One fine Sunday afternoon I was sitting at my desk dutifully revising my notes for International Law, when I became aware of a persistent, untuneful noise penetrating into the formerly peaceful atmosphere of my room. Despite all my efforts to block it out, I felt my concentration ebbing away, and decided that I needed to go and discover what it was.
I headed outside and the mystery was solved in a matter of minutes, a game of “calcio” (soccer) was taking place at the Macerata stadium, which is literally a few hundred metres down the road from where I live.
Never having attended a soccer game during the whole course of my life, I was bound and determined that I would get a look at this one. Unfortunately there was a high fence around the stadium, and numerous gates which were all locked. I started walking around the stadium to see if, by any chance, there might be an unlocked gate by which I could enter, or alternatively, some tree or shed that I could climb to catch a glimpse of the game.
I did see a dilapidated shed quite shortly, but it didn’t look as though its roof was high enough that climbing it would enable me to see inside the stadium. So I continued on my way, seeing some truly inspirational views of the countryside all around me, and a majestic tree which made me wish I was an artist, because it would have been so perfect to paint.
Then I heard a loud bark, and behold: a clearly frustrated German Shepherd glaring at me from behind a fence. With a strong sense of déjà vu, I immediately turned on my heels and headed back the way I came, deciding that no game of soccer was worth the trauma I had experienced during my last encounter with the canine species (for further details, see “The Dog Story”).
Anyway, it turned out to be a really smart decision, because I happened upon an open gate on the other side, just as I was about to give up. A lady was patrolling it, and when she saw me hesitating she asked if I wanted to come in. I explained that I didn’t have a ticket and she said that didn’t matter, I was welcome.
So I entered, and did get to watch some of the match, but I’m afraid I can’t give any particular details for the rabid soccer fans out there. I mean I guess I could try… here is a summary of what I know about the game.
Location: Stadio Helvia Recina, Macerata
Date: 3rd of November, 2013
Time: UNKNOWN
Teams: Macerata vs UNKNOWN
Score: UNKNOWN
Goal Scorers: UNKNOWN (were there any?? Not while I was there anyway!)
League: UNKNOWN
Here are a couple of pics of the game, it was very exciting! Just not exciting enough to make me want to stay till the end…
