football rambles

 While I was over in Veneto, I was also lucky enough to visit Vicenza. It's a great little town and as well as the great cafes and bars and of course all the renaissance architecture, it is a place that has a real football legacy. And what's more, they had just celebrated going up from Serie C1 to Serie B. LR Vicenza are one of Italy’s most historic provincial clubs, traditionally known for their strong identity, youth development, and periods of impressive overachievement relative to their size. Although most recently in C1, Vicenza have spent much of their history moving between Serie A and Serie B, with their peak coming in the 1970s and 1990s when they were regularly competitive in the top flight. The club carries a reputation for being well-organised and resilient, often punching above their weight against bigger northern sides. One of the things that interested me the most about visiting there was the legacy of Paolo Rossi- the hero of the 1982 World Cup, who is synonymo...

 Last week we were in Italy and more specifically Verona for a short break. When I got up on the Monday morning (we arrived late on Sunday) I noticed we were opposite the club shop for Hellas Verona. I wasn't tempted as I have never been particularly taken by Hellas, especially given the reputation of their fans. However, after seeing all the sights in the spectacular town, I still went for a nose around the stadium, not that you could get particularly close to it. In all honesty, I would have perhaps been more interested in some Chievo history, but their Serie D base was quite away out of town and I had more plans for the next day - more of that later.  Hellas Verona - founded in 1903,  are best remembered for their remarkable 1984–85 season when they won the Scudetto under Osvaldo Bagnoli, a feat that remains one of the most celebrated shocks in Italian football. The club has since moved between divisions but retains a strong identity rooted in working-class support and...