Italy had her own suprises this season and although football was not very exciting, the crisis of the mid-1970s seemingly was over. 1978 World Cup breezed frsh optimism, young players were popping up. Of course, Italian foorball scene is vast and only the tip of the iceberg internationally visible – the top league and the big clubs. Deep down was terra incognita, populated by unheard of teams. Clubs like
Sulmona. About them – just a note of their existence, for after all football to this day is mostly played by such anonymous clubs everywhere in the world – a true mixture of love and hopes. Love of the game is the prime motivator, and individual hopes for making it to the professional level. Amateur teams mostly.
Above them come the lower leagues, fancied by no one. Serie C2, in the Italian football pyramid, corresponding to 4th division. Nothing exciting, of course, but at least here the first recognizable names appear – a few, playing in the higher levels for a while, like
Messina, or faded clubs, which once upon a time played prominent rôle, like Pro Patria and Pro Vercelli. Serie C2 consisted of four leagues – Group A, Group B, C, and D. 18 teams competed in each group – the top two won promotions. Relegation numbers differed, perhaps depending on money (the lack of it, actually) and infringement of tules by some teams more than actual playing. Two clubs were relegated from Group D, but three in Group C – the last two plus Gallipoli, who were 15th and should not have been relegated on sporting reasons, so it was something else. In Group B 4 teams were relegated – the last three in the table plus Vigevano, 13th and thus sharing the fate of Gallipoli, for it was not performance the reason for going down. In Group A it was normal – the last three were relegated, but it is still strange – three down in this group, but only two in Group D. But who really cares about 4th division ? Pro Vercelli went further down after this season, but the rest of the releagated were not even vaguely familiar. The fate of, say, Ragusa mattered only at home.
Ragusa barely survived – they finished 16th in Group D, four points ahead of the poor relegated teams, and above them thanks to better goal-difference perhaps were Nuova Igea.
Nuova Igea, safe from danger and besting Ragusa this season – 15th.
Few thrills down there, so the best is to mention the winners then ? Well… no fun again : Sanremese and Montevarchi won promotions in Group A, Bergocrema and Sant’Angelo in Group B, Fano and Anconitana in Group C, and finally – Rende and Siracusa in group D. Only Siracusa rings a bell – once upon a time, they played in much higher division. Anonymous winners, but winners.
Rende – proud winners of Group 4 and going all the way up to play in 3rd Division next season. A small success, but success – and local joy. What could be better ?