It’s a matter of love, not belonging to a certain position in the footballing pyramid. Companies come and go, but the passion remains.
Ancona fans began to understand this last summer, when the company (Ancona played in Serie B) went bankrupt and the new club were forced to start again in Eccellenza, the sixth level of the Italian footballing pyramid. Sosteniamolancona, Ancona’s supporters trust, was founded in August 2010 and joined by about eight hundred supporters, who have all put in a real effort to make things better for the club.
Wednesday April 6th was a day of great satisfaction for Sosteniamolancona: Ancona won the Coppa Italia di Eccellenza, the first step in what is intended to be a rise back up the ranks. With this success Ancona secured promotion to Serie D, and will now focus their attention on the league table, which they currently lead.
The Coppa Italia is a national competition run by each league in Italy. As Eccellenza is a regional league, the team that wins the cup earns the opportunity to take part in the national competiton. As well as this, Ancona supporters can take pride in the fact that their club is the first from the Marche region to win a Coppa title.
The final was played in Rome's Casal del Marmo stadium against Città di Marino, a club based near the capital. Ancona won easily, 3-1. More than two thousand people attended the game. Ten coaches transported a fraction of the travelling Ancona support, all of whom celebrated the occasion with the club players, coaching staff, and directors.
After suffering throughout the summer of 2010 because of the exclusion from Serie B and the threat of extinction, everyone associated with Ancona are now are enjoying this success, which marks the beginning of a new era for the club.
Next season Ancona will play in Serie D, or, if they choose to apply and are admitted, the professional Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. As for Sosteniamolancona, the SD European affiliate is aiming to get a capital share in the proposed new limited company, which will oversee day-to-day operations. It is expected that this month they will strike a deal with the chairman and secure a role in the club's governance – something which is unheard of in Italian football.