The Origins

Football in Ferrandina began as a dream in the dark years of fascism, in 1939. But it took ten years for that dream to materialize: in 1949, the Unione Sportiva Ferrandinese arrived, the city's first team, which participated in the first regional championship organized by the League. From 1953, the Libertas Ferrandina and the Associazione Sportiva Ferrandina followed, both presided over by pharmacist Tommaso Bonanata.

The Years of Change

The 1960s were marked by great excitement and change. The industrialization of the Basento Valley brought energy and hope, and in 1964 the legendary Centonze was founded, in memory of Rocco Centonze, a young footballer who tragically died during the Second World War. With it came affiliation with the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and the club's registration number 17890, the second oldest in Basilicata.

From the merger of the two clubs, along with Football Club Pozzi, Sporting Club Ferrandina was formed two years later. Soon, the legendary Virtus team, founded in 1969 by Antonio La Cava, Mario Pallotta, and Leonardo Todisco, grew up alongside it. It was a break with the past: for the first time, only local youths were fielded, boys who had grown up on the city's streets and fields, with the dream of taking the Ferrandina name beyond the region's borders.

The results are coming. Players like Paolo Pavese, Giovanni Romita, and Angelo Lisanti are soaring toward professional football, proving that even small communities can produce great talent.

The Dawn of Ferrandina Calcio

In 1980, the merger of Virtus and Sporting Club gave birth to Polisportiva Ferrandina, but it wasn't until July 31, 1990, that a new dawn began: Ferrandina Calcio. The team quickly rose through the regional leagues, nearly reaching Serie D in 1995/96.

Then came May 9, 1999: the Aragonese secured their first historic promotion to the fourth division! Ferrandina exploded with joy: the streets were painted red and blue, the fans sang and celebrated, and the city seemed to breathe only for that triumph.

The dream, however, was short-lived: relegation to the Eccellenza league brought everyone back down to earth and a difficult period began, until the club was taken over by the late president Armento, who brought it back to the top of regional football.

The Rebirth

In the years that followed, Ferrandina football experienced its ups and downs, between self-management and some small successes, until the major rebirth in 2018. The current ASD Ferrandina 17890 was born, resulting from the merger with Real Ferrandina; with the reopening of the completely renovated Stadio Santa Maria, the city rediscovered a tangible symbol of pride and belonging.

This led to the unexpected thrill of last season, with the second promotion to Serie D: a goal that seemed almost impossible but which became a reality thanks to passion, sacrifice, and unconditional love for the shirt.

Today and Tomorrow

Today, Ferrandina 17890 is more than just a team: it's the soul of a community of 8,000 residents, the historical memory of a region, and the dream of anyone who chases a ball. Every match, every goal, every round of applause is a gesture of loyalty to a decades-long history, rooted in the past yet looking enthusiastically to the future. The story continues, and with it, the pulse of an entire city.