Cavese 1919
Italian football club from Cava de' Tirreni, founded 1919.
Cavese 1919, usually shortened to Cavese, is a football club from Cava de' Tirreni in Campania, currently competing in Serie C Group C. The city’s first club was founded in 1919 under the name Unione Sportiva Cavese. It was later re-established as Pro Cavese in 1974. In 2012, the club—then operating as S.S. Cavese 1919 S.r.l.—merged with another local side, U.S.D. Pro Cavese 1394, while keeping the Cavese 1919 name. The team’s most recent appearance in Serie B came in 1984.
The original club, Unione Sportiva Cavese, played its first match against Salernitana, winning 3–2. In 1922, it merged with Libertas Sporting Club to strengthen the squad, and that same year earned a place in the Prima Divisione, the top tier of the time. After several seasons near the bottom, the death of the coach and financial troubles led to relegation in 1925. Following a decade in lower divisions, the team returned to the Prima Divisione (now the fourth tier) in 1937. With a new stadium, Stadio Francis Palmentieri, and star player Virgilio Levratto, Cavese climbed to Serie C. But by 1948, economic difficulties again pushed the club down the divisions. In 1964, despite a three-point penalty, the team reached Serie D. A merger with Pro Salerno in 1974 created Pro Cavese, and after several name changes involving “Pro Salerno,” the club returned to Serie C in 1977 and reclaimed its original name in 1980.
Cavese earned its first and only promotion to Serie B in 1981. The debut season ended in 15th place, enough to avoid relegation. The 1982–83 campaign was the club’s best ever: after sitting third at the halfway mark—a position that would have meant promotion—they finished sixth. That season is remembered for a famous 2–1 victory at San Siro against A.C. Milan, with goals from Tivelli and Di Michele (Joe Jordan scored for Milan). The following year, however, Cavese was relegated to Serie C1 and never returned to Serie B. The club was dissolved from Italian football in 1991, then readmitted to Eccellenza Campania as S.S. Cavese 1919.
During the 2000s, Cavese returned to professional leagues. In the 2005–06 Serie C2 season, they won the division and moved back to Serie C1. The next season, a third-place finish earned a promotion playoff spot; after a 5–2 first-leg loss to Foggia, Cavese won the second leg 3–1 but was eliminated by a late Foggia goal in injury time.
Quick Facts
- Clubname
- Cavese
- Fullname
- Cavese 1919
- Nickname
- Aquilotti (Eagle Scouts) / Metelliani / Blufoncé (The Dark-blue)
- Founded
- 1919
- Ground
- Stadio Simonetta Lamberti
- Capacity
- 5,200
- Owner
- Alessandro Lamberti
- Manager
- Cristiano Masitto
- Season
- Cavese2
- Position
- Cavese3
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The club was founded in 1919 as Unione Sportiva Cavese and played its first match against Salernitana, winning 3–2. In 1922 it merged with Libertas Sporting Club and was admitted to the Prima Divisione (then equivalent to Serie A). Economic crisis and the death of their coach led to demotion in 1925. After years in lower divisions, the club was promoted to Serie C in the late 1930s with a new stadium and star player Virgilio Levratto. Further economic troubles in 1948 sent the club back to minor divisions. In 1974, the club was refounded as Pro Cavese, returning to Serie C in 1977 and reclaiming its original name in 1980.
Cavese gained its first and only promotion to Serie B in 1981. The 1982–83 season was the club's best, finishing sixth in Serie B.
Reader's Guide
Cavese 1919 represents a storied but turbulent history in Italian football, emblematic of many provincial clubs that have risen and fallen through economic crises and reorganizations. Its significance lies in its brief but memorable peak in the early 1980s, when it reached Serie B and nearly achieved promotion to Serie A, highlighted by a famous victory over A.C. Milan at San Siro. The club's multiple refoundations—from Unione Sportiva Cavese to Pro Cavese, then S.S. Cavese 1919, and finally Cavese 1919 via a merger with U.S.D. Pro Cavese 1394—illustrate the fragility of smaller Italian clubs and the role of phoenix clubs in preserving local football identity. The involvement of fans as shareholders in 2010 and the subsequent legal disputes over branding and membership further underscore the complex relationship between community, commerce, and sport. Cavese's legacy is that of a resilient club that, despite repeated setbacks, continues to compete in Serie C, maintaining its blue-and-white colors and local support.
Did You Know?
- Cavese's first match ever was a 3–2 win against Salernitana in 1919.
- The club was admitted to the Prima Divisione (then equivalent to Serie A) in 1922 after merging with Libertas Sporting Club.
- In the 1982–83 Serie B season, Cavese defeated A.C. Milan 2–1 at San Siro, with goals from Tivelli and Di Michele.
- In 2010, fans of the club became shareholders, and local photographer Michele Angelo Sica became executive director.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Cavese 1919?
Cavese 1919 is a professional football club based in Cava de' Tirreni, Campania, whose lineage traces back to 1919 when the city's first team, Unione Sportiva Cavese, was established. They currently compete in Serie C Group C.
What division does Cavese 1919 play in?
The club currently competes in Serie C Group C of Italian football.
What is Cavese 1919's best season?
Their peak arrived in 1982–83, when they finished sixth in Serie B after earning promotion in 1981. That remains their sole stint in Italy's second tier.
What are Cavese 1919's colors?
The team wears blue and white.
How did the club get its current name?
In 2012, the entity then operating as S.S. Cavese 1919 S.r.l. merged with fellow local side U.S.D. Pro Cavese 1394, and the combined club retained the Cavese 1919 identity.
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