- Mazara Calcio A.S.D.
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Mazara 
Full name Mazara Calcio Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica Nickname(s) Gialloblu, Canarini Founded 1946 (U.S. Mazara)
1996 (merger)Ground Stadio Nino Vaccara,
Mazara del Vallo, Italy
(Capacity: 3,266)Chairman Francesco Bica Head coach Giovanni Iacono League Eccellenza Sicily 2010-11 Serie D/I, 18th (relegated) 
Home colours
Away coloursMazara Calcio A.S.D., formerly Gruppo Sportivo Mazara 1946, is an Italian football team from Mazara del Vallo, Sicily.
It, in the season 2011-12 plays in Eccellenza Sicily.
The official team colours are canary yellow and blue. The team is nicknamed gialloblù (referring to the team colours) or, more commonly, canarini (canaries, referring to the sole shade of yellow).
Contents
History
Foundation and early years
First traces about football in Mazara are dated 1946. However, a team to represent the city of Mazara del Vallo, Unione Sportiva Mazara, was founded only in 1957–1958, and took initially part in the Promozione league. Mazara played Serie D in 1960–1961, but were relegated three years later. Successively, Mazara played a one-year Serie D stint in 1971–1972 before finally returning to play in the then-fourth highest national division in 1976–1977, after winning 1–0 a promotion playoff to Canicattì. The single playoff match, played at Stadio Renzo Barbera, Palermo, featured an attendance of 12,000, the majority being Mazara supporters. Following this promotion, the club played Serie D for 19 consecutive seasons.
Promotion attempts
During the 1980s and the early 1990s, Mazara often shown itself as serious candidate to win the Serie D league, but always missing their goal. In 1985 Mazara, under coach Ignazio Arcoleo, won Serie D gaining a potentially historical first Serie C2 promotion; however, this was then cancelled by the Football Federation because of alleged matchfixing, with bitter rivals Trapani being promoted at canarini's place. Successively, Mazara narrowly missed promotion on several occasions: the club placed second in 1988–1989, just one point behind winners Acireale; in 1990–1991, third behind Gangi (who then lost playoff to Matera); in 1993–1994, seventh-placed after having led the table for almost the whole first half of the season.
Relegation, decline and merger
First logo of the club after the 1996 fusion
Mazara 1946 during a home match in 2009After nineteen Serie D seasons, in 1994–1995 Mazara, under serious financial troubles, were relegated to Eccellenza, where another local team, S.C. Mazara 2000, was already playing. Mazara 2000 was a minor, young team who quickly climbed the football pyramid up to Eccellenza, whereas US Mazara appeared to be an old team under decline. Both teams played Eccellenza in 1995–1996, challenging each other in a new, yet somewhat strange, local derby. US Mazara classified fourth in the end, whereas Mazara 2000 obtained a good seventh place. US Mazara, who was under growing economic difficulties, agreed for a merge with Mazara 2000, and Gruppo Sportivo Mazara 1946 (Mazara 1946 Sports Group) were founded.
The newly-founded football team included almost all the best players from the two former local clubs; this brought the first appearance for Mazara 1946, in 1996–1997, to be very successful, as the team managed to win hands down the Eccellenza league and return to Serie D. The first season for the new club in the Italian fifth-ranked division ended in a hard saving, just one point above the relegation places. The 1998–1999 campaign showed itself to be even harder, with Mazara ending the season with the same points as Sancataldese, therefore being forced to play a single-legged relegation playoff. The match, played in Termini Imerese, ended in a 1–0 win for the canarini, that so escaped relegation once again.
Affected by heavy financial struggles, Mazara however played their 1999–2000 Serie D season with a team mostly composed of young and unexperienced players, and were humiliatingly relegated to Eccellenza with just 8 points in 34 matches, obviously last-placed in the table.
Since then, Mazara experienced a declining time, even relegating to Promozione (7th-ranked division) in 2003–2004 after losing relegation playoffs to Licata. The club, with a new property, successfully returned to Eccellenza in 2005–2006 under coach Filippo Cavataio, a native of Mazara and a former centre back of several Serie C teams, most notably Trapani. In 2006–2007 the club, again coached by Cavataio, ended the regular season phase in an impressive third place, behind Alcamo and Carini, and were therefore admitted to the promotion playoff semifinal, where they eliminated Kamarat (from Cammarata) in a one-legged semifinal after a 0–0 tie, with Mazara moving to the next round because of their best placement in the regular season; another tie with second-placed Carini in the final however caused elimination for the canarini, who failed to achieve promotion also in the following season, finishing in fifth place after a long battle with Nissa and bitter rivals Trapani, who then defeated and eliminated Mazara in the following promotion play-off tournament, with all three matches (two in the regular season, plus a one-legged play-off match) being played behind closed doors.
In 2008–09 Mazara returned with high expectations of winning the league, and established themselves in the top positions of the league. However, on January 2009 the club unwillingly gained national news due to events in what was supposed to be a key home game against first-placed Villabate: Mazara striker Francesco Erbini scored a goal in the first minutes of the match, but the referee disallowed it and restarted the game as the Mazara footballers were celebrating, thus allowing Villabate to score a goal with no significant opposition on the pitch. The referee successively sent off three Mazara footballers due to heavy protests and then abandoned the pitch minutes later.[1][2] The Sicilian Football Federation then announced the match had to be replayed on 10 March; Mazara won the game 2–0 and established themselves in first place.[3] On 22 March, after a 4–0 home win against Marsala in a local derby, Mazara mathematically ensured first place in the league table, with a six points advantage to Villabate and only one remaining match to be played, thus marking their return to the Serie D after nine years.[4]
Back into Serie D and new fusion
The club's comeback season to Serie D was hailed by financial problems mostly caused by the move from a regional league to a national one, with former player Giovanni Iacono being appointed head coach in a unusual part-time basis. Throughout the season, Mazara found themselves in the bottom side of the league, despite managing to achieve a number of prominent results, such as home wins to fallen giants Messina and arch-rivals, and league leaders, Trapani. The club also experienced the loss of team captain, and former Palermo striker, Francesco Erbini, who was banned for ten months on February 2010 due to having greeted two club staff members inquiried with mafia charges as a goal celebration in a football league game on March 2009.[5] Despite such issues, the club ended the season out of the relegation playoff zone, thus ensuring itself a new Serie D season. On July 2010 it was announced a fusion between the main Mazara club and the historical local youth system club Aurora Mazara: such club took the new denomination of Mazara Calcio A.S.D. and will take part to the 2010–11 Serie D season.[6]
Mazara then successfully returned in Serie D in 2010 as Eccellenza Sicily champions and played two season before being relegated in 2011 as second-last placed in the Round I of the top amateur league of Italy. In their first season back to Eccellenza, Mazara clearly stated their intentions to go back immediately to Serie D by acquiring several top players, including former Torino striker Akeem Omolade.
Colours and badge
The official team colours for GS Mazara 1946, as well as all the other major sports teams in Mazara, are canary yellow and blue, which are also the official colours of the city of Mazara del Vallo.
The original team badge was instead reminiscent of the 1996 merge between the two local and rival clubs U.S. Mazara and S.C. Mazara 2000: both two characteristic elements of the respective original crests, respectively the canary bird and the seahorse, are present on it, along with the words "GS MAZARA 1946". Such logo was dropped out in 2010 in favour of a new version that only depicted the canary bird instead.
Stadium
Entrance of Stadio Nino Vaccara, Mazara del ValloMazara plays its home matches at Stadio Nino Vaccara, a small stadium located right along the local Mazaro river. Originally a dirt floor stadium without seats, Stadio Nino Vaccara undertook a massive restructuring in the early 2000s, with the implementation of a synthetic field and a numbered seats-only grandstand with a roof.
The stadium is divided into three sectors: the numbered grandstand, or tribuna centrale, with a capacity of 1,086; the curva (not really a curved sector, by the way), where the organized supporters sit down, with a capacity of 800; and the gradinata, in front of the grandstand, with a capacity of 1,380, usually opened only in exceptional cases.[7]
Outside the stadium, right aside the main entrance, a number of murals are pictured depicting fishermen and fishing boats characteristic of Mazara del Vallo are also pictured.
Current squad
As of 23 August 2010[8] Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
No. Position Player 
GK Mirko Ilario GK Marco Ingrassia GK Francesco Di Giorgio DF Antonino Giacalone DF Girolamo Solina DF Vincenzo Barbera DF Mario Lombardo DF Giuseppe Terramagra DF Giovanni Benigno DF Francesco Ferrara DF Vincenzo Licari MF Cristian Giacalone MF Giuseppe Sicurella No. Position Player MF Alessio Liuzza MF Giuseppe Maniscalco MF Vincenzo Triolo MF Samy Hannachi MF Vincenzo Salvatore 
FW Saheed Jimoh FW Fabio Palumbo FW Akeem Omolade FW Andrea Fuschi FW Antonio Gaudiano FW Fabio Russo FW Saber Hriaech List of seasons
Season League Placement Other 1956–57 Prima Divisione 5th 1957–58 Prima Divisione 1st promoted 1958–59 Prima Categoria 7th 1959–60 Prima Categoria 1st promoted after playoff against Milazzo 1960–61 Serie D 10th 1961–62 Serie D 7th 1962–63 Serie D 8th 1963–64 Serie D 17th relegated 1964–65 Prima Categoria 7th 1965–66 Prima Categoria 11th 1966–67 Prima Categoria 15th 1967–68 Prima Categoria 7th 1968–69 Prima Categoria 2nd 1969–70 Prima Categoria 1st 6 points later deducted because of match fixing, AMAT Palermo promoted at its place 1970–71 Promozione 1st promoted 1971–72 Serie D 17th relegated 1972–73 Promozione 2nd 1973–74 Promozione 3rd 1974–75 Promozione 3rd 1975–76 Promozione 1st promoted after playoff against Canicattì 1976–77 Serie D 7th 1977–78 Serie D 10th 1978–79 Serie D 12th 1979–80 Serie D 8th 1980–81 Serie D 18th 2 points deducted; no relegations in that season 1981–82 Serie D 14th 1982–83 Interregionale 12th 1983–84 Interregionale 8th 1984–85 Interregionale 1st 5 points later deducted because of match fixing, Trapani promoted at its place 1985–86 Interregionale 11th 1986–87 Interregionale 7th 1987–88 Interregionale 12th 1988–89 Interregionale 2nd 1989–90 Interregionale 6th 1990–91 Interregionale 3rd 1991–92 Interregionale 4th 1992–93 Campionato Nazionale Dilettanti 14th 1993–94 Campionato Nazionale Dilettanti 7th 1994–95 Campionato Nazionale Dilettanti 17th relegated 1995–96 Eccellenza 4th merged with Mazara 2000 at the end of the season 1996–97 Eccellenza 1st promoted 1997–98 Campionato Nazionale Dilettanti 14th 1998–99 Campionato Nazionale Dilettanti 14th saved from relegation after playoff against Sancataldese 1999–00 Campionato Nazionale Dilettanti 18th relegated 2000–01 Eccellenza 6th 2001–02 Eccellenza 7th 2002–03 Eccellenza 3rd 2003–04 Eccellenza 13th relegated after playoff against Licata 2004–05 Promozione 5th 2005–06 Promozione 1st promoted 2006–07 Eccellenza 3rd 2007–08 Eccellenza 5th 2008–09 Eccellenza 1st promoted 2009–10 Serie D 12th 2010–11 Serie D 18th relegated 2011–12 Eccellenza - Notable players
- Filippo Cavataio (Serie C1 player in the 1990s for Trapani and Atletico Catania)
- Francesco Erbini (Serie C1 player in the 1990s for Palermo and Marsala)
- Renato Greco (Serie B player in the 1990s)
Notable managers
- Ignazio Arcoleo (Palermo coach in the 1990s)
- Giuseppe Caramanno (Palermo and Foggia coach in the 1990s)
- Angelo Galfano (current Palermo Under-20 coach)
Čestmír Vycpálek (Juventus coach in the 1970s)
Achievements
- Serie D:
- Runners-up (2): 1984–1985,[9] 1988–1989
- Eccellenza Sicilia:
- Winners (2): 1996–1997, 2008–2009
- Promozione Sicilia:
- Winners (3): 1970–1971, 1975–1976, 2005–2006
- Runners-up (1): 1972–1973
References
- ^ "Italian Insanity: As one team celebrates, the other team scores". 101 Great Goals. 27 January 2009. http://www.101greatgoals.com/2009/01/italian-insanity-as-one-team-celebrates-the-other-team-scores/. Retrieved 12 February 2009.[dead link]
- ^ "Esultano, gli altri segnano – Guarda il video" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 25 January 2009. http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Altro_Calcio/Primo_Piano/2009/01/25/esultanzabeffa.shtml. Retrieved 12 February 2009.
- ^ "Mazara-Villabate finì in rissa: si rigioca" (in Italian). Corriere dello Sport – Stadio. 10 March 2009. http://www.corrieredellosport.it/Notizie/Calcio/61183/Mazara-Villabate+finì+in+rissa:+si+rigioca. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
- ^ "Casertana, Milazzo e Mazara promosse in D" (in Italian). Corriere dello Sport – Stadio. 22 March 2009. http://www.corrieredellosport.it/Notizie/Calcio/62419/Casertana,+Milazzo+e+Mazara+promosse+in+D. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
- ^ "Inneggia a indagati mafia Giocatore sospeso 10 mesi" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 17 February 2010. http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/2010/02/17/news/inneggia_a_indagati_mafia_giocatore_sospeso_10_mesi-2331342/. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
- ^ "COMUNICATO STAMPA N° 10 Del 8 luglio 2010" (in Italian). Mazara Calcio ASD. 7 July 2010. http://www.mazaracalcio.it/articles.asp?id=10. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
- ^ "Disposte le misure di sicurezza per lo stadio «Nino Vaccara»" (in Italian). MazaraOnline. 5 April 2006. Archived from the original on 11 July 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070711123056/http://www.mazaraonline.it/fatti/0406/0504a.htm. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
- ^ "ORGANICO 2010/2011" (in Italian). Mazara Calcio ASD. http://www.mazaracalcio.it/articles.asp?id=31. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
- ^ Including 5-points deduction because of alleged matchfixing
External links
- Official club website (Italian)
- LND page for GS Mazara 1946
- Season-by-season historical results of Mazara
- History of US Mazara with some photos
Eccellenza Abruzzo · Apulia · Basilicata · Calabria · Campania · Emilia-Romagna · Friuli – Venezia Giulia · Lazio · Liguria · Lombardy · Marche · Molise · Piedmont & Aosta Valley · Sardinia · Sicily · Tuscany · Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol · Umbria · VenetoFootball in Italy Overview National association · League system · List of clubs · List of venues · Records · Scudetto · CapocannoniereInternational Leagues League competitions Cup competitions Coppa Italia · Supercoppa Italiana · Coppa Italia Lega Pro · Supercoppa di Lega di Prima Divisione · Supercoppa di Lega di Seconda Divisione · Coppa Italia Serie D · Coppa Italia DilettantiYouth competitions Campionato Nazionale Primavera · Coppa Italia Primavera · Supercoppa Primavera · Torneo di Viareggio · Campionato Nazionale Dante BerrettiWomen's competitions Serie A · Coppa ItaliaAwards Miscellaneous Totonero 1980 · Totonero 1986 · 2006 Italian football scandal · 2011 Italian football scandal · Foreign Serie A players · Foreign Serie B players · France–Italy football rivalryCategories:- Italian football clubs
- Football clubs in Sicily
- Association football clubs established in 1946
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