Extreme Football Tourism: ITALY: AC SAICI Torviscosa (1951-1969) / Torvis SNIA (1969-1973) / AS Torviscosa (1973-1998) / ASD Torviscosa (1998-)

Stadio Comunale "Beppino Tonello", Torviscosa (ASD Torviscosa, formerly AC SAICI Torviscosa / Torvis SNIA / AS Torviscosa)

Italy, region: Friuli

30 IV 2023 / ASD Torviscosa - AC Virtus Bolzano 0-1 / Serie D Girone C (= ITA level 4)

Timeline

1927 / Halfway between San Giorgio di Nogaro and Cervignano del Friuli, works are undertaken to drain a large swampy area. The locality, known for centuries as Torre di Zuino, has its own church, but could rather be described as a hamlet than as a village.
1937 / Italy wins the Second Abyssinian War, but finds itself diplomatically largely isolated as a result - with the country being subjected to economic sanctions imposed by the League of Nations. As a reaction, "Duce" Benito Mussolini, following the example of Nazi-Germany, proclaims self-sufficiency as one of the main goals of his politics, with new factories being built across the country. One of the main building sites is the drained swamp at Torre di Zuino, where a chemical plant is constructed specialising in producing polyester ('viscosa' in Italian). At the instigation of Fascist authorities, factory owner SNIA Viscosa (founded as a shipping firm in Turin, 'Società di Navigazione Italo-Americana', but specialising in rayon production from the early 1920s onwards) merges with SA Bonifiche Torre di Zuino and Società Bonifiche del Friuli to form a large company, 'Società Anonima Agricola Industriale per la Produzione di Cellulosa Italiana' - abbreviatedly referred to as SAICI.
1938 / On September 21st, 1938, Mussolini personally inaugurates the factory settlement Torre di Zuino as well as SAICI's cellulosis factory, which is given the name SNIA Viscosa.
1940 / On October 26th, 1940, Torre di Zuino is officially renamed Torviscosa - an artificial combination of the old name of the locality and the name of the factory.
1942 / Foundation of a football team in Torviscosa, which, firmly tied to the chemical plant, is given the name Associazione Calcio (AC) SAICI Torviscosa. The club's first pitch was situated near the village's modern-day swimming pool, at what is now called Viale Villa.
1943 / AC SAICI Torviscosa joins the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and starts its life as a competitive football team in Prima Divisione Girone Veneto-Friulano, finishing 4th in the 1943-44 season.
1945 / Having ceased its activities for the chaotic last year of World War II, AC SAICI Torviscosa is placed at the third tier of Italy's football pyramid, more specifically in Serie C Alta Italia.
1947 / AC SAICI Torviscosa has its best season ever, tying for 4th place in Serie C Girone I with AS Libertas Trieste - and preceded only by AS Edera (Trieste), UC Pro Cervignano, and local rivals AC Palmanova.
1948 / In a reorganisation of the Italian football pyramid, AC SAICI Torviscosa is retrograded to Promozione, a new 4th tier created below Serie C.
1951 / Winning the title in Promozione Interregionale Nord Girone A with an advantage of 3 points over closest follower AC Pordenone, AC SAICI Torviscosa regains its place in Serie C. Works are undertaken to build the club a new stadium at the crossroads of Viale Villa and Via Ex Platani, several hundreds of metres west of the club's initial pitch. The new municipal ground is adorned with a main stand with small terraces added on each side, faced by a lower covered terrace. Although works are not finished by the end of 1951, the club moves into the new stadium in the second half of the year. Still in 1951, the club is joined by goalkeeper Ranieri Galuzzo (1925-2009), previously playing at Udinese Calcio. After two seasons at Torviscosa, Galuzzo signs a professional contract with AC Milan, latern moving on to USC Palermo.
1952 / In spite of finishing in a respectable 5th place in Serie C Girone B, AC SAICI Torviscosa is retrograded for the second time in four years due to a reorganisation of the football pyramid, being placed in the so-called IV Serie, the new fourth level of Italian football.
1953 / Although having been in use since 1951, the new Stadio Comunale in Torviscosa is not inaugurated officially until February 1953 with a match against AS Pro Gorizia. Upon completion of the building works, the stadium, the most modern in Lower Friuli at that time, has a maximum capacity of 3,000.
1955 / Finishing 16th in a field of 18 teams in IV Serie Girone D, AC SAICI Torviscosa suffers relegation to Promozione (level 5) along with Olimpia Citadella, SS San Giovanni Trieste, and Vincenzo Lancia (Bolzano).
1957 / Clinching the title in Promozione Friulana Girone A with a comfortable advantage of 6 points over runners-up US Spilimbergo, AC SAICI Torviscosa manages a return to IV Serie. Moreover, the club crowns itself Campione Regionale by winning a play-off against the winning team in Girone B, US Fortitudo (Muggia).
1958 / IV Serie meanwhile having been renamed Campionate Interregionale, AC SAICI Torviscosa finishes in 13th place of that level's Girone C, thus dropping into Campionato Dilettanti (level 5). Also in 1958, Mario Abatematteo takes over the role of head coach at the club, destined to stay on in that function for 14 consecutive years.
1961 / Winning the title in Prima Categoria Friulana Girone B with a three-point advantage over closest rivals SS Sangiorgina, AC SAICI Torviscosa accedes to Serie D, the newly created 4th tier of Italy's football pyramid.
1966 / After having had several good years in Serie D - finishing 4th in Serie D Girone C in 1964 - AC SAICI Torviscosa now ends up in 16th place, one point below US Vittorio Veneto, which saves its skin; Torviscosa is retrograded to Prima Categoria (level 5).
1967 / In spite of missing out on the title in Prima Categoria Friulana Girone A, falling one point short of CS Ponziana, AC SAICI Torviscosa is readmitted to Serie D due to extra promotion places being available.
1969 / As the chemical plant in Torviscosa changes its name from SAICI to the pre-war denomination SNIA, the football club is renamed as well, taking on the name Torvis SNIA.
1970 / Finishing 17th in Serie D Girone C, 2 points short of safety, Torvis SNIA suffers relegation to Promozione (level 5) along with PC Montebelluno and AS Calcio Maniago.
1971 / Clinching the title in Promozione Friuli-Venezia Giulia (FVG) with a 3-point advantage over AS Calcio Maniago, Torvis SNIA manages an immediate return to Serie D.
1973 / Having had two seasons at the fourth national level, Torvis SNIA now finishes 16th in Serie D Girone C, resulting in relegation back into Promozione along with AC San Donà and US Alense. Also in 1973, a formal separation is brought about between the SNIA chemical plant and the football club, which changes its name yet again - becoming Associazione Sportiva (AS) Torviscosa. Due to the absence of sponsorship money coming from the factory, the club has to make to do with a much tighter budget from now on.
1976 / Finishing last in Promozione FVG, AS Torviscosa is relegated into Prima Categoria (level 6) along with US Fortitudo (Muggia) and AC Spilimbergo.
1977 / Winning the title in Prima Categoria Girone B, AS Torviscosa finds its way back to Promozione.
1978 / Finishing 15th in Promozione FVG, AS Torviscosa drops back into Prima Categoria along with US Brugnera and AS Medea.
1979 / Managing no more than a 14th place in Prima Categoria FVG Girone B, AS Torviscosa drops into Seconda Categoria on goal difference (with CS Ponziana, AS Aquileia Calcio, and AC Lucinico all finishing with an equal number of points, but a better goal difference). It is the first time in club history that AS Torviscosa finds itself at the 7th tier of Italy's football pyramid.
1981 / Clinching the title in Seconda Categoria FVG Girone E, AS Torviscosa finds its way back to Prima Categoria.
1987 / Having narrowly saved its skin in Prima Categoria the previous season by winning a relegation play-off against US Bressanone (2-0), AS Torviscosa now finishes 16th in Prima Categoria FVG Girone B, thus dropping back into the dreaded Seconda Categoria once more.
1988 / Winning the title in Seconda Categoria FVG Girone E, AS Torviscosa returns to Prima Categoria at the first opportunity.
± 1989 / The so-called 'Tribuna Distinti', the covered terrace opposite the main stand at Torviscosa's Stadio Comunale, is knocked down, reducing total ground capacity to 1,500.
1990 / AS Torviscosa makes an involuntary return to Seconda Categoria after finishing 14th in Prima Categoria FVG Girone B.
1992 / Finishing 3rd in Seconda Categoria FVG Girone E - with Seconda Categoria meanwhile having become the 8th level of Italy's football pyramid -, AS Torviscosa loses the subsequent promotion play-off against Polisportiva Opicina.
1993 / Winning the title in Seconda Categoria FVG Girone E, AS Torviscosa is admitted to Prima Categoria (level 7).
1994 / Clinching its second title in a row, this time in Prima Categoria FVG Girone B, AS Torviscosa wins promotion to Promozione (level 6). Moreover, the club also wins a piece of tangible silverware, laying its hand on the so-called Coppa Regione with a 2-1 win over Doria.
1995 / After climbing two levels in as many seasons, AS Torviscosa has an excellent season once more, finishing 3rd in Promozione FVG Girone B, but losing the subsequent promotion play-off against SS Sangiorgina (1-1 A.E.T. / Sangiorgina win penalty shoot-out). Also in 1995, the Stadio Comunale in Torviscosa is renamed Stadio Beppino Tonello in honour of Giuseppe 'Beppino' Tonello (1916-1985), who, following a professional career at Udinese Calcio and AS Pro Gorizia, joined Torviscosa, playing for the Friuli side for many years.
1996 / Finishing 15th in Promozione FVG Girone B, AS Torviscosa drops back into Prima Categoria (level 7).
1997 / As fast as AS Torviscosa climbed up the league ladder in the early 1990s, the club now tumbles down again; a 16th place in Prima Categoria FVG Girone C results in a second relegation in a row, with the club finding in Seconda Categoria (level 8) once more.
1998 / Following a change in non-league football regulations, AS Torviscosa changes its name to become Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica (ASD) Torviscosa.
2001 / Winning the title in Seconda Categoria FVG Girone C, ASD Torviscosa returns to Prima Categoria after a 4-year absence.
2002 / Finishing 4th in Prima Categoria FVG Girone C, ASD Torviscosa qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which it is eliminated in a group with ASD Calcio Bannia, US Anconitana, and US Trivignano.
2004 / With a 3rd place in Prima Categoria FVG Girone C, ASD Torviscosa is given the opportunity once again to win promotion, but the club fails to qualify for Promozione in a series of matches against ASD Sarone Caneva and USD Valnatisone.
2005 / Clinching the title in Prima Categoria FVG Girone C, ASD Torviscosa qualifies directly for Promozione (level 6).
2007 / Having played two years in Promozione, ASD Torviscosa now manages to win the title in Promozione FVG Girone B after winning a single play-off against ASD Unione Fincantieri Monfalcone (2-1) - resulting in a promotion to Eccellenza, the 5th tier of Italy's football pyramid.
2010 / ASD Torviscosa wins a historic title, finishing in 1st place in Eccellenza FVG, resulting in a return to Serie D and national league football after an absence of 37 years. Furthermore, the club reaches the final of the Coppa Italia Dilettanti FVG, played at Campo Sportivo Gonars, where it is defeated by ASD Unione Fincantieri Monfalcone (1-0 A.E.T.).
2011 / Torviscosa's adventure at national league level does not last longer than one season, with the club finishing 18th and last in Serie D Girone C, resulting in relegation to Eccellenza.
2012 / Reaching the final of the Coppa Italia Dilettanti FVG for a second time in three seasons, ASD Torviscosa suffers a defeat at the hands of ASD Manzanese Calcio (2-1 A.E.T.) at Mortegliano's Stadio Comunale Franco Beltrame.
2013 / Falling two points short of ISM Gradisca and safety, ASD Torviscosa finishes 14th in Eccellenza FVG, thus dropping back into Promozione (level 6).
2014 / Runners-up in Promozione FVG Girone B, ASD Torviscosa qualifies for the promotion play-offs, in which the club is defeated by ASD Ol3 Faedis and Unione Triestina 2012. Also in 2014, plastic seats are added to the central part of the main stand at Stadio Beppino Tonello.
2015 / Winning the title in Promozione FVG Girone B, ASD Torviscosa accedes to Eccellenza (level 5). Additionally, the club wins the final of the Coppa di Promozione, defeating ASD San Luigi Calcio 3-2 in the final played at Trieste's Stadio Nereo Rocco.
2016 / Nearly managing a second promotion in a row, ASD Torviscosa finishes in 2nd place in Eccellenza FVG - suffering defeat at the hands of AC Legnano (4-1 on aggregate) in R1 of the promotion play-offs.
2017 / Runners-up in Eccellenza FVG for the second year running, ASD Torviscosa is eliminated in R1 of the promotion play-offs against Union San Giorgio Sedico.
2018 / In the final of the Coppa Italia Dilettanti FVG, played at Stadio Comunale Diego Simonetti in Gemona del Friuli, ASD Torviscosa suffers defeat at the hands of ASD San Luigi Calcio (2-2 A.E.T., with San Luigi winning the penalty shoot-out).
2019 / Managing a 3rd place in Eccellenza FVG, ASD Torviscosa loses in the promotion play-off's semifinal against AS Pro Gorizia.
2020 / In its own Stadio Beppino Tonello, ASD Torviscosa is defeated in the final of the Coppa Italia Dilettanti FVG (1-0 against ASD Manzanese Calcio).
2022 / Winning the title in Eccellenza FVG Girone B, ASD Torviscosa qualifies for the promotion play-offs, successively defeating SPAL Cordovado and AS Pro Gorizia to return to Serie D after an absence of 11 years.
2023 / ASD Torviscosa finishes 14th in Serie D Girone C, avoiding direct relegation, but having to play relegation play-offs (or "play-outs", as the Italians put it). Managing a goalless draw (A.E.T.) against Portogruaro Calcio, Torviscosa stays up by virtue of its having finished 1 place above the side from Portogruaro; according to Italian FA regulations, no penalty shoot-out was required.