If you are ever looking to plan a trip to watch some Serie C playoff action, it needs to be at very short notice, or taking a gamble. Towards the end of the season, I was starting to get fidgety about where I could base myself, and also allow for other action. I plumped for Salerno. It is a known and well loved base for me previously as you’ll discover (see separate Salerno article- coming soon), but with a host of last day D action on the doorstep, as well as C play offs, it made sense. I gambled on Casertana continuing to falter slightly and finishing fifth, but if that didn’t transpire Giugliano were going well, and likely to finish from fifth to seventh, guaranteeing a first round home match in Campania. Neither option would transpire, Casertana improved to finish the season on a high in fourth, a remarkable effort for a team “plucked” from the Serie D’s usually futile playoff roster for 22/23 at very short notice to replace Reggina. Conversely Giugliano fell apart and didn’t get a home tie.
In reality however, these were mute points, as the whole competition was delayed. Initially it was going to be put back for at least a week, thereby scuppering my next booking in Perugia too, as they had finished as I rightly gambled, in fourth. However, the competition ultimately was merely postponed by four days, meaning the new date for round one was moved to when round two had been originally scheduled. Perugia wouldn’t be involved while I was in the country, but thankfully, reasonably nearby Gubbio were, a delightful medieval town, somewhere I look forward to bringing to light on another occasion.
The delay had been caused by Taranto, who had been docked four points much earlier in the season for late payment. The deduction seemed to galvanise the squad and Taranto became a formidable opponent. As the season came to a conclusion, someone within the club must have thought getting those points back, or even half, would bump them up the roster, thereby missing out on anything from one to three rounds. Had they not been penalised at all, Taranto would have finished second, skipping 4 games of the ten needed for promotion if starting from the first round, as they ultimately did when the appeal quickly became unsuccessful.
Having got my head around all this disappointment, as one door closed, another opened! Nocerina and Cavese, near neighbours and doubtlessly rivals, are both just outside Salerno and as luck would have, they were both at home on the final round of Serie D fixtures. It is a level where almost every game is played in the traditional 3pm on a Sunday slot, however, Cavese, were having a promotion party and at less than a weeks notice, the game was moved to 5pm. It was going to be tight, but with a taxi lined up for the short shuttle between venues, it was game on for a brace of action. One final fly in the ointment was to arrive in Nocera, as a national train strike took place that day. However, having already made arrangements with Paolo, my friendly taxi driver from Cava, I utilised his services more than originally planned so as not to miss out on anything.
In this region, Nocerina and Cavese have always been teams I have keep an eye on, but neither had ever crossed my viewing path previously, so it was a special day for me to see them both in action. Every team has a story to tell, but these two, while they may never have disturbed Serie A, are perceived as ‘big’ clubs in Campania, although in a vast region, bigger clubs exist.
Nocera Inferiore
My goodness, talk about potentially having a complex, Inferiore?! Yes, next door is Superiore, a bizarre way to distinguish between two places, but hey, it’s certainly entertaining. Does a Superiore born person lord it about a bit, whilst the Inferiore native seems less confident and more withdrawn?! I doubt it, but it’s amusing to consider. Indeed, in football parlance, you don’t want to mess with the Nocerina Ultras or the Cavese ones, to be honest. Both have formidable reputations.
Nocera Inferiore has a nice central area, and like everywhere in the region, the backdrop of lush green mountain sides adds to the visual splendour. There are a few places to have a drink, something to eat etc in town, and it is thoroughly recommended tp do so, as outside ground, and even more alarmingly inside it, they had next to nothing, save a bloke who carried as many small bottles of water as he could to try to quell the thirst of a handful amongst thousands on a hot afternoon. It was wholly inadequate. Outside and in the near vicinity, there was nothing, no outside catering, no bar, so be warned on this point if you are headed to Nocera Inferiore for a game.
ASG Nocerina had been ticking along for just over a hundred years, occasionally making a visit to Serie B, but largely you’d place them in the solid Serie C category, and by that I mean the two levels that once held that name C1 and C2. The current club is only 9 years old, borne of circumstances that truly rank amongst the most bizarre and horrific I have ever come across. What unfolded brought the old club to its knees and, ultimately, its withdrawal from the league set up. It all came to pass courtesy of their very own Ultras too, and all because the authorities deemed a Serie C1 fixture at nearby Salernitana high risk, banning the away fans. This sort of tactic has become much more commonplace, especially in the southern regions, but back in November 2013, it was perhaps less common.
The Nocerina Ultras were incandescent with rage and did everything they could to get the game postponed. If they weren’t allowed to attend, no self-respecting Nocerina side should be playing. That was the attitude, and it went too far, spilling into the realms of death threats against their own players. What subsequently transpired will live in the annals of Calcio history as one of its darkest days. The game went ahead, but in the very first minute, it was obvious something was up when Nocerina made their three permitted substitutions! For the next twenty minutes or so, players would crash into an opponent or pull up having kicked the ball, feigning injury, then getting taken off. Once they were down to the required number for the game to be abandoned, that is exactly what happened, with those still on the pitch having to run the gauntlet of rage from Salernitana fans en route to the dressing room.
Needless to say the FIGC were fuming at the stunt, and fined the club so much money they folded. The following season saw no action taking place at the curiously named Stadio Francesco d’Assisi, as the appetite for immediate resurrection of the club was perhaps lacking. As to what this famous Saint would have made of having his good name being sullied by such shenanigans, it can only be imagined, but it was truly disgraceful. It did nothing to detract from my interest in the club, who, as Italian teams usually do, found a way to bounce back. Starting from the ninth tier is never a favoured route, especially for “bigger” clubs, so in 2015, Citta di Nocera became the temporary name of the club, having bought the sports title of Citta di Agropoli, a seaside town south of Salerno, and moved it lock, stock and barrel to Nocera Inferiore. Agropoli were playing in the Campania Eccellenza, meaning the re-start would be a mere two leagues below where they last played.
Having played the obligatory one season under a different name, ASD Nocerina 1910 came along the following campaign ready for life in Serie D as in the very first season, the new club brought immediate promotion. The story has stalled at the fourth tier ever since, and last season they flirted with play-outs that might have seen them drop back to the region top flight, but they survived, and under the guidance of Marco Nappi (most fondly recalled from his playing days at Genoa), the 2023/24 campaign was a much more successful affair.
The club were taken over in 2022 by three American Italian businessmen, a scenario becoming more commonplace, but as we know from closer to home too, the “I own a ball club” chatter from the golf circuits across the pond, doesn’t necessarily translate into success.
Serie D really is like Dante’s inferno, with just each of the leagues winners guaranteed promotion, with a short round of “Play-offs” undertaken by the clubs second to fifth, to claim the “potential” for promotion, sat in a ranking order of the nine play-off winners, in the hope someone goes bust from the higher leagues, and that the FIGC don’t favour taking on board any more U23’s sides from top flight clubs, whose existence in the third tier is not welcomed by the majority, taking away livelihoods and opportunities from genuine football hotbeds towns and cities such as Nocera Inferiore.
The day I pitched up, second placed island club Ischia Isolaverde were in town, but a home win would see Nocerina claim second spot and guarantee home advantage in both the semi-final and final, should they progress that far. On a balmy afternoon a significant crowd had turned out. There was nothing between the teams, and Ischia were giving as good as they got, but for an hour or so, neither goalkeeper was really called into proper action. Then a finely struck free-kick by Nocerina not only forced a great save, it roused the crowd, and while the Ultras were in fine voice throughout, the rest of the stadium was now engaged too. It sparked an urgency that had been lacking previously, and while a goal was flagged offside, the momentum kept growing, culminating in a well taken goal, sparking wild scenes of delight. Nocerina then largely went into a shell and tried to protect what they already had, but I had snuck off at this juncture, as I had a party to attend along the road.
For the record, Nocerina held on to win 1-0, finishing second. Winning the play offs would have been a good progression for the club, but I couldn’t help think, given what went on at Salerno, albeit over a decade ago now, had the authorities seen the name Nocerina in a ranking table for possible promotion, would the memories be long, therefore seeing them overlooked in the event of needing a club from the south to replace another? I can’t help thinking that might well have been the case, but all that mulling became a useless after-thought as Cassino rolled into Nocera the following week from Lazio, and headed home to get ready for a final with Romana (who beat Ischia) to join that hopeful list themselves having won 1-0.
Cava Di Tirreni
Jumping from one game immediately to another can be a bit disorientating, but while the atmosphere in Nocera was lively, the Simonetta Lamberti Stadio, just 10 kilometres along the road was absolutely bonkers. Cavese were already Champions of the same league as the match I had just left, Serie D, Girone G.
Arriving so close to kick off was always going to make it a struggle to get a good vantage point, but I was determined to get the best possible place for some photos. Even in the Distinti, (the terrace opposite the stand), which I had chosen from seeing images of the awe-inspiring mountains behind the stand, with banners along the fence, they were blocking out the possibility of using the lower seats, and the sheer height of the fencing which extended right around three quarters of the ground, were excessive in the extreme. This is perhaps a nod to the potential volatility of the environment on less celebratory days. I headed as close to the home Curva as possible, in an effort to stick my phone or camera through the double fencing in this area to try and capture the choreography in full flow. I then managed to get right up to the back of all the seating, where standing only was such a tight squeeze, but banter and hilarity broke out around me that a Scotsman was in their midst. Many a selfie and wee bottles of Sambuca were passed along the line and offered, but having inadvertently managed to go circa five hours without having anything to drink, and feeling desperately parched in the sun, the last thing I wanted to do was drink alcohol, which was a disappointment for my new mates. I apparently wasn’t ticking the boxes of a typical Scot!
Cavese were going to Serie C, just a year after they perhaps should have made that jump. Both last season and this, Cavese set the pace at the top. No one was going to catch them this time, and while they were never knocked off the top last season either, Brindisi joined them on the same points on the last day, which forced a play off. The Puglian port city and the club I wrote about last season, and ended up visited three times this in six months, won that crucial match versus Cavese, but were patently just unready for the step up and were quite horrible all season. They were relegated back to D pretty swiftly, so the two clubs will cross. However, Brindisi’s woes and financial indiscretions will see them start with a minimum of a 6 point penalty, which may end up being doubled. So, having let it slip at the death last season, chapeau to Cavese for being vigilant and consistent this time around, and hopefully they’ll be a better asset to Serie C than Brindisi.
Finally catching up with Cavese this season, amongst others, was all part of a mad roster of action over the season. I was endeavouring to pay homage on my 40th anniversary of following Calcio to see some of the clubs that had immediately come to my attention back in the day of the second tier in 1983/84. That season was sadly the club’s third and last B campaign, relegated back to the Serie C1 at the end of the campaign. The middle season of the trio was the one that will be most fondly remembered in Cava, where at the halfway point, they were sitting third in the table. It faltered slightly, ending up sixth, but a club high finish also included an away victory against demoted AC Milan at the San Siro, 2-1. A result that will never be forgotten.
By 1991 they’d gone bust, and Cavese started the long road back from the Campania Eccellenza, the sixth tier at that juncture. I’ll spare you the preposterous number of name changes in that period. Things are still complicated by a Lazio region club from Cave, who are known as Cavese Academy 1919!! The uninitiated might think that it is an affiliated youth set up, but nothing could be further from the truth. Both having 1919 in the name just adds to the confusion. The badges are very different, and if Cavese from Cava Di Tirreni play in a dark, almost Dundee FC blue, the other Cavese are a more SS Lazio, light blue.
Progress was slow, but in 2002/03 the relatively newly named Cavese 1919 won Serie D which was the fifth tier then (4th now), stepping back into the professional ranks, albeit to Serie C2, a level that no longer exists. In 2004/05, having got past Juve Stabia, an extra time goal by Gela denied them promotion in the play-off final. The very next season the club had been moved into the more traditional Central Italian division of the three Serie C2 leagues, where they ran away with the title, leaving a little known club at the time, Sassuolo to work there way through the play offs to step up as well. This promotion was tinged with great sadness following the death of a Cavese fan, and out of respect they didn’t truly celebrate, making this more recent championship all the more special for the fans, and oh boy, they were going to make the most of this occasion.
Cavese were still on a high from such a successful promotion season back in 2007, and the Serie C1 campaign saw them finish third, entering the four team play offs for a shot at Serie B. Having suffered a 5-2 loss at Foggia, the Lamberti was rocking as they went 3-0 up in the return leg. Parity would have seen them progress, but a late Foggia counter killed the dream, and that is as close to returning to the second tier as the club have been to date.
The passion displayed, especially by more southern clubs’ fans is a throwback to the day when I started following Italian football, and it is intoxicating to experience. Cavese’s big party day will never be forgotten, the place was bouncing from the start, and it never relented. The sheer volume of flares was quite a thing too, although with little to no wind, the game became lost in the blue or white fog often, and in truth the lingering clouds are dreadful to have to fight through for quality air, and if you are asthmatic, it must be a nightmare.
San Marzano from the relatively nearby town of San Marzano Sul Sarno were already safe for another Serie D campaign, and brought a healthy number of fans along for the occasion. They were doubtlessly making their own noise, but it was all lost in the cacophony swirling around the stadium. The visiting team weren’t here just to make up the numbers, taking advantage of a Cavese who might have been struggling to get their head in the right state to be super competitive, and for an hour San Marzano were the better team, but to be honest, no one was caring.
Just ahead of the break San Marzano went in front when a clever free-kick swung into the near post, inadvertently connecting with the blue rinse hair of a Cavese player and took the ball away from the goalkeeper’s despairing dive. The rhythm of the atmosphere continued unabated, although they did all take a backseat and relax at half-time as a host of medieval dressed locals brought pageantry entertainment around the ground, complete with very impressive flag artistry.
San Marzano continued to be a threat after the interval, and a spectacular bicycle kick effort just fizzed over the bar amidst a plethora of efforts they fashioned. Cavese remained passive, but a red card for the visitors was the spark that would turn the game into a more memorable occasion. In flashes, all of a sudden, you could see the confidence and slick passing that had carried them well above the rest of the league. In the 77th minute, a perfect ball forward was headed home for the equaliser, and from that point on, only one team was going to win. The very next attack before a fabulous save from the San Marzano goalkeeper, but they seemed to have stemmed the tide. However, just as the game ticked into the added minutes, a blistering shot from outside the box rocketed home. The stadium couldn’t really create any more of an atmosphere, or so I thought, but the whole thing went to another level, having found the winner.
The final whistle brought great joy, but in truth, the rest of the event was a damp squib. Well, it was if you were anywhere else other than amongst the Ultras in the Curva. The players headed down to that end and sat, listening to the post match Ultras traditional megaphone debrief, and joined in the songs for a few minutes, before edging along towards the distinti with a half-hearted acknowledgement en route to the dressing room. Many around me seemed disappointed, and the tannoy did nothing to add to the atmosphere with no music banging out at all, let alone “We are the Champions” etc. I subsequently realised the Serie D trophy had been presented before kick off, and an open top bus parade was scheduled for less than an hour after the game in a nearby park, but even so, soaking up the appreciation and showing the trophy around the ground would have been a nice touch. It reminded me of when Inverness won the Scottish Cup, they didn’t really know how to celebrate, and forgot to come along the throngs with the cup at Hampden, which will always be a disappointment.
Cava de Terreni is just 6 kilometres from Salerno but is a pleasant town in its own right, surrounded by spectacular mountains like Nocera Inferiore along the road. Cava has 5,000 more citizens, just over 50,000. The stadium is less than a kilometre from the railway station and the main area of town, where similar to Nocera, taking advantage of bars or restaurants ahead of going to a game is recommended. At least here, tucked under the terraces they have people selling drinks, but given my late arrival and fear of losing my place, I was back in Salerno at the hotel before I finally managed to quench a ridiculous drouth as we’d say in Scotland.
The potential for both Nocerina and Cavese are huge. The support base and passion would be a welcome addition to Calcio at higher levels. It will be fascinating to see how far Cavese can go next term, and whether Nocerina can go one better and win this league. I had thoroughly enjoyed both these occasions, and my enthusiasm to see them both succeed is further cemented.
The final footnote to this tale was, I had inadvertently watched the last San Marzano match in Serie D, bought out by bigger and ambitious Savioa from Torre Annunciata. San Marzano will doubtlessly start again from the lowest Regional tier, but we may never see them in the national set-up again.
Football Adventures with James Rendall 