History of FC Pro Vercelli 1892 facts for kids

F.C. Pro Vercelli 1892 is a famous Italian football club from Vercelli, Piedmont. Its history officially began in 2010. However, the club's roots go back to 1892. The original club, U.S. Pro Vercelli Calcio, was one of Italy's most successful teams in the early 1900s. They won seven national championships between 1908 and 1922. When the old club faced problems, the city of Vercelli made sure its history and achievements lived on. They passed them to another local team, A.S. Pro Belvedere Vercelli, which then changed its name to continue the legacy of Pro Vercelli.

The "Pro Vercelli" Story

From 1892 to 2010: The Original Club

How It Started

The Società Ginnastica Pro Vercelli (Pro Vercelli Gymnastics Society) was created in 1892. Its football team started playing in 1903. Their very first official football match was on August 3, 1903.

In 1907, Pro Vercelli's football team won a lower division league. This success allowed them to join the top Italian National League for the first time. They quickly became champions, winning their first national titles in 1908 and 1909. These were amazing early victories for the "White Shirts," as they were called.

Years of Great Success

In 1910, Pro Vercelli reached the championship final again. But they had a disagreement with the Italian Football Federation (F.I.F., now called F.I.G.C.). The match date clashed with another game they had planned. So, Pro Vercelli decided to play with only their youth team. They lost the title to Inter.

Even so, the Leoni ("Lions") soon showed their strength again. They were called "Lions" because of their tough tackles. They went undefeated for the next three seasons. They won three titles in a row: 1910–11, 1911–12, and 1912–13. This was a huge achievement!

During these years, a famous group of players became known as the Midfield Line of Wonders. They were Ara, Milano I, and Leone. Pro Vercelli also provided many players for the first Italian national teams. Nine players from the club represented Italy.

After this incredible start, Pro Vercelli had to wait until after the Great War to win another title. They won their next national championship in 1920–21. In the following years, Pro Vercelli remained a strong team. However, other teams like Casale, Genoa, and Inter started to win more. They ended Pro Vercelli's amazing run of dominance.

In 1921–22, there was a disagreement about how the Italian league should be organized. The Italian Football Federation split into two groups. All the major teams formed the independent Italian Football Confederation (C.C.I.). Pro Vercelli joined the C.C.I. league. This league had fewer matches. Pro Vercelli happily won their 7th national title that season. This was their last championship win to date.

Pro Vercelli was even invited to Rio de Janeiro to play against famous Brazilian teams like Flamengo and Botafogo. In those days, there were no official European competitions. Liverpool F.C., as English champions, went on a European tour. They played against the strongest teams on the continent. Liverpool defeated every team except one: Pro Vercelli. The match between these two top European teams ended in a draw.

A Slow Decline

The 1934–35 season marked the start of a slow but steady decline for Pro Vercelli. The Bianche Casacche (White Shirts) were eventually moved down to Serie B. As football became more modern, this small-town team dropped to Serie C for the first time in 1940–41. They returned to Serie B in 1946 for two years. They played in Serie C from 1948–1962 and again from 1971–1978.

In the 1977–78 season, the team was moved down to Serie C2. The next season, they dropped to Serie D. They returned to Serie C2 in 1984, but were moved back to Serie D the very next season.

Scudetto Dilettanti 1993–94

Pro Vercelli returned to Serie C2 in 1994. They won their group in Serie D and also won the Scudetto Dilettanti. This is a special trophy for amateur champions.

The Club's Rebirth

In recent years, U.S. Pro Vercelli Calcio had been playing in the middle of the Italian fourth division (Serie C2). In July 2005, a new chairman, Vero Paganoni, took over the club.

However, due to big debts, the club was not allowed to play in the 2010–11 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. So, the original club stopped operating.

In the summer of 2010, the club changed its name to U.S. Vercelli Calcio. Vero Paganoni remained as president, but this club is now inactive. This is why A.S. Pro Belvedere Vercelli became the new Pro Vercelli.

Club Achievements

• Italian Football Championship
  • Champions 7 times: 1908, 1909, 1910–11, 1911–12, 1912–13, 1920–21, 1921–22
  • Runners-up 1 time: 1909–10
• Serie B
  • Winners 1 time: 1907
• Serie D
  • Winners 4 times: 1956–57, 1970–71, 1983–1984, 1993–1994
• Scudetto Dilettanti:
  • Winners 1 time: 1993-94

Since 2010: The New Pro Vercelli

The Story Continues

The city of Vercelli officially gave the old club's achievements and famous name to A.S. Pro Belvedere Vercelli. This team then changed its name to the current one, continuing the great history of Pro Vercelli.

In the 2010–11 season, the team played in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. They finished 3rd but lost in the play-off semifinals. However, on August 4, 2011, they were allowed to join Lega Pro Prima Divisione because there were open spots. In that season, they were promoted to Serie B after 64 years! But the very next season, they were moved down again to Lega Pro Prima Divisione.