Italians are coming to town for showdown

Source: Bury Times

12:33pm Friday 7th August 2009


A SHOWDOWN between football teams representing England and Italy will take place on Sunday — in Radcliffe.

Supporters from Bury-based FC United of Manchester will play a team of fans representing Torino FC at Radcliffe Borough’s Stainton Park ground at 2pm on August 9.

In May, 12 FC United fans made the 2,000-mile round trip to Turin and beat the Torino fans 3-1.

The Italians are returning the favour this weekend and their hosts are hoping for a repeat performance.

Organiser Adrian Roebuck said: “The fans came together when Torino fans got in touch with us via the internet to say how much they loved videos online showing the atmosphere at FC games.

“Since then, a real friendship between the two sets of fans has grown and to be able to play out in Italy was brilliant. We just want to beat them again now!”

As well as a common love for a good sing song at the match, Torino and FC United supporters have a more poignant common bond.

FC United fans are all too familiar with the Munich Air Disaster which, in 1958 killed eight players of FC’s sister club, Manchester United.

Nine years earlier, 18 Torino players, including former United half back Leslie Lievesley, died in a plane crash.

Entry for Sunday’s game is free and the Community Shield match between Manchester United and Chelsea will be shown in the ground’s social club.