The 80s saw the rise of Sassuolo football. In the 1981/82 season Sassuolo took part in the Interregional league under the presidency of Gilberto Prati, facing the emilian division where they finish in sixth place. The following year ended with another positive mid-table position in the emilian-venetan division. The great leap happened in the 1983/84 season: the club gained a much awaited promotion to the Serie C2, for the first time the town would have a team in the professional leagues.

During the first season amongst the professional ranks, with Claudio Sassi as president and Aurelio Dotti as manager, the team managed an excellent sixth place. The following years were characterized by alternating results. 80’2The 1985/86 season ended with a hard fought battle to avoid relegation. In the summer of 1986 the club had to say goodbye to manager Aurelio Dotti, who had lead the club to great results in his 6 years in charge; 2 promotions in 4 years and a sixth place in Serie C2. Notwithstanding his departure the club manages to avoid relegation, however only to be relegated in the following season.