In the early years of activity of the Bari Football Club, simple spectators attended the matches of the biancorossa team, intrigued by the new game of Football imported from Great Britain. From the accounts of Bari historian Antonucci, it emerges that true football “support” in Bari began to manifest itself in the years 1910-11, gaining full recognition in the immediate post-war period with Liberty (closely linked to Bari FBC, initially not refounded) and Ideale.
A few months after the merger in 1928, between Bari F.C. (Liberty) and Ideale to form U.S. Bari, the first fans’ clubs were born; “La banda dei pollastri” (The Chicken Band), “L’ordine del galletto” (The Rooster Order), and “27+2” are the ones whose names we have received. These were groups of adult men, dissolved about five years after their foundation.
From the second half of the 1950s, Peppino Cusmai stood out, a corpulent fan with Hungarian-style mustaches, who during the playoffs and decisive matches for the promotions or relegations of the galletti (roosters) would traverse the streets of Bari on a cart (pulled by a horse), wearing a fez and encouraging fellow citizens to follow him, even on away trips, to support the biancorossi. He consistently and actively supported Bari, acting as a driving force for the fanbase, until his passing in 1980.
From a political perspective, Bari fans are predominantly aligned with right-wing positions.
The association “La Bari Siamo Noi – Centro Coordinamento Bari Club” brings together all the fans’ clubs of Bari present in Italy and abroad. Among the main clubs are the “Amici dell’Antistadio” Club, “Giovanni Loseto” Bari Club, and “Milano Biancorossa” Club.
In 1976, the “Ultras Curva Nord” (UCN) were born, from the section of the stadium where ultras gather during Bari’s home matches, forming a unified federation of many ultras groups. The UCN, also known as the “winged skulls” because of their emblem, were right-wing and nationalist in nature but not strongly aligned politically, maintaining unity of purpose for over thirty years. Alongside the UCN, dozens of other groups emerged over time, including Alcol, Viking, Kaos, Stonati, Gioventù Biancorossa, Incorreggibili, Bulldog, Istinti Mercantili, linked to the northern curve and under the orders of the primary group. Estrema Guardia, founded in 1999 from the merger of Estremo Sostegno and Nuova Guardia, with the acronym EG, was an ultras group from the south curve alternative to the UCN, dissolved in 2010 with an official statement. Like other Italian ultras groups, in the 2000s and 2010s, those of the biancorossi strongly criticized the “modern football” and the fan card. In 2011, the football betting scandal involved the leaders of the UCN movement, who were subsequently deposed. Between August 23 and 24, 2012, the UCN movement was dissolved; however, the various ultras groups remained active.
Subsequently, the place in the north curve previously occupied by the UCN was taken by the new main group, the “Seguaci della Nord” (Followers of the North), alongside which were the Bulldog and Re David.
Among the away matches where the biancorossi had a large number of supporters were Bari-Colleferro, played at the Collana stadium in Naples on June 27, 1954 (promotion playoff from IV Serie to Serie C, won 2-1 by the biancorossi), with about 20,000 galletti supporters; Atalanta-Bari on June 20, 1971, at the Comunale in Bologna (promotion playoff to Serie A, season 1970-1971, won 2-0 by the bergamaschi) with about 15,000 Bari fans, and finally, with about 10,000 Bari fans in attendance, Verona-Bari on July 20, 1958, played in Bologna, and Roma-Bari on November 22, 2009, at the Olympic Stadium in Rome (the first of these two matches was valid for the playoffs for the top flight and was won by Bari 1-0, the second was valid for the 13th round of Serie A, and was won by the home team 3-1).
In the vibrant world of Italian football culture, the city of Bari has long been a hub for passionate supporters known as ultras. Over the decades, various groups have emerged, shaping the identity of the ultras scene in the city. Let’s take a brief journey through the key milestones in the evolution of ultras groups in Bari:
1976 – Ultras Curva Nord: It all began in 1976 with the birth of the Ultras Curva Nord, a pioneering group that laid the foundation for ultras culture in Bari. With their unwavering support, they became the driving force behind the team.
1989 – Re David: In 1989, the Re David group emerged, adding a new dimension to the ultras scene in Bari. With their distinct identity and fervent support, they quickly became a prominent fixture in the stands.
1991 – Bulldog: The year 1991 saw the formation of the Bulldog group, further enriching the diverse tapestry of ultras culture in Bari. Known for their tenacity and loyalty, the Bulldogs became synonymous with passionate support for their beloved team.
1999 – Estrema Guardia: A pivotal moment arrived in 1999 with the establishment of the Estrema Guardia. With their strong presence and unwavering dedication, they left an indelible mark on the ultras landscape in Bari.
2010 – End of an Era: Sadly, in 2010, the Estrema Guardia disbanded, marking the end of a significant chapter in Bari’s ultras history. Their legacy, however, continued to inspire future generations of supporters.
2012 – Farewell to Ultras Curva Nord: In 2012, another cornerstone of Bari’s ultras culture came to an end with the dissolution of the Ultras Curva Nord. Despite their departure, their impact on the local football scene remained profound.
2014 – Rise of Seguaci della Nord: However, the spirit of ultras culture in Bari persevered, as evidenced by the emergence of the Seguaci della Nord in 2014. With their arrival, a new chapter began in the rich tapestry of ultras groups in the city.
Friendships
The longest-standing friendship of the biancorossi ultras is with those from Salerno, which began with an exchange of letters of mutual friendship between the GSF (Granata South Force) group and the UCN on September 25, 1983, at the Vittoria stadium in Bari. Since 1988, there has been a twinning with the fans from Reggio, born between the UCN and the Boys Reggio, while in April 2006, during a match with Cremonese in Lombardy, the twinning with the fans from Sampdoria was solidified, following years of friendship between the respective groups. During the 1980s, there were strong twinnings with the Torino and Lazio fans (the one with the biancocelesti was the first twinning carried out by the Bari ultras), both of which ended in the 1990s. The organized biancorossi groups also have strong friendships with the fans of Spezia, Vicenza, Triestina, and Empoli. Among the Puglian fans, there is friendship with those from Andria, Barletta, Monopoli, and the ultras of Martina Franca and Casarano; the latter are hostile to the ultras of Lecce.
- Lazio (until 1993)
- Salernitana (since 1983)
- Torino (until 1991)
- Reggina (since 1988)
- Sampdoria (since 2006)
Rivalries
The Bari fans have a strong rivalry with Lecce, especially in the past with those from Taranto; Bari and Taranto faced each other on the field again in 2021 after 28 years. There is also rivalry with the ultras from Foggia. Among other southern teams, there is rivalry with those from Naples, Avellino (also due to the twinning of the biancorossi with those from Salerno), and Palermo, who are twinned with those from Lecce. Relations with the fans from Pescara are particularly tense, and not good with the ultras from Rome, Juventus, Inter (there was an old friendship with the Nerazzurri, but it progressively cooled due to various events), Hellas Verona, and Genoa, the latter also in relation to Spezia and Sampdoria.