Having witnessed the last game between Ancona and S.P.A.L in April 2016, seven and a half years on, they were finally crossing paths once more, in the reverse fixture in Ferrara too. I was determined to be there.
The pageantry and love-in were a joy to behold at Conero all those years ago. S.P.A.L (Societa Polisportiva Ars e Labor, a bit of an unusual mouthful) were about to set off on a giddy journey to the top flight. By contrast, when Ancona missed a penalty to force a 2-2 draw, little did the biancorossi (red and whites- Ancona nickname) know what was coming around the corner at the end of the following season. While SPAL would enjoy that rare double promotion, celebrating a return to Serie A after a 49 year absence, Teramo were beating Ancona, thereby condemning us to fourth tier football. Unfortunately, it was the catalyst to a third bankruptcy, with a cobbled together US Anconitana taking a place in the regional Prima Categoria (7th tier). Technically, it should have been the 9th tier, but the Marche FA decided that the club’s sizable fan base would cause an issue in the lowest divisions, lucky us!
The contrast between these two “friends” could not have been more stark. While Ferrara was having a party, Ancona was fretting as to whether a club would even exist. The chasm of six levels in 2017 makes it even more remarkable that in late 2023, just six years on, what seemed impossible was back on the schedule.
I am sure the re-ignition of this fixture was more openly welcomed by Ancona fans, especially as the club has been rising up the leagues, whereas SPAL, having enjoyed three consecutive top tier campaigns, fell into that malaise that affects clubs after the effort in Serie A. History tells of many who have gone the same way, most recently Benevento, Crotone and even this season Spezia are showing all the signs of a similar destructive route.
In the latter part of 2017 while Anconitana set off via small Marche hilltop settlements on a road back to the professional game, I ventured to Ferrara to delight in our chums’ opening season in Serie A against the aforementioned Crotone. The Calabrian club were in their second, and last top table nibbling campaign, having produced a Harry Houdini escapology act to survive the debut term. They looked good in the game versus SPAL, but while both clubs struggled all season, the home side would live to fight another season, while Crotone began the driftwood gig back to Serie C, the clubs “safe” space traditionally.
By contrast, Ancona managed two promotions to reach the highest regional level the Eccellenza, but here with the Covid situation adding to the woes, the club failed to get promotion, and a resigned manager at the last game looked like a man who had maybe landed on another snake in a game that involves a lot of snakes and a rare ladder in the Italian game. The stakes had been high, and the club had failed in their quest for immediate promotion to Serie D. Along came a knight in shining armour in the form of the owner of small Marche club Matelica. They were punching well above their weight in the third tier. The stadium wasn’t suitable for that level, and they found themselves in ground sharing a distance away in Macerata, doubtlessly a drain on finances.
The Matelica owner decided to buy Ancona and move his club into a merged situation. In order to meet the legal requirements for the new club it was known as Ancona-Matelica for a season, but more importantly, it had given the club a leg up two tiers into Serie C. It was however purely an Ancona team, playing in their colours and at the Stadio Del Conero, albeit with the core being Matelica players.
Stadio Del Conero is the biancorossi home, where in 1993, it opened as a Serie A venue with a stunning 3-0 win over Inter Milan, arguably the greatest result in Ancona’s history. A year later, back in Serie B, it hosted the first leg of the Coppa Italia Final, a 0-0 draw with Sampdoria. They remain the last second tier side to reach the final, albeit the final is now a one-off affair in Roma. Metalica, a famous wine town in Marche, with the Verdicchio grape all the rage, would go home for the 2022/23 season and start again from the very bottom, the 9th tier.
This was the second time Ancona had utilised a usurping scenario to steady the ship, with Ancona Piano previously coming to our rescue. It is a travesty, but something SPAL fans can sympathise with, as they too have needed such shenanigans to avoid total meltdown too.
Under their own steam Ancona have continued to be a solid if unspectacular third tier club. Ambition undoubtedly exists within the structure and the manager has already been changed this term. Expectations are perhaps higher than the current squad can deliver, but given all the woes in recent years, a period of Serie C living seems fine by me.
In 2016 the Ancona and SPAL Ultra groups walked out onto the pitch together with flags before a very public display of brotherhood. That continued throughout the game, with both sets of fans singing songs in praise of the opposition. This scenario was played out once more at the Paolo Mazza in Ferrara. The pre-match on pitch antics however were missed by me. The train I jumped aboard in Bologna arrived on time there, but it set off late, and somehow it took an hour to cover the 30 minute journey. It wasn’t the end of the world, I still had half an hour before kick off, and with both clubs being mates, surely no precautions would be in the way of getting to the away end. The stadium is just five minutes from the station, so no problem.
Well that was the theory, and as I arrived behind the home Curva, the street leading down opposite the main stand was closed to visitors. One block further away and down I went with the next three right turns all closed. This was being treated as a normal away match and the end-around walk, plus two security checks and the automated gates meant it was just five minutes before kick off when I arrived in the stands. Nearly a thousand fans had travelled north, and they were all in fine voice.
The Mazza stadium is a 16,150 all seater, and now even more impressively, entirely roofed too. The Crotone match was a soggy affair, with the fans in the away end and Distinti opposite the main stand all getting a good old soaking.
For a cool November early evening match, the roof was unnecessary, but neither was the capacity challenged. Stepping down to the third tier has doubtlessly seen some fans go into abeyance, but the hardcore Spallini were present, and the mutual appreciation society was in full voice. Just after half time the SPAL Curva unfurled a magnificent home banner that quickly switched to a considerable number of red and white drapes that edged down the top of the terrace in acknowledgement and appreciation of our friendship. It merely upped the volume of the collective love-in.
Of course the players don’t share in such antics and a proper joust played out amid the cacophony of mutual joy. Ancona were the higher placed side at kick off, in the lower reaches of the play-off spots, while SPAL’s malaise is still an issue, and they were languishing closer to the bottom. The visitors struck first and early with a fine shot rifled from just outside the box into the bottom corner. A few minutes later it seemed that poor marking had gifted SPAL an equaliser, but having seen it subsequently this goal was fashioned courtesy of a powerful header from the corner, and largely I would absolve the defence of any undue slackness. After the break SPAL started the brighter and took the lead from a mazy run along the bye line that resulted in a back post tap in. Ancona continued to look the more cohesive team, and if they had been denied a 2-2 draw the last time they met, this time a well worked move down the left saw a cracking finish to draw the teams level.
On a day of such friendly ways, a draw seemed appropriate, but the post match nonsense left a sour taste. In 2016 we walked around the end of the Conero stadium with SPAL fans wishing them well in Serie B, with everyone allowed out at the same time. There never was going to be any issues and that was the case in Ferrara too, but once again the politics of the police and the home club officials displayed a contempt for Ancona that should be remembered for the next match.
The away end gates remained shut for 10/15 minutes after the game, and when everyone had gathered behind the stand, disgruntlement started to filter through the ranks. As the abuse started to rise the gates were opened, but two blocks further down the road, another gate was closed! The lunacy of this saw immediate anger, and when that gate opened what was awaiting the Ancona throng? A group of SPAL fans looking to swap scarves! I shake my head in utter despair thinking about this as I write, yet more bureaucracy that spoiled a fabulous occasion.
My walk back to the railway station took me by the home end once more and many were still gathered chatting etc. Anyone hellbent on causing trouble could easily do it even with all these mad measures.
I am confident that SPAL, an American owned club now can get to grips with Serie C and push themselves clear of any relegation zone play-out requirements. A season or two of collective gathering with Ancona will be good for both clubs.
Football Adventures with James Rendall 