Martina

A.S.D. Martina Calcio 1947, formerly A.S. Martina Franca 1947, and A.C. Martina, usually referred to as simply Martina Franca or just Martina, is an Italian association football club, based in Martina Franca, Apulia. The club was re-founded in 2008 as A.S.D. Martina Franca 1947 and again 2016 as A.S.D. Martina Calcio 1947.

History

The club was founded in 1947.

Martina has played in Serie C1 Group B in the 2007–08 season, finishing last, and thus directly relegated to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione (ex-Serie C2).

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 to withdrew from the 2008–09 season. All players were released.

2008 re-foundation

At the same time with the dissolve of A.C. Martina, a phoenix club, A.S.D. Martina Franca was founded in the same transfer window. It was admitted in the Prima Categoria Apulia. The club finished as the second in 2008–09 Prima Categoria Apulia season and promoted to Promozione Apulia.

The following season has won the Promozione Apulia playoffs and the promotion to 2010–11 Eccellenza Apulia season. 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.