Ascoli are freshly-promoted to Serie A in 2005, after finishing 6th in Serie B. Although initially they failed to win promotion, the team were allowed to take a Serie A place after the penalisation of rivals Genoa and Torino (for fraud and financial difficulties). The team's fans celebrated the unexpected promotion into Serie A with big celebrations in the town's Piazza del Popolo, the ending of which was marred by demonstrations against the club's chairman. Then it was time to prepare for their first match of the season - against AC Milan; a thrill for a club anticipating another year in Serie B.

Formed in 1898, Ascoli have enjoyed fourteen seasons in Serie A in the past - not bad for Ascoli Piceno, a town of only 50,000 inhabitants. Ascoli's most successful period came in the 1970s under President Rozzi and Carlo Mazzone. Years later, Oliver Bierhoff started his Italian career here.

Team colours: black and white vertical stripes

Known as: i bianconeri (black-and-whites) , il Picchio - the Woodpecker, historic symbol of the local Roman-era tribes.

Official website: www.ascolicalcio.net (Italian only). A good fan site (in Italian) is www.mondopicchio.com.

Stadium

Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca
Via delle Zeppelle 63100
Ascoli Piceno
Capacity: 20,000

Match Tickets

Tickets for Ascoli football matches should be available to buy online from Listicket. Failing that, your best bet is to buy tickets in the town (there is a ticket office at the stadium on matchdays), or ask your hotel if they can obtain some for you in advance. Tickets at a reduced price (ridotto) are available for over-65s, women and the disabled, while Junior prices apply to children of 11 and under.

Ascoli Piceno Travel and Tourism

Ascoli Piceno is in the Marches region of Italy (Le Marche), along the Adriatic coast on the eastern side of the peninsular. About 55 miles south of Ancona, Ascoli is a historic town, which still follows a Roman streetplan. It hosts a famous jousting festival in August, called the Quintana. The town has an attractive historic square, Piazza del Popolo, dominated by the imposing Palazzo dei Capitani ("one of the most beautiful squares in all Italy", according to the Cadogan guidebook). In its dramatic ravine setting Ascoli boasts plenty of interesting buildings, including tall medieval towers, attractive churches and a Roman bridge. As well as the architecture, history and scenery, there is also an art gallery and an archaeological museum.

Coach services connect Ascoli Piceno with Rome (www.startspa.it). UK visitors can also take advantage of budget flights to Ancona (to the north) or Pescara (to the south). The Ascoli Piceno tourist information office is in Piazza Arringo.

> Book a hotel in Ascoli Piceno.