A.S.D. Castiglione

Foundation

ASD Castiglione Calcio was founded in 1946, when a group of locals opted to put together a team, then known as Castiglione Calcio. The team was not officially entered into the Italian Lega Calcio in its early years, but did take part in local friendlies, and Sicilian tournaments. The team often took place in the Trofeo Catanese, which included Calcio Catania, Siracusa, S.S.D. Acireale Calcio 1946, Unione Sportiva Ragusa, and A.C.R.D. Acicatena.

Story

After its foundation in the late 1940s Castiglione Calcio was officially entered into the Italian Lega Calcio a few years later, and began to play its football within the amateur divisions of the Italian League set-up. Following the newly installed format of the Lega Calcio, Castiglione Calcio was placed in the Seconda Categoria, and was renamed A.S.D. Castiglione Calcio. For the 2003–2004 season, the club was led by coach Nino Brunetto and the club's current leadership decided to remain in command of the team, leaving the balance unchanged. Castiglione demonstrated that they were ready to climb up the Italian League, as the club won the Seconda Categoria title by one point over Roccalumera.

Following their promotion to the Prima Categoria, Castiglione, changed coaches, as Gaetano Mirto took over the helm. Castiglione spent the bulk of the 2004–2005 season, high up in the Prima Categoria table, and on the final match day was promoted again, leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of Linguaglossa Calcio, who would now remain in the Italian 8th tier.

Following their promotion to Promozione, the 7th tier of Italian football, Castiglione made few changes to the team, but drafted several players, under the advice of coach Mirto. Following the dilemma of financial issues that nearly cost the team its place with the Promozione, the club launched and did not stop. Coming to the conclusion of yet another impressive season, Mirto found his team just two points adrift of Fiumefreddo Calcio. The Eastern Sicilian club won the play-off contest in Pozzallo Plagonia 1–0 in extra ends and the team won promotion to Eccellenza. During the season the club also participated in the Coppa Italia, but was eliminated in the second round. Youth coach Antonino Tedesco led the Castiglione Primavera youth squad to a second place finish in the Junior Championship and also and Provincial Group win.

Now in Eccellenza, the club again nearly dropped out due to economic problems which postponed the decision to enter the team until the last minute. The club officially remained in the division, and the coach Mirto remained. He put together a team of youth supported by several players of more experience, who remained with the club. After a positive start, and a solid mid-season position, Mirto found his team in the play-outs, after a late season stumble. After the final contest of the season, Castiglione met Plagonia Spadaforese in the play-outs. After holding a better seasonal head to head record, Castiglione had the advantage and a 0–0 draw allowed the club to remain in Eccellenza. In the same year the regional final of the Coppa Italia also took place. The Primavera also won the regional final beating teams like Palazzolo, Fiumefreddo and Nissa. On the national stage the juniors were defeated for the first time in the second round by Pianura.

Castiglione had another string of good performances during Eccellenza 2007–2008, as the club would dominate the league, and hence gain promotion to Serie D. The conquest to Serie D by a small central club like Castiglione di Sicilia, was extraordinary. No one could suppose that the exceptional escalation, in a few years, would bring the Castiglione from the Seconda Categoria up to the highest levels of the Lega Calcio amateur football with three consecutive promotions (Seconda Categoria to Eccellenza) and after a salvation won the play-out, and then, winning Eccellenza Sicily to earn promotion again. The club's exceptional exploits were very much equally divided between companies, the technical staff, and team environment. The club's two presidents, Carmelo Ginardi and Giovanni Zumbo, Nino Mollica, and head coach Gaetano Mirto, all remained with the club for its Serie D adventure.

For the Serie D adventure, ASD Castiglione Calcio started off well, but soon dropped down the table, and by the end of the season was fighting for salvation. Their efforts were not enough, and the club finished second from bottom in the Serie D G/I table and was relegated back down to the Eccellenza. The league was won however by fellow Sicilians, U.S. Siracusa.