Weirdly timed bump. I ordered a t-shirt last week with Ciao on the front and wore it for the first time yesterday.
That World Cup brings back so many emotions for me. My Dad had a bad accident a couple of days after England v Ireland and was fighting for his life for the rest of the tournament in Withington Hospital.
I don't really remember much of Mexico 86 so this was the first World Cup I was properly invested in but had the constant updates from the hospital at the same time. It was really bleak for him for a few weeks.
When he finally woke up, he told me (11 at the time) that he'd bought me every home and away kit in the tournament and they were in the back of his work van. He'd clearly been dreaming on all the drugs they had to pump into his but I had no reason to doubt him until my Mum told me not to get too excited.
I think that along with City, sticker books and Subbuteo, this played a huge part in my obsession with the beautiful game. I wanted to go to the San Siro so desperately. Finally did it early in 2023 to watch AC Milan v Empoli. On the same trip, I went to Sampdoria in Genoa. I've since been back to Milan to watch Inter and did Hellas Verona while I was there so have done 3 of the 12 stadiums. It's a new life ambition to do them all. I know Juventus have moved but if I go to the site of the Della Alpi and watch them in their new ground, I'm claiming it.