A.S. Martina Franca 1947
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| Full name | Associazione Sportiva Martina Franca 1947 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded |
1947 2008 (refounded) | ||
| Ground |
Stadio Gian Domenico Tursi, Martina Franca, Italy | ||
| Capacity | 4,900 | ||
| Chairman | Donato Muschio Schiavone | ||
| Manager | Giuseppe Incocciati | ||
| League | Prima Categoria | ||
| 2015–16 | Lega Pro/C, 16th (relegated) | ||
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Associazione Sportiva Martina Franca 1947 (usually referred to as simply Martina Franca or Martina) is an Italian association football club, based in Martina Franca, Apulia. Currently it plays in Prima Categoria (as in 2016–17 season).
History
The club was founded in 1947.
Martina has 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.
The refoundation
In 2008 A.C. Martina reborn as A.S.D. Martina Franca and admitted in the Prima Categoria Apulia. Martina in the 2008–09 came second in Prima Categoria Apulia and promoted to Promozione Apulia.
The following season has 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 2010–11 season, after a long battle with Cerignola which ended only in extra time of the promotion playoff, Martina was finally promoted to 2011-12 Serie D.
In the 2011-12 Serie D season, Martina Franca was promoted to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. This marked the return of Martina in professionally football with 4 promotions in 4 years.
Martina was relegated back to Serie D after ending the 2013–14 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione in thirteenth place, only to be admitted back to the 2014–15 Lega Pro after being picked in order to fill a league vacancy.
Colors and badge
The team's colors are blue and white.