A.S.D. Martina Franca

Martina Franca

Full name	Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica Martina Franca
Founded	1947
Ground	Stadio Gian Domenico Tursi, Martina Franca, Italy (Capacity: 5,000)
Chairman	Donato Muschio Schiavone
Manager	Francesco Bitetto
League	Serie D/H
2010-11	Eccellenza Apulia, 1st
Home colours Away colours

A.S.D. Martina Franca (usually referred to as simply Martina Franca) is an Italian association football club, based in Martina Franca, Apulia. The team's colors are blue and white. In the season 2011-12 it plays in Serie D.

History

old logo

The club was founded in 1947. Martina played in Serie C1/B in the 2007–2008 season, finishing last, and thus directly relegated to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.

The club needed new financial backers, but with its relegation to Italy's fourth level of professional football, no investors were found and the club decided not to field a team for the 2008–09 season.

The side played against Juventus F.C. for the first time in the first match of 2006–07 Coppa Italia.

In 2008 A.C. Martina reborn as A.S.D. Martina Franca and admitted in the Prima Categoria Apulia. Martina in the 2008/2009 came second in Prima Categoria Apulia and promoted to Promozione Apulia. The following season won the Promozione Apulia playoffs and the promotion to 2010-11 Eccellenza. The company Ostuni Sports, militant in Serie D, Martina proposes an exchange of sports titles that would allow a double promotion, but after a first initial interest in the company it was decided to give up and then participate in Eccellenza Apulia. In the 2010/2011 season after a long struggle with Cerignola, which ended only in extra time of the promotion playoff Martina was finally promoted to 2011-12 Serie D. This marks the return of Martina in semi-professionally football with 3 promotions in 3 years!

External links

• Official site