Gli Estensi (The House of Este), I Biancazzurri (The White and Blues)
Founded: 1907, Refounded 2005 and 2012, Stadium: Stadio Paolo Mazza, Capacity: 16,134
The club was founded in March 1907 as Circolo Ars et Labor (Latin for Art and Work Club) by the Salesian priest Pietro Acerbis. In the early stages, it was mainly a cultural and religious association, then in 1913 it became a multi-sports company, taking the name of Società Polisportiva Ars et Labor (SPAL). The club went bankrupt in 2005, and were reformed as SPAL 1907 S.r.l. In the summer of 2012, after suffering a second bankruptcy, the club was refounded for the second time as S.S.D. Real SPAL. The team’s colours are light blue and white, which derive from the Salesians emblem. The home kit, since 1962, has been composed of a vertical striped light blue-white shirt, white trainers and white socks. The only exception to light blue and white was when the club adopted a black and white kit between 1939 and 1943 (when it was named A.C. Ferrara), in honour of Ferrara’s civic colours. Currently the badge features an oval-shaped light blue escutcheon, with a white band in the upper section, on which is written the acronym S.P.A.L. in golden characters. Also, in the lower section, the black and white emblem of the city is featured. From 1980 until mid-1990s the official badge featured a fawn, another symbol of the club. SPAL’s most common nicknames are Biancazzurri (from the club colours, light blue and white) and Estensi (from the House of Este, ancient European noble dynasty that ruled Ferrara from 1240 to 1597).
