On 8 September 1896, Società Udinese di Ginnastica e di Scherma (Udinese Gymnastics and Fencing Club) won the first ever Italian football tournament, beating Turazza Treviso, who were the hosts of the event, and Ginnastica Ferrara.
The tournament was organised by the Gymnastics Federation as the FIGC (Italian Football Association) was yet to be formed and had different rules to those we are used to nowadays, which is why the title has never been officially recognised. However, the victory gives Udine a central role in the birth and development of the game of football in Italy.
The Udinese players were already wearing the colours of the city (white and black), which is why our club can claim to be I Primi Bianconeri d'Italia (the first white and blacks of Italy).
The names of the players who featured in the decisive match for that historic title were Bissantini, Chiussi, Kosnapfel, Pellegrini, Milanopulo, Del Negro, Plateo, Spivach, Dal Dan (captain), Tam, Tolu.