S.S.D. Audace Cerignola
S.S.D. Audace Cerignola, commonly known as Audace Cerignola or simply Cerignola, is an Italian association football club from Cerignola, Apulia.
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| Full name | Società Sportiva Dilettantistica Audace Cerignola srl | ||
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| Founded | 1912 | ||
| Ground | Stadio Domenico Monterisi, Cerignola, Italy | ||
| Capacity | 8,000 | ||
| Chairman | Danilo Quarto | ||
| Manager | Michele Pazienza | ||
| League | Serie D | ||
| 2020–21 | Serie D/H, 7th | ||
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History
The club was originally founded in 1912 as Gruppo Sportivo Cerignola. They played Serie C from 1935 to 1937, after which they exclusively took part at amateur leagues.
The club voluntarily stepped out in 2013 due to financial issues, and restarted from Prima Categoria only a year later. In 2017 they returned to play Serie D, a league they had not played since the year 2000.
In 2019, Audace Cerignola ended the season in an impressive second place, behind AZ Picerno; in the following playoffs, they made it to the final, where they defeated Taranto, thus ensuring a priority slot in the Serie C repechages.
However, due to a number stadium-related issues, the Italian Football Federation denied Serie C entry to the club.[1] After winning a first appeal to the Italian National Olympic Committee Court,[2] and FIGC declining Audace Cerignola's admission due to other stadium-related technicalities,[3] on 5 August 2019 the CONI Court once again overturned the latter's decision, confirming Audace Cerignola's right to take part in the 2019–20 Serie C.[4]
Audace Cerignola were finally promoted to Serie C in the 2021–22 Serie D season, as Group H champions, under the guidance of head coach Michele Pazienza.[5]
References
- "Ripescaggi e Riammissioni Serie B e Serie C: le decisioni del Consiglio Federale" (in Italian). Ysport.eu. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- "Accolti ricorsi sia di Bisceglie che Cerignola. Girone C a 21 squadre?" (in Italian). Sporterni. 23 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
- "Figc: Bisceglie in C, respinto il Cerignola" (in Italian). Teleregione. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
- "Serie C: Audace Cerignola ripescata, accolto il ricorso dal Collegio di Garanzia del Coni" (in Italian). SKY Sport Italia. 5 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
- "Cerignola in festa: l'Audace è in Serie C" (in Italian). FoggiaToday. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.