ASD Football Club Matese

Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica Football Club Matese, commonly referred to as F.C. Matese (also stylised as FC Matese), is a football club based in Sepicciano, a frazione of Piedimonte Matese, in Campania, Southern Italy. The club currently competes in Serie D, the fourth tier of the Italian football league system.

A History of Sport in Piedimonte Matese (Piedimonte d'Alife)
Sport in the modern era in Piedimonte Matese (known until 1970 as Piedimonte d'Alife) traces its roots back to Pro Piedimonte, a multi-sports club founded in 1928. Sports such as running and tug of war were also practised. The club's first President (chairman) was Erminio Tedesco. Pro Piedimonte was in existence for at least 40 years.

Founding of A.S.D. Football Club Matese
F.C. Matese was founded on the morning of 6 June 2020 from the merger of Eccellenza clubs A.S.D. Comprensorio Vairano (from Vairano Patenora) and A.S.D. Tre Pini Matese (from Piedimonte Matese). Despite being from Campania, both clubs played in the Molise divisions. The club's name, Football Club Matese, is often shortened to F.C. Matese; alternatively written as FC Matese. The new team was admitted to Serie D for the 2020–21 season, retaining the "Matese" part of its club name, with no mention of Comprensorio Vairano. Stadio Pasqualino Ferrante, formerly home to both Tre Pini Matese and fellow club F.W.P. Matese, was chosen as F.C. Matese's home venue.

Inaugural campaign: 2020–21 season
F.C. Matese's first-ever league fixture saw them face Olympia Agnonese away from home on 27 September 2020. The visitors got off to a flying start when Portuguese forward Leonardo Abreu scored to break the deadlock after six minutes. Corrado Urbano's side commanded a three-goal lead before the half-hour mark, scoring twice in the space of two minutes, with a goal from Italian forward Antonio Negro, before Leo Abreu volleyed home his second to make it 0–3 at half-time. Italian midfielder; Manél Minicucci netted F.C. Matese's fourth after 78 minutes to claim the club's first-ever win in Serie D. Following the club's comprehensive 0–4 away victory over Olympia Agnonese, F.C. Matese would lose their next two matches against Atletico Terme Fiuggi (2–3); and Montegiorgio Calcio (2–0), respectively. After a two-game losing streak, the club managed a 0–0 draw with Aprilia. Corrado Urbano's side then suffered a succession of defeats, losing 4–0 away to Città di Campobasso, 1–3 at home to Castelfidardo, 1–2 at home versus Castelnuovo Vomano, and 3–1 away to Cynthialbalonga. F.C. Matese returned to winning ways, with a first home victory and only their second of the season, coming in a 3–0 win over Vastese at Stadio Pasqualino Ferrante, thus bringing an end to their four-game losing streak. However, the team's winning run lasted just one match, as F.C. Matese fell to a 3–1 away defeat against Notaresco. After their first ten matches, F.C. Matese had recorded a mere two wins, one draw and six defeats, giving them just 7 points, leaving them sitting in the bottom half of the table. However, a change in fortunes; saw the club approach the midway point of the season in a steady position with 18 points, following three successive wins, two draws and one defeat taking their tally to five wins, three draws and eight losses for the season. F.C. Matese built upon their mid-season form, managing a 0–0 home draw against Rieti, a second win over Olympia Agnonese, and its first victory against Atletico Terme Fiuggi.

Promotion play-offs
In its inaugural season (2020–21), under the management of Corrado Urbano, F.C. Matese recorded a fifth-place finish in the league, amassing 56 points after 34 games, leaving them tied on points with two other teams; third-placed Pineto and fourth-placed Cynthialbalonga. It meant that F.C. Matese had qualified for the Serie D promotion play-offs. However, as all three sides had finished on the same number of points, the play-off matches were decided on "Head-to-head", with Pineto scoring 6, Cynthialbalonga 5, and Matese 4. Consequently, F.C. Matese were drawn, against second-placed team Notaresco, with the match being played on 23 June 2021 at Notaresco's Stadio Comunale Vincenzo Savini. After trailing 1–0 at half-time, courtesy of a goal from Notaresco midfielder Mattia Frulla in the 21st-minute, the Matesini; were reduced to ten men, after defender Luigi Setola's sending off for a second yellow card with just under 20 minutes left to play of normal-time. F.C. Matese lost the semi-final 1–0, sending Notaresco; through to the play-off final against eventual winners Pineto.

2021–22 season
On 7 August 2021, it was announced that F.C. Matese would participate in the 2021–22 edition of the Coppa Italia Serie D, thus making their debut in the competition. They were handed a home tie against Vastogirardi. Unfortunately for Matese, they would be eliminated by Vastogirardi in the first round of the Coppa Italia Serie D, losing 1–3.

2022–23 season
On 21 August 2022, Matese were drawn away to Barletta in the preliminary round of the competition, losing 1–0.

2023–24 season
On 3 September 2023, Matese were drawn away to Real Casalnuovo in the first round of the competition, losing 0–3. The first victory of the season came on matchday 4 at home against Atletico Ascoli, followed by successes against Tivoli and Roma City (formerly Atletico Terme Fiuggi) before away defeats against Alma Juventus Fano and Sora.

Colours and crest
F.C. Matese's colours are green & gold to symbolise both the Matese mountains and the agricultural fields. The club's circular badge features a gold band for its outermost layer, a second thinner white layer and a third, green layer, resembling a ringed doughnut, which encases a white circle that depicts a wolf howling at a full moon atop a summit and an elevated football. There are also two gold (sometimes white) stars and the Latin inscription "Duc in Altum", which translates to "Put Out Into The Deep", and MCMXXXV (the year 1935), in Roman numerals.

Sponsorship and kit manufacturers
Italian sportswear supplier Givova produces their kit. Their shirt sponsor is Ponte Reale, an Italian company which manufactures Buffalo mozzarella cheese.

Former players

 * Léo Abreu
 * 🇬🇭 Jonathan Adusa
 * 🇮🇹 Francesco Apredda
 * 🇮🇹 Lorenzo Ballerini
 * 🇮🇹 Antonio Barbato
 * 🇮🇹 Mario Barone
 * 🇮🇹 Giovanni Blando
 * 🇮🇹 Stefano Bruno
 * 🇮🇹 Raffaele Buonocore
 * 🇮🇹 Domenico Cantelmo
 * 🇮🇹 Alessandro Carnevale
 * 🇮🇹 Giancarlo Di Cillo
 * 🇮🇹 Nicola Ciotola
 * 🇮🇹 Stefano Costantino
 * 🇮🇹 Piergiorgio Delicato
 * 🇮🇹 Mario Esposito
 * 🇮🇹 Vittorio Esposito
 * 🇮🇹 Roberto Felici
 * 🇮🇹 Antonio La Gamba
 * 🇮🇹 Francesco Governali
 * 🇧🇷 Jardel
 * 🇸🇰 Aleksander Kuzmanović
 * 🇮🇹 Francesco Leonetti
 * 🇮🇹 Pasquale Di Lullo
 * 🇮🇹 Paolo Masotta
 * 🇮🇹 Manél Minicucci
 * 🇮🇹 Damiano Modesto
 * 🇮🇹 Christian Mulè
 * 🇮🇹 Antonio Negro
 * 🇮🇹 Badr El Ouazni
 * 🇮🇹 Francesco Palumbo
 * 🇮🇹 Antonio Reda
 * 🇮🇹 Vincenzo Ricamato
 * 🇮🇹 Walter Ricci
 * 🇮🇹 Paolo Riggio
 * 🇮🇹 Liberato Russo
 * 🇮🇹 Gabriele Scacco
 * 🇮🇹 Danilo Schettini
 * 🇮🇹 Luigi Setola
 * 🇮🇹 Luca Del Signore
 * 🇵🇱 Gracjan Szyszka
 * 🇮🇹 Vincenzo Tommasone
 * 🇮🇹 Pompeo Tretola
 * 🇮🇹 Nicola Vecchio
 * Kristjan Vodopivec

Player records
Most goals Luis Fabián Galesio – 26 : 2020–21, 2021–22

Most goals in one season Luis Fabián Galesio – : 15 : 2020–21

Management and staff
Source:

Managers

 * 🇮🇹 Corrado Urbano (2020–2022)
 * 🇮🇹 Fabrizio Perrotti (2022)
 * 🇮🇹 Corrado Urbano (2022–2024)
 * 🇮🇹 Vincenzo Feola (2024–

Club records
Longest winning run
 * 6 matches

Longest home winning streak
 * 8 matches

Biggest wins
 * Home
 * 4–1 against Trastevere, 5 May 2023 (Serie D)
 * 4–1 against Porto D'Ascoli, 9 October 2022 (Serie D)
 * Away
 * 4–0 against Olympia Agnonese, 27 September 2020 (Serie D)

Biggest losses
 * Home
 * 3–0 against Recanatese, 8 May 2022 (Serie D)
 * Away
 * 4–0 against Campobasso, 25 October 2020 (Serie D)
 * 4–0 against Recanatese, 12 December 2021 (Serie D)