester United - the three defeats in their last six games have put a dent in their title hopes. 

At the bottom of the table Bristol City and West Ham United have struggled all season - It very close at the bottom though with just six points between 8th and 12th place. 

Leicester City are top of the Championship - they have won their last seven league games in a row which included a 9-1 win over Coventry United who are currently bottom of the table. 

Due to the pandemic all football below Step Two in currently on hold and there is a likelihood it may well be declared null and void for the 2020/21 season but for reference purposes here is the pyramid down to Step Four. 

FA WOMEN'S NATIONAL LEAGUE PREMIER (STEP THREE) 
NORTHERN DIVISION (12) SOUTHERN DIVISION (12) 
AFC FYLDE  CARDIFF CITY 
BURNLEY CHICHESTER & SELSEY
DERBY COUNTY  CRAWLEY WASPS 
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN   GILLINGHAM 
HULL CITY   HOUNSLOW 
LOUGHBOROUGH FOXES KEYNSHAM TOWN 
MIDDLESBROUGH  MK DONS 
NOTTINGHAM FOREST  OXFORD UNITED
SHEFFIELD FC  PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 
STOKE CITY  PORTSMOUTH 
SUNDERLAND  WATFORD 
WEST BROMWICH ALBION  YEOVIL UNITED 

FA WOMENS NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (STEP FOUR) 
NORTH (12) MIDLANDS (12) SOUTH EAST (12) SOUTH WEST (11)
BARNSLEY  BEDWORTH UTD  ACTONIANS BRISLINGTON
BOLTON LADIES BOLDMERE ST MICHAELS AFC WIMBLEDON BUCKLAND ATH
BRADFORD CITY BURTON ALBION BILLERICAY TOWN CHELTHENHAM TOWN
BRIGHOUSE TOWN DONCASTER ROVERS BELLES  CAMBRIDGE CITY CHESHAM UTD
CHESTER-LE-STREET HOLWELL SPORTS CAMBRIDGE UTD EXETER CITY 
CHORLEY LEAFIELD ATHLETIC ENFIELD TOWN LARKHALL ATHLETIC 
DURHAM CESTRIA LINCOLN CITY  HASHTAG UNITED  MAIDENHEAD UTD
LEEDS UNITED  LONG EATON UTD  IPSWICH TOWN POOLE TOWN 
LIVERPOOL FEDS SOLIHULL MOORS KENT FOOTBALL  UTD SOUTHAMPTON FC WOMEN
NEWCASTLE UNITED SPORTING KHALSA LEYTON ORIENT  SOUTHAMPTON WOMEN'S FC 
NORTON & STOCKTON  WEM TOWN  NORWICH CITY  SWINDON TOWN 
STOCKPORT COUNTY   WOLVES  STEVENAGE   

At step five there are eight regional leagues - North West, North East, West Midlands, East Midlands, Southern, South-West, Eastern and London & South East. 

TORPEDO-BELAZ ZHODINO PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE IN TURKEY

 


Belarusian Premier League side Torpedo-Belaz Zhodino are currently in Turkey on a pre-season training camp where they are scheduled to play the following teams 

Wednesday 17th February - AGMK (Uzbekistan Super League) 

Saturday 20th February - FC Rotor Volgograd (Russian Premier League) 

Tuesday 23rd February - FC Ahrobiznes Volochysk (Ukrainian First League) 

Friday 26th February - FC Caspiy (Kazakhstan Premier League)

FC Caspiy have one of the best badges I've seen for a while which is pictured above - they play in the city of Aktau which is in West Kazakhstan on the shore of the Capian Sea. Looking at some of the pictures of the city on tourism websites it looks an amazing place to visit. 

AGMK were third in the Uzbek Super League last season which qualified them for the 2021 AFC Chapions League where they face Qatari club Al-Gharafa SC in the play-off round in April. 

Rotor Volgograd are currently 13th (of 16) in Russia's top tier. 

Ahrobiznes Volochysk are currently top of the Ukrainian First League which is the second tier of football in Ukraine. 

Monday, 15 February 2021

SLEEPING GIANTS - ITALY

FC PRO VERCELLI 1892

FOUNDED 
1892 as a Sports Club. 
1903 as a Football Club. 
2010 reformed as US Vercelli Calcio 

GROUND CAPACITY 
5,500

LAST SEASON IN THE TOP FLIGHT 
1934/35 
 
MAJOR HONOURS 
Champions of Italy - 1908, 1909, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1921 and 1922 

BRIEF HISTORY 
"Le Bianche Casacche" (The White Shirts) have won more Italian Championships than Lazio, Napoli and Roma albeit their last one was in 1922 before the Serie A was formed in 1929. The advent of professionalism and the rise of clubs from bigger cities of Milan and Turin saw a decline in their fortunes. In 1948 they were relegated from Serie B and they have played as far down as Serie B. 

In 2010 the original club were not allowed to compete in the league due to financial problems so folded - AS PRO BELVEDERE VERCELLI has been founded in 2006 as a merger of the AS TRINO CALCIO and PGS PRO BELVEDERE changed it's name to US VERCELLI CALCIO for the 10/11 season and then later acquired the trademarks and honours of the original club to carry on its heritage and history in the Italian game.

The club are currently in sixth place of Group A of Serie C so have a real chance of qualifying for the promotion play-offs. 

The City of Vercelli is in-between Milan and Turin in Northern Italy and has a  population of around 46,000. 


SOCIETA SPORTIVA CALCIO BARI (SSC BARI)

FOUNDED 
1908 
REFOUNDATIONS 
1924 
1928 
2018 

GROUND CAPACITY 
58,270 

LAST SEASON IN THE TOP FLIGHT 
2010/11 
 
MAJOR HONOURS 
NONE 

BRIEF HISTORY 
I think you could write about fourteen books on the history of football in the Southern Italian City of Bari there has been so many twists, turns, reformations and financial problems since the original club was formed in 1908. Many people in England will remember them signing David Platt in 1991 for £5.5 million which was a British Record for a number of years tied with Trevor Steven (Rangers to Marseille - August 91) and Paul Gascoigne (Tottenham Hotspur to Lazio - June 92)  - It was beaten when Andy Cole went from Newcastle United to Manchester United in for £7m in January 1995.  

After relegation from the top flight in 2011 the club stayed in Serie B until 2018 when they were excluded due to financial problems - the club were re-founded as SSC Bari in Serie D for the 18/19 season with film producer Aurelio De Laurentis through his company Filmauro becoming the owner. Filmauro are also the owner of Napoli who themselves had had to re-establish in 2004 in Serie C. 

SSC Bari were champions of Serie D Group I and currently play in Serie C. 

ASSOCIAZIONI CALCIO RIUNITE MESSINA (ACR MESSINA)

FOUNDED 
1900  
REFOUNDATIONS 
1947 
1993
1994 
1997
2009 
2014 
2017 

GROUND CAPACITY 
37,895 

LAST SEASON IN THE TOP FLIGHT 
2007/08 
 
MAJOR HONOURS 
NONE 

BRIEF HISTORY 
Messina last played in Serie A in the 06/07 season and finished as high as 7th in the 04/05 campaign.  After one season in the second tier in 07/08 season the club re-started in Serie D - The club was declared bankrupt by the Court of Messina in November 2008 and has since swopped ownership a number of times and in July 2017 failed to submit a surety for playing in Serie C so a successor club to the then 'Associazoni Calcio Ruunite Messina 1947 ' was formed to compete in Serie D. 

The club are not to be confused with FC Messina who also play in Serie D and were formed in 1969. 
CESENA FC

FOUNDED 
1900  
REFOUNDATIONS 
1947 
1993
1994 
1997
2009 
2014 
2017 

GROUND CAPACITY 
37,895 

LAST SEASON IN THE TOP FLIGHT 
2007/08 
 
MAJOR HONOURS 
NONE 

BRIEF HISTORY 
The original AC Cesena who had played in Serie A were bankrupted and folded in 2018. A phoenix club were formed 'ASD Romagna Centro Cesena and in 2019 renamed Cesena FC. The old club's last season in the top flight was in 14/15. The new club currently play in Serie C Group B. They played in the 76/77 UEFA Cup where they lost in the first round to German club Magdeburg. 

PALERMO FC

FOUNDED 
1900 
REFOUNDATIONS 
1907 
1920 
1941 
1987 
2019 

GROUND CAPACITY 
36,365 

MAJOR HONOURS 
COPPA ITALIA RUNNER'S UP 1974, 1979, 2011

BRIEF HISTORY 
Another Italian club to suffer from financial difficulties in recent times. Palermo were a regular fixture in the top flight during the 2000s - They achieved three fifth placed finishes and in the 05/06 UEFA Cup lost to Schalke 04 in the round of 16. 

The club were excluded from Serie B in 2019 due to financial irregularities and re-founded in Serie D.  They are currently in Serie C Group C.

US AVELLINO 1912

FOUNDED 
1912 
REFOUNDATIONS 
2009 
2018 

GROUND CAPACITY 
26,308 

BRIEF HISTORY 
Lupi (The Wolves) spent ten years in Serie A between 1978 and 1988. There best placed finish was in 86/87 when they finished 8th - they were relegated the season after and have never returned since. 

The club has had to to be reformed twice in 2009 and 2018 due to financial problems and currently place in Serie C. 

CALCIO FOGGIA 1920 SSD

FOUNDED 
1920
REFOUNDATIONS 
2004 
2012 
2019 

CAPACITY 
25,085 

MAJOUR HONOURS 
NONE 

BRIEF HISTORY 
Spent some seasons in the 60s and 70s in the top flight with its glory years being in the 1990s under coach Zdenek Zemen when Rossoneri from 91/92 they finished 9th, 12th, 9th and 16th when they were relegated in 94/95. As with many clubs they have been reformed due to financial problems - three times since 2000. They currently play in Serie C.