Just over an hour south of Roma on a fast train sits a true jewel of Italy, the small city of Caserta, with its lavish Royal Palace. Regular readers will have come across the team from here previously as Casertana have been in a few of my tales before, having featured three times; in Messina … Continue reading The King of Caserta →

Our trip to Trapani was merely a day trip, but in hindsight, a longer period in this marvellous little city, as opposed to Palermo, would have been a winner. But as they say, hindsight is a wonderful thing. Getting there wasn't as easy as my usual scenario of just pitching up at the railway station … Continue reading Enchanting Trapani →

Palermo is the capital of Sicily, a sizeable old metropolis in the north western corner of the island. Sicily is indeed no small land mass or population. Doing justice to the entire island would require a significant period of dedication. Even getting a proper handle on Palermo is more than a weekend gig in truth, … Continue reading The Pink Pussycat of Palermo →

There was a moment of real shock when I learned of the passing of Salvatore 'Toto' Schillaci. Those in the know were aware he was ill, but it took me by surprise, a bit like when Paolo Rossi died. In many ways, the baton had passed from one to the other as the centre forward … Continue reading Toto Le Hero →

I guess I never quite fully get this notion of the groundhopper. To visit a stadium just once, purely because it ticks a box isn’t in my DNA. Certain places, certain teams keep calling me back, and in the case of the two clubs involved in this story, on multiple occasions, something that will continue … Continue reading Old Familials →

A previously written article about the main Pro teams has been shortened into this story solely about Aurora Pro Patria now for Football Weekends as Pro Sesto appeared in another tale this month in the magazine. The other Pro sides still featured but in a reduced way. A number of clubs especially in Serie C … Continue reading A Patriotic Pro →

Let’s get the elephant in the article right out from the off, I am divorced from the top end of football. The owners, the salaries, the need to continually win, or at the very least make the top money spinning European competition, make it a business and not a sport. The players have lost all … Continue reading Big Time Calcio →

Umbria is always perceived as the poor man’s Tuscany, with similar rolling hills and beautiful small towns and cities. In reality, it is the equal of its neighbour in every way, just lacking the literature of romantic travels of yesteryear and a leaning tower to truly put it in the shop window. Its capital is … Continue reading A Gubbio Crusade →

The city of Salerno is one of my favourite places in Italy! Sitting on the Gulf of Salerno which forms part of the Tyrrhenian Sea, essentially the Mediterranean. Salerno's coastline runs for around ten kilometres, and while it is not blessed with the great beaches you will find in other parts of Italy, it does … Continue reading Salerno and Her Team →

With accommodation prices more affordable in Salerno, aside from the featured four clubs in this Special Campania South-West article, here are a number of other Campania clubs all within sixty minutes travel from the city. Everyone of whom has its own story, and while none have ever set the heather on fire, lower league football … Continue reading In and Around Salerno →