Organized black-and-white support in Cesena was born in 1972, after the club’s historic promotion to Serie A, with the creation of Forza Cesena. Just a year later, in 1973, other fan clubs were established, and by 1974 they were united under the Centro Coordinamento Clubs Cesena (Cesena Club Coordination Center).
The supporters remained united until 1992, when a split within the Coordination Center led to the birth of new clubs. These groups came together under the name Cuore Bianconero (“Black-and-White Heart”), an organization that also included the ultras.
The first ultras groups appeared after Cesena qualified for the 1973/74 UEFA Cup, with the formation of Ultras Cesena.
In 1975, the Brigate Bianconere were founded. They initially occupied the upper part of the Curva Sud but abandoned it after internal disagreements, only to return in 1981 with a new name: WeisSchwarz Brigaden (WSB) – “Black-and-White Brigades” in German, chosen in honor of Austrian striker Walter Schachner, the club’s first foreign player.
Throughout the 1980s, other important groups joined the scene:
Sconvolts (1986)
Viking (1986)
Mad Men (1988)
Menti Perdute (1991)
In the early 1990s, several WSB members were arrested after clashes with Rimini supporters. In the early 2000s, fans staged strong protests against Cesena’s management following relegation to Serie C1.
A major split occurred in 2005, when Serie B matches were moved to Saturdays. While Coordination Center groups accepted the decision, the ultras opposed it. As a form of protest, they abandoned their traditional sector in Curva Mare and moved to the lower part of the stand. A similar protest took place in 2010 against the introduction of the “Tessera del tifoso” (fan ID card).
Today, the main active ultras groups are:
WeisSchwarz Brigaden (1981)
Sconvolts
Gioventù Bellariese (formerly Mad Men)
Menti Perdute
Alongside them are several smaller groups, including Santarcangelo, Gattolino, Pinarella, Gambettola, Nammeles, Fulminati Bianconeri, Chimic Group, Ska, 051 Cesena, Ponte Abbadesse.
The Coordinamento Clubs Cesena is still active, with groups like Mareabianconera, Kick Off, Sant’Egidio.
Some groups that once played an important role in the curva no longer exist, such as Viking (disbanded in 2024), Ragazze Ultras, Nucleo Estremo, Cesena Off Limits, Mad Men Bellaria, Boys Esso, Hell’s Angels and many others.
In 2007, a split within the WSB gave birth to Casual Cesena, who placed themselves in the Distinti section, separate from Curva Mare.
Cesena’s fan base is well-known for its long-standing friendships and gemellaggi (twinships) with both Italian and international groups.
Their strongest ties include:
Brescia (Curva Nord)
Mantova
Palermo (Ultras Curva Sud 1999)
Peterborough United (England)
Internationally, Cesena ultras have bonds with:
Saint-Étienne (France)
Osasuna (Spain)
Stuttgart (Germany)
In the past, they also had relationships with Parma Boys, Bologna, and Milan.
Rivalries of Cesena Ultras
Cesena’s support is known for being particularly passionate and vocal, with rivalries playing a central role in their identity.
The Bologna Rivalry
The fiercest and most historic rivalry is with Bologna, Cesena’s main rival. This tension goes beyond football – it reflects the deep-rooted cultural rivalry between Romagna and Emilia. Matches between Cesena and Bologna, played in both Serie A and Serie B (with nine top-flight seasons in common), are always highly charged, with intense atmospheres inside and outside the stadium.
The Romagna Derbies
Geographical rivalries are also very strong with other professional teams from the Romagna region – Rimini and Ravenna.
The match against Rimini is famously called the “Derby della Romagna”, a clash that always attracts large crowds and fiery support from both sides.
Games against Ravenna have also carried high tension, particularly in Serie B and Serie C campaigns.
Other Significant Rivalries
Over the decades, Cesena has built many rivalries across Italy, often tied to league clashes or fan culture confrontations. Notable ones include:
Padova – tensions grew after incidents in the 2008–09 and 2009–10 seasons, during the Bisoli era.
Hellas Verona, Pescara, Sambenedettese, Atalanta, Vicenza, Pisa, Genoa, Fiorentina, Salernitana
Historical hostility also exists with Milan, despite a short-lived friendship in the 1980s.
Additional rivalries extend to a wide list of Italian clubs such as: SPAL, Modena, Reggiana, Carpi, Juventus, Inter, Lazio, Roma, Torino, Cagliari, Lecce, Venezia, Cremonese, Bari, Cosenza, Cittadella, Sampdoria, Alessandria, Lecco, Ternana, Perugia, Gubbio, Campobasso, Avezzano, Ascoli, Lucchese, Grosseto, Avellino, Catania, Messina, Varese, Reggina, Siena, Fano, Sassuolo, and many others.