Prima Divisione (First Division) was the name of the first level of the Italian Football Championship from 1921 to 1926.rsssf.com The competition was initially founded in opposition to the FIGC by the richest clubs of Northern Italy, which disagreed the old format of the championship, based on regional groups. In 1921–22, two concurrent championships took place, before FIGC accepted the new format for 1922–23.Almanacco illustrato del calcio Panini (it.)
History The Prima Divisione was divided in two leagues: Lega Nord (Northern League) and Lega Sud (Southern League). The Lega Nord championship was the main competition, and it was divided in two groups of twelve teams each. The winners of the two groups qualified for the final (Northern League Final) while the last teams were relegated in Seconda Divisione (Second Division). The Lega Sud championship was still divided in many regional groups; the best two teams of Campania, Lazio and Apulia and the winners of the Sicily and Marches groups qualified for the semifinals (Southern League Semifinals) of two groups. The winners of the semifinals advanced to the final. The winners of the two leagues qualified for the Finalissima (literally The Biggest Final). The team that won the national final won the scudetto, firstly introduced for the 1923-24 champions Genoa.La Gazzetta dello Sport digital archive
Because of the fascist Viareggio Charter, in 1926 the Prima Divisione championship was renamed as Divisione Nazionale (National Division), merging the best southern clubs into the Northern League. The second level of the Italian football consequently took the name of Prima Divisional, as it happened in England in 1992. In 1929 with the creation of the Serie A and Serie B championships the Prima Divisione became the third level of the Italian Football. In 1935 with the creation of the Serie C championship the Prima Divisione became the fourth level of the Italian football. In 1948 with the creation of the Promozione championship the first division became the fifth level of the Italian championship. In 1952 with the creation of the IV Serie championship the Prima Divisione became the sixth level. In 1959 the Prima Divisione championship was replaced by local Prima Categoria, Seconda Categoria and Terza Categoria championships.
Winners Year Winner Runners-up Top scorer (club) (goals) 1921–22 Pro Vercelli Fortitudo Roma 1922–23 Genoa Lazio 1923–24 Genoa Savoia Heinrich Schoenfeld (Torino) (22) 1924–25 Bologna Alba Roma Mario Magnozzi (Livorno) (19) 1925–26 Juventus Alba Roma Ferenc Hirzer (Juventus) (35)
Winners (Lega Nord) Year Winner Runners-up Top scorer (club) (goals) 1921–22 Pro Vercelli Genoa 1922–23 Genoa Pro Vercelli 1923–24 Genoa Bologna Heinrich Schoenfeld (Torino) (22) 1924–25 Bologna Genoa Mario Magnozzi (Livorno) (19) 1925–26 Juventus Bologna Ferenc Hirzer (Juventus) (31)
Winners (Lega Sud) Year Winner Runners-up Top scorer (club) (goals) 1921–22 Fortitudo Roma Puteolana 1922–23 Lazio Savoia 1923–24 Savoia Alba Roma Fulvio Bernardini (Lazio) (19) 1924–25 Alba Roma Anconitana Fulvio Bernardini (Lazio) (16) 1925–26 Alba Roma Internaples Bukovich (Alba Roma) (25)
North League Founding members Club Appearances inFirst Division Appearances inSecond Division LeagueleftAlessandria5--Andrea Doria5--Brescia5--Bologna5--Casale5--Genoa5--Internazionale5--Juventus5--Legnano5--Livorno5--Mantova41-Milan5--US Milanese23-Modena5--Novara5--Padova5--Pisa5--Pro Vercelli5--Savona23-Spezia41-Torino5--Venezia14-Verona5--Vicenza13left in 1923–24
FIGC joining clubs Club Appearances inFirst Division Appearances inSecond Division LeagueleftCremonese4--Esperia Como12left in 1925Lucchese13-Novese22-Pastore Torino11left in 1924Petrarca Padova13-Rivarolese13-Sampierdarenese4--Spal13-Speranza Savona13-U.S. Torinese11left in 1924Udinese22-Virtus Bologna21left in 1925
Promoted clubs Club Appearances inFirst Division Appearances inSecond Division LeagueleftDerthona (from CCI)23-Reggiana (from FIGC)22-Parma (from FIGC)13-
References
See also Divisione Nazionale Serie A