Inter away was a great trip, party from start to finish. I’ve not been to Naples but I’m not really one for the front line and be arsed with, like you say, looking over your shoulder constantly. As an example Tottenham away way back then was on your guard time after the game, but this is another level. Mind, I was saying the other day that our first return Napoli home game had all kinds of madness outside, loads from both sides bang at it.
Very few went out under Hodgson and the indiscriminate attacks were severely vicious. Mostly picking off ones and twos as is the ____house scooter boy mentality. And there’d been a few months strike in the city so rubbish was piled high on every street corner.
The flip side of all that, was by the time of the return, stories had grown on the attacks and the retribution, from lads that weren’t even in Naples, on anyone remotely Italian looking, were disgraceful in one of the worst Anfield nights for violence the PL era.
Then, 10 years or so later, you think it’d be sound to go back but it was even more of a dirty, squalid ____hole and even more unwelcoming and moody. The only fun part of that trip was a boss day in Bologna the way home.
Inter was ironically one of the few I’ve jibbed since we’ve been back in Europe. Silly personal thing of having a big thing for Milan ever since bonds were formed with their wonderful gesture the European Cup semi the Wednesday after our lowest ebb in Sheffield. So when I finally get to go to the San Siro, I want it to be against Milan. Shrugs.
Romes always dodgy for us as Roma hate us with a passion form ‘84. And 2001 was particularly naughty.
This is how F Italy is ..... when we played in Florence, the amount of free drink offers flying around was unreal. All down to Fiorentina’s hatred of Juventus and their loss at Heysel. They treated us like heroes which was cringe to say the least.
Utterly sick but utterly Italian football fans.