It is 15.00pm on Sunday afternoon and tipping 34 degrees as I step out of the railway station, but more than the heat it’s the visual impact that overwhelms...
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Tales from the Peninsula: How Naples worships Diego Maradona
Every club has their hero, whether they are competing in non-league divisions or the Champions League, but Napoli’s relationship with their hero is different. In fact, to many Neapolitans,...
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Tales from the Peninsula: Something surreal in San Siro
It’s 11 a.m. and I’m realising our early is Milan’s right on time. It’s the day of the Derby della Madonnina, and my dad and I have made an...
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Tales from the Peninsula: Reminiscing in Rossonero
“Biglietto e passaporto,” asked a security official firmly. Entry had been granted to the tune of an automated turnstile. With every passing step, escalating from ground level to my...
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Tales from the Peninsula: Me, my Father & AC Milan
It would be not only a cliché, but also a fat lie, if I said that I’ve been a football aficionado since day one. During my kindergarten days, some of which...
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Tales from the Peninsula: Pisa will not bend – Ultras, protests & injustice in Tuscany
The message from the protesting fans is clear: ‘Pisa will not bend’ It is Thursday, 2 February 2017, and I am making a familiar journey to Tuscany to take...
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Tales from the Peninsula: The night an unrecognisable Fiorentina beat Juventus
“I stopped playing 30 years ago, but this welcome is worth one or two Scudetti,” new Fiorentina Vice President Giancarlo Antognoni told the press after Fiorentina’s home game with...
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Tales from the peninsula: The Piacenza Derby – an empty rivalry
Back in early 2015, The Gentleman Ultra featured an article about Piacenza Calcio and their financial struggles. Now safe from the turmoil of recent times, the club hailing from...
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Tales from the Peninsula: Conflict in Reggio-Emilia
“This…we simply cannot accept it,” said one post on a Reggiana fans shared Facebook group. As with many contentious postings on social media platforms, the message was immediately shared...
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Tales from the Peninsula: Viola Memories
Even now, the memory still hurts. We were winning 6-0 and it did not matter a jot. Results elsewhere were sending us to Serie B and there was nothing...
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