FORZA ANCONA! ANCONA PRIMA IN CLASSIFICA!
We are top of the standings in Serie B with 22 points after 11 weeks! The rest of the teams are rubbish. Ancona are the greatest. We will be the champions and next year play in Serie A. There is no stopping us now... Ok, now for some context for the ranting. Last night I went to my first Italian football match to watch Ancona play Piacenza with Raimundo and his friends Maxi and Lorenza.
That's them, Maxi in purple, Lorenza, and Raimundo (waving)
On the line was the three points from a win to put us top of the standings. With a 2-1 victory, we took the points and moved to the top, alone. Swept up in the passion and emotion, Ancona are now "my team" and "we" are going all the way. I might even buy a supporter's scarf.
(Unfortunately, this was only the 11th week and I think there are 42 in the season so the emotions might be a bit premature. The team has been known to falter in the past.)
Most years Ancona struggle to stay in Serie B and finishing in the middle of the pack is considered a success. Twice in their history they have gone up to A and didn't win a single game the whole season. For some reason they are playing well this year and have been near the top of the table and the local tifosi are rabid. Maxi and Lorenza (met them through Raimundo) have season tickets and can get guest tickets for just 1€.
The stadium is about a 10 minute drive from down-town. The main parking lot is at the end of a two-way street, essentially a dead-end the way people walk and drive, so hardly anyone uses it as it's calamintous trying to get in and out. It's a little odd to see a parking lot at a stadium half deserted. Anyway, we parked about a km from the gates and walked dodging double-parked cars, care-free scooters and other fans.
Picture a Soviet era stadium built sort of like Alpenrose velodrome. Built in 1992, it can sit about 25,000 maximum. It's dug into a bowl in the ground and only the top of the main grandstands are visible. The hillsides outside the stadium are overgrown with weeds. Overall quality is on par with a mediocre high school stadium. Since the team isn't that great they have a small corporate sponsor which means they don't have much money for anything.
Finding will-call was nearly impossible, and once we had our tickets, we had to pass security checks at three separate gates, showing ID and tickets ateach, just to reach the stands. Once in thouh, it was exactly like I expected and hoped it would be. The field has the hooligan fence around it so no one sits in the lower half of the stands because the fence is so dirty you can't see through it.
The north stands behind the goal is where the regular fans sit (like the Timber Army).
The south end is for the visiting team. Eight brave souls from the visiting team came last night. They don't travel well I guess.
The east and west sideline stands are for families and more expensive tickets, nicer seats. They also weren't very full.
We were in the North end and it was the most crowded. Everyone smokes. It's worse than being inside a bar. We stood the entire time. They sing and chant passionate songs about strength and support and courage for the home team. It's just like European football should be.
Following the win, I am considered a good luck charm and was told I have to be back on Saturday when the team takes on the third place rivals, Cesena.
The game was unusual. Two of the visiting players were ejected with red cards including the Keeper who was sent off for mauling someone in the box. They had used all their substitutions so when he went off, one of the defenders had to play in goal. He was a better Keeper than the real one. There were probably half a dozen yellow cards and two bench clearing scuffles. Ancona scored on a free-kick in the first and on a penalty in the second. Two minutes after going up 2-0 in the second half, with the crowd in full chanting mode, the other team scored on a counter-attack throwing everyone into the absolute pits of despair. Everyone wants the team to do well but no one believes in them. It's hilarious.
On the way home we saw another football team - an actual American Football team. Turns out Ancona has a professional team called the Dolphins. One of the girls in our office dates one of the players so I'm going to try and find out more about it. Maybe I can make the team!
Following the win, I am considered a good luck charm and was told I have to be back on Saturday when the team takes on the third place rivals, Cesena.
The game was unusual. Two of the visiting players were ejected with red cards including the Keeper who was sent off for mauling someone in the box. They had used all their substitutions so when he went off, one of the defenders had to play in goal. He was a better Keeper than the real one. There were probably half a dozen yellow cards and two bench clearing scuffles. Ancona scored on a free-kick in the first and on a penalty in the second. Two minutes after going up 2-0 in the second half, with the crowd in full chanting mode, the other team scored on a counter-attack throwing everyone into the absolute pits of despair. Everyone wants the team to do well but no one believes in them. It's hilarious.
On the way home we saw another football team - an actual American Football team. Turns out Ancona has a professional team called the Dolphins. One of the girls in our office dates one of the players so I'm going to try and find out more about it. Maybe I can make the team!
Forza Ancona! I wonder what Eric is doing right now?
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