Group E
San Marino v England
Stadio Olimpico
Serravalle, San Marino
5 Sep 2015
It was only the campaign just gone when we last visited San Marino (Mar 13). For that visit we stayed in the old town of San Marino so this time we decided to base ourselves in Rimini (via Bologna) and see a different part of Italy. The game itself was never going to be a classic, but the pre, during and after parties were top notch. Having said that, we did see Wayne Rooney equal Bobby Charlton's all time goal scoring record from the penalty spot in England's 6 - nil win.
The tickets for this game were not too difficult to acquire as demand had been met. The allocation was over 3000 and the FA only sold 2550, so there ended up being no ballot. No problem though, as even if you missed the sale you could still see the game for free from the hill or in the woods.
Joe Hart makes the front cover after some great performances boasting 29 clean sheets in 53 appearances
Ken Malley RIP
Attendance: 4378
Day 1 - Bologna. The Fish market taken from the Hotel (Albergo delle Drapperie).
Albergo delle Drapperie means the Hotel of Draperies (long curtains). How about 'no curtains'?
Sue at Brekkie
Albergo delle Drapperie means the Hotel of Draperies (long curtains). How about 'no curtains'?
Sue at Brekkie
After a late night we are up and about. First stop is the Basilica of San Petronio. It is the largest church in Bologna and has many chapels inside, one of which is the 'Chapel of the Magi' with its famous painting of Paradise over Hell, as depicted in Dante's Inferno. Sue is gutted because her hot pants are too short and she is refused entry (embarrassing)!
The Fountain of Neptune (Fontana del Neptune)
in Piazza del Nettuno.
in Piazza del Nettuno.
Palazzo del Podesta and Palazzo Re Enzo,
on the edge of Piazza Magiore.
on the edge of Piazza Magiore.
Palazzo D'Accuriso
Sue climbing up the Asinelli Tower (97m).
View from the top looking West across Via Rizzoli.
Basilica of San Petronio.
The Two Towers, with Asinelli on the left
and Garisenda on the right.
and Garisenda on the right.
After some site seeing we visit the home of Bologna FC, the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. England have played in this stadium on 2 occasions, once during Italia 90 when they were victorious over Belgium in the Round of 16 with a late goal scored by David Platt. The last occasion was against San Marino in 1993 during the World Cup Qualifiers for USA 94. The game finished with a resounding 1-7 triumph for England, but will be remembered for one of the fastest goals ever in international football, when David Gualtieri put the home side 1-0 up after only 8 seconds. The score was academic because Holland secured the qualification slot ahead of England with a win in Warsaw against the Poles.
Graffiti of the Bologna Ultras. The main groups are: Forever Ultras, Mods, Molle Cariche, Via Genova, Vecchio Guardia, Freak Boys, Supporters, Beata Gioventu and Bologna 1982.
Giacomo Bulgarelli was an Italien international who played for Bologna. He made 391 appearances for Bologna and scored 43 goals from midfield between 1959-1975. The Curva Bulgarelli is named after him which is the North Stand. This is where the Ultras go.
The view from Curva Bulgarelli.
Curva Bulgarelli.
Sue posing against the 'Forever Ultras Bologna 1974' graffiti.
Forever Ultras Bologna group was formed in 1974.
URB refers to a Girls Ultra group.
Freak Boys
URB refers to a Girls Ultra group.
Freak Boys
The Marathon tower is the iconic centrepiece of the East stand. During the Mussolini dictatorship 1927-43 it used to have a huge bronze equestrian statue erected in front of the arch with Benito Mussolini sitting astride (see below).
In those days the stadium was named the 'Littoral Stadium' which was widely acclaimed as the first amphitheatre of the Fascist revolution and was used in the propaganda
In those days the stadium was named the 'Littoral Stadium' which was widely acclaimed as the first amphitheatre of the Fascist revolution and was used in the propaganda
Curva San Luca (South Stand). The away end.
The covered grandstand (West Stand).
Marathon Tower from the entrance.
The Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca at the top of Guardia Hill has been a destination for many pilgrimages over the centuries .
The portico that leads up to the Sanctuary is 3796 m long and the longest in the world. It has 666 separate arches or porticos built between 1674-1793. The figure 666 is number associated with the Devil and is symbolic because the porticos represent a serpent that is being held underfoot by the Madonna.
The Whispering walls of Bologna in Palazzo del Pedesta
Say again over
Bologna station
Waiting for the train to Rimini at Bologna station
At the end of Day 1 we arrive at Rimini
Chiburdlaz Pizzeria, Rimini - A great restaurant.
Day 2 - Rimini. View from the Hotel de Londres, Rimini.
Hotel de Londres
The Arco d'Augusto (Augustus Arch) was built to mark the end of the Via Flaminia, the main route to Rome.
Rimini Crabs are the local Handball team.
AC Rimini are currently playing Lega Pro Group B,
which is a regional Group of the 3rd tier of Italian football.
which is a regional Group of the 3rd tier of Italian football.
New signing?
Gianfranco Sarti holds the record for the most appearances with 339 to his name. He is a Rimini boy who made his debut in the 1966-67 helping Rimini win the Serie C title in 1975-76.
Currently the stadium is getting a serious makeover.
Incidentally, Stadio Romeo Neri is named after
the Italian gymnast, Romeo Niri, who was the first
citizen of Rimini to participate in the Olympic Games.
Incidentally, Stadio Romeo Neri is named after
the Italian gymnast, Romeo Niri, who was the first
citizen of Rimini to participate in the Olympic Games.
The capacity is 9768.
The Roman walk of Rimini, first stop is the Augustus Arch.
Next up, the Porta Montanara. The main southern entrance
Castel Sismondo built in 1437.
The Tiberius Bridge was built in 7 years between 14 - 21 AD during the reign of Emperor Tiberius
The Porto canale di Rimini flows from the Adriatic Sea
and goes under the bridge.
and goes under the bridge.
On the other side of the bridge is the borgo San Giuliano
which is quite a quaint picture post card area.
Stevie H walks on water
We wind up in a bar on Piazza Malatesta
Pigna fountain on Piazza Cavour
Having a rest at the feet of Caesar in Piazza Tre Martiri.
Piazza Tre Martiri is the main square of Rimini and
at its epicentre is the Clock Tower (1547)
Piazza Tre Martiri is the 'Three Martyr's Square', so called because it was here that three Partizans from Rimini were hung by the Germans on 16 Aug 1944.
Site seeing over as we get caught in the rain.
Sue purchases a 10 € brolly from an Asian entrepreneur.
The flags have started to arrive outside the Rose & Crown.
Sue and Michelle at party time in the Bounty
The Bounty Bar, Rimini
The Bounty Bar, Rimini
Day 3 - Bike tour of Rimini and matchday
The 18th C Lighthouse and canal port.
The Giant Camera used to be a famous shop
that sold camera film to tourists, it belonged Elio Guerra.
The Bounty Pub, the scene of much
partying by the English supporters.
partying by the English supporters.
The riot Police are in town on Piazza Marvelli,
just outside the Rose & Crown.
just outside the Rose & Crown.
Mick and Sue posing on arrival. We decided to hang one on at the Bounty and get a taxi to the ground even though we had a ticket for the Bus. Oh well, we'll use it for the return leg.
Some England boys have been souvenir shopping.
Bar Incontro
The Summariness Gendarmerie are out in force
Entrance to the uncovered Block I in the South Stand.
The boys from the Woods.
The boys on the Hill
Block I looking across to the covered end
Me in Serravalle's Stadio Olimpic
The North Stand to the front
Team Hesketh
Just before we park up the bikes to go to the match we head North up the prom and discover the Derby Hotel.
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