After reading it did you always keep half an eye on Hellas? I know I have and they're my 3rd team for defo. I was actually really chuffed they got promoted back to Serie A this season after plummeting to Serie C. I went to Verona 2 years ago but during the summer, wish Id gone for a matchday.
Never read either of em. Quite a bit of fudge nudging in 50 so i hear from the bints at work. I was stuck in hospital in Spain once, nowt to do. The nuns, yep nuns, gave me some Mills n Boon books to read. Did the job. Though it was probably the nuns that helped.............
Being a 'left footer' myself Chazz, I do a good line in 'Penguin' (nuns) stories...nothing I can share on here though! They'll have to wait for the National Pub mate!
Indeed I did. They are also my (joint) 3rd team (other 3rd joint is Cagliari -see later). Good to see Verona's resurrection. I still haven't found out where the "Hellas" came from - always thought that was Greek ? I won't mention my second team as I'll be slaughtered on this forum, but a clue would be a couple of their great 1960's team ended up managing City ? Oh, and they play in Yorkshire about 60 miles W of B.Park. "A Season with Verona" was recommended to me by the owner of my local bistro (more like my living-room really given the time & money I spend there!!). He's from Reggio (Calabria), and supports Reggina. I was a big fan of the great Luigi Riva, who played for Cagliari (Sardinia) & Italy.He broke his leg just before the '66 World Cup at the same time I buggered up my ankle on the field, so my mates in Leeds ( damn, I gave the game away !) started calling me Gigi - the twats ! Anyway, long story short, the bistro guy & I have had lots of heated debates over the last few years about the relative fortunes of Verona, Cagliari and Reggina - so I look forward to the Italian results always. Another brilliant book about Italian football I read was "The Miracle of Castel di Sangro" by Joe McGinnis. A real football supporters perspective - despite him being American and knowing nothing about the game before he immersed himself into the culture and "calcio" environment. Worth a read. BTW - have you ever read any of Tim Parks other books ? I'm tempted given his excellent stuff about Verona ?
Interesting story, cheers. Ive heard of said book but havent read it so will have to give it a try. Ive read a few others such as Vialli's book ghostwritten by Gabriele Marcotti but it was ****e. I havent read any other Tim Parks stuff either. I always wanted to read a book about Superga but I dont know if there are any good ones? For the uninitiated it's a Munich style disaster suffered by the all conquering Torino side at the time however ALL the players died. At the time the entire Italy national XI outfield was made up of Torino players. Imagine that? The disaster changed the face of Italian football forever. Oh, and I think the Hellas thing is Greek. Somewhere at the back of my mind I recall a link with Greek settlers. Nah, did rub her norks though. It's tradition apparently.
Been there meself. I did the Hackneyed gladiator thumbs down salute. I bet Im the first person to ever do that.
Thanks for reminding me about that bit of football history. I vaguely remember the story as it resurfaced in the British press in the early 60's when Denis Law and Joe Baker were playing for Torino...we could do with a pair of prolific strikers like them for the upcoming season... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Baker I haven't read it, but a book about the air disaster is still available (2nd hand and a bit pricey) so it may be worth flushing out. http://www.amazon.ca/The-Day-Italian-Football-Died/dp/1859832067 I think I'll ask my bistro-owning mate if he or one of his cronies has a copy. Cheers
For a minute there Mrs Blue Mountain Bear, I thought that was a snap of you watching last seasons Rangers vs Albion Rovers game, but I remembered that there are not too many blue-sky days around Ibrox Stadium ! Most likely why Alan McGregor sidled off to Turkey ! Hope he doesn't check the weather forecasts for Hull and district any time soon !
