You were saying about Verona and Turin.
Yes, they are the next venues for the exhibition. First Turin in January, then Verona in the spring. I know that you have begun talks with Catania but without much success apart from a lot of chat; it looks as if for the Feast of St Agatha, the exhibition is likely to travel to Sicily, a region that would really need these kinds of exhibitions but that is a prisoner of too many other affairs.
We are also negotiating with Arsenal FC to bring the exhibition to the Emirates Stadium of London and with Birmingham FC. But the English are much more ahead, you know, and you asked me to remember this in the interview.
PLet’s talk about your photos.
I tried to tell about what struck me most about this game. The players of the ‘70s in miniature are the nicest and are the ones that I tried to portray. In many close-ups I imagined them as if they were real players in action, I tried to get the expression on their faces. The jerseys of the miniatures are really lovely, nothing like today’s jerseys, I mean from an aesthetic viewpoint. The blown-up photographs are incredible. I sold lots of them, especially to the great supporters of English football. Mark Adolph, the son of Subbuteo’s inventor, liked those of the QPR.
An idea of prices?
Around three hundred euro, some of them four hundred. Then there are smaller versions, that are not on exhibit at the moment – they cost around a hundred euro, it depends. The biggest ones are however the best, they are the ones I prefer. I like those of Southampton, the jerseys have vertical white and red strips and they have black shorts, right? The horizontal striped socks are fabulous. And then I like Torino.
Do you like football?
To be honest what is played today not much. I prefer the passion that the supporters have for their team. Once while we were listening to “You’ll never walk alone” by Gerry and the Pacemakers you had such a dreamy look that I asked you: “What are you thinking about?”. And you replied: “About the Kop of Liverpool when he was singing at the Olympic stadium in Rome at the final against AS Roma”. That’s love. That’s the football I like. It makes me laugh.
Are you a supporter?
To be honest, no. The first time I went out to a stadium was in 1991 in Verona, with you, for a Verona-Milan match. It was like a battle. Police in anti-riot outfits everywhere. The Milan supporters marching. Perhaps one of the reasons I like Verona somewhat is because it has the colours of my Swedish flag. In Sweden I saw a game in Norrköping between IFK Norrköping and Torino. Do you remember? We were together. The home team won 1-0. It was raining and cold. The Torino supporters sang more than the Swedes. In the Norrköping terrace you alone were supporting the Toro. We were dressed the same, we both had green parka and adidas football shoes. The Swedes didn’t give you a glance. The Torino goalkeeper (Marchegiani ndr),on the other hand, looked over every so often because he could hear someone calling him speaking Italian. It was you who was hanging out of the net that separates the pitch from the stands. When you shouted “Pasquale you’re a lion” a Torino player (Pasquale Bruno) also greeted you. I wonder if the players remember that game. You do, don’t you?
Definitely. I used to like wandering around Europe to see the football games and to talk to the supporters. Even at forty, I still wander around Europe and I still meet supporters. Another few questions, I like interviewing you. Lazio or Roma?
Neither. Roma certainly not, perhaps Lazio is better, but I had to live with it for a number of years, it was a rival. Now, that’s enough with the interview I must follow the Angelus. Otherwise how can I translate it into Swedish?
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