My Ancona, Part 1 (1987-1993)

I am sure I am not alone in becoming interested in certain clubs courtesy of that bastion of yesteryear, the Subbuteo team catalogue! The 1974 World Cup Final kits were purchased in the flick to kick wobbly base style, but somehow West Germany v The Netherlands (or Holland as we knew them back in the … Continue reading My Ancona, Part 1 (1987-1993) →

Breathing Life into Lombardia

This article will act as introduction to a Lombardia Special which will replace the planned Euro 2020 preview for the June edition of Football Weekends to be published at the end of May. Anyone who has been reading Football Weekends for any length of time will know from many of my articles that I love … Continue reading Breathing Life into Lombardia →

My mate Fabian

This is a piece that has been penned with a view to publication in Scottish football periodical Nutmeg No.16 in the summer about my friend Fabian Yantorno. The mere mention of the word Uruguay in a footballing context might still send shivers down the spine of Scotland fans of a certain age. The scars following … Continue reading My mate Fabian →

I, Como

I have had the pleasure of bringing more than a dozen towns, cities and regions of Italy to life for Football Weekends and only once from Serie A when newly promoted SPAL rumbled into the top flight. My world is more the characterful under card of Serie B, C and D, and writing a … Continue reading I, Como →

Mountain High in Bolzano

I guess the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires both helped the displacement of people throughout the Eastern side of Europe in particular with Bosnia, Macedonia, Romania to name just three who have significant ethnic populations. I had certainly experienced morsels of such in Trieste, with its dual language status for Slovenian and Italian, but in … Continue reading Mountain High in Bolzano →

Manchester, not by the sea!

I have rarely ventured to the famous parthenons of World football, although I have gradually ticked a number of them off, albeit on a tortoise timescale. Occasional big gigs have been drip fed onto my stadia CV over a forty plus year passage of time! The Azteca in Mexico City and Racing Club’s Il Cilindro … Continue reading Manchester, not by the sea! →

Circus Monza

I am sure when you hear the name Monza in sporting chat, unless you are a Formula One guru, you’ll switch off! The town just slightly north of Milan is synonymous with the race car scene, so fire up the guitar solo from Fleetwood Mac’s, The Chain, but while Monza might be the home to … Continue reading Circus Monza →

Making a splash in Lugano

As Henley the Scrounger said to the poorly sighted Colin the Forger, “twenty minutes over this ridge, next stop Switzerland” !! Buckle up, we are off to the land of clocks, chocolate, cheese and Calcio Swiss style! I am sure when readers are planning a trip there is always a desire to collect information on … Continue reading Making a splash in Lugano →

Great Grimsby

The first competitive home game of the season is always worthy of getting out the bunting, especially when the visitors are from relatively close by. This was the lure for my Italian friend Stefano from Ancona and I as it took us to Great Grimsby, or Cleethorpes if you want to get picky, as Grimsby … Continue reading Great Grimsby →

Georgia and Chikhura Sachkhere

This is a relatively short piece I have put together for the Aberdeen match programme when they welcome Georgian side Chikhura Sachkhere on Thursday 1st August having already played the first leg in Georgia. For those who ventured out to Georgia for the first leg, I am hopeful that they will have returned full of … Continue reading Georgia and Chikhura Sachkhere →