15 Nov 2021
FIFA WC Qualifying Group I
San Marino v England
Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle
Serravalle, San Marino
To celebrate the 90th anniversary of the FSGC (San Marino FA) the home team were playing in a special kit to celebrate the event. The colours replicate the former Sammarinese flag and the logo on the badge was new too
The FA received a total of 1487 tickets for the match against the minnows of San Marino. England were allocated to the South Stand with options for the uncovered part of Tribuna Sud at £18 and the covered at £27, we opted for the covered end - must be getting older!
The 172nd version of the Free Lions has Jack Grealish on the front cover and has the usual useful content for supporters travelling to the principality. Ticket collection was based in Rimini at the Hotel Mecure Rimini Arts before moving to the stadium on Monday evening. There was also a useful link to shuttle buses between Rimini and SM.
San Marino 0 England 10
Attendance: 2775
Day 1 - Early flight to Ancona
Not a cloud in the sky
The NH Ancona was in a great location, overlooking the old town and the port but we couldn't book in until 3pm. What to do?🍷
The view from the hotel shows the Porta Pia which is a monumental entrance to the port constructed in the 17th C.
This view shows the Cathedral on the hill which is dedicated to St Cyriacus. Lower down is the green dome of St Domenico.
A morning walk around the vibrant town centre and our appetites are building up nicely, next up ATM and breakfast. This is Piazza Camillo Benso Cavour and the monument is also to Cavour who was a key statesman in the unification of Italy.
Early brunch at an excellent trattoria called 'La Cantineta'
After a nice bottle of wine in La Cantineta we are all set to explore the ancient city of Ancona
On Capuchin Hill we found an old 18th C lighthouse which had been abandoned in 1965 due to crumbling cliff edge where it is located.
To be fair the lighthouse is quite close to the edge, about 10 meters
But the views are amazing 🤩
The walk from the lighthouse to the cathedral is stunning
We arrive at the top of the hill to find that the Cathedral is closed😕
Arriving back at sea level this is the view back up the hill
On the way back to the hotel we stop to watch one of the many car ferries unload at the port. This one was from Greece.
The other side of the Porta Pia
Monument against domestic violence. Very risqué.
An evening out in the Piazza del Plebiscito
Even proffed a freebie🍷
Never too old to party
Day 2 travel to Rimini
Arriving in Rimini with a few hours to spare before the big game
Our hotel on the central marina, the last time here was 2015.
Arriving at the turnstiles to get tickets for the AC Rimini v Aglianese Calcio 1923 in Serie D (Region D)
Ticket office is closed until 1330 and KO is 1430, time for a beer.
Just around the corner is a nice little Pasticerria selling cold beer
This queue will require some patience
Maybe a lot of patience
45 minutes later 💤
At last! Tickets sorted with personal details added
Team sheets for the serious fans
With Rimini riding high in top place and Aglianese just below them in 4th spot, this could be a good game.
Let’s do this AC Rimini
Stadio Romeo Nero is an interesting stadium but the pano may have been better from behind a goal, but for the 4th tier it ain’t bad
Opposite is the Distinti (distinct stand - obviously)
The away curva is just to the right
The main ultras were in the curva to our left
England flags in the Laterale Ovest (west side) with the main covered grand stand in the centre (centrale/centralissima)
The main core of the English support is in the Laterale Est
Kiss the badge, we are Rimini
Even the stewards are queuing up for selfies
After the match we off for a slap up Italian meal with Tottenham Terry
Get off your horse and drink your wine
Final drink in the Bounty and everything is a blur from then on
Day 3 - San Marino on the shuttle bus and feeling rough!
Driving through Serravalle and the big game is the big news
The bus finally reaches San Marino City and we are greeted by the Statue of liberty in front of the Palazzo Pubblico (Town Hall)
Town Hall
We take the winding road into the frozen kingdom of Mordor to seek out the much fabled 'Three Towers'.
The first tower is close, I can feel the eye of Sauron upon us
The 2nd tower (Cesta) was added in the 13thC due to the Crusades
The entrance to Cesta is guarded by Warrior Orcs, we don't have much time
The dangerous journey continues up to the third tower
Passing through the land of dragons and demons we have no fear…
.....because we’ve got Sue 🤠 Our fearless guide successfully takes us to the third tower. The Torre Del Montale, constructed in 1320.
The light begins to fade and our descent is fast to avoid the dangers of nightfall in the craggy mountains, ahoy the light of shops!
Passing through the city gates in search of an inn
As fortune would have it we stumble across the famous licensed 'ice cream parlour', an old haunt from 2013
The painting on the wall captures our afternoon adventures
Time for a lucky squeeze before the bus to Serravalle
After alighting from the 1800 shuttle from Mordor to Serravalle, we are very pleased to arrive at a mini fan zone
Conveniently Neil Sandry (Ipswich) is at the front of the bar 👍
Timing is everything🍺
After seamlessly transiting through security its time for more beer, this time not so alcoholic
Pano from the covered South Stand
Virtue signalling by the kneelers
They've kicked off
Just a face in the crowd
Harry's Hill
Annoying standers
The famous 'Grantham Rams' flag had to settle for a place on the grass
£27 for a seat with a roof
The 10th goal is tucked away by Saka in the 79th, that's £2.70 a goal
After a tightly fought match the score ends in 0:10 win to England, with Harry Kane bagging 4 (including 2 pens)
The Grantham Rams flag is to the far right
After arriving back in Rimini Sue is back on her horse with a ticket to ride😉
Day 4 - Rainy day in Rimini
The rain washed promenade looking very quiet
The Quattro Cavalli Fountain - Rimini
The big Felinia Camera in Rimini was originally a photographic shop built in 1948 in the shape of a camera, then it became a tourist point. It is now an essential metaphor for the Rimini Riviera
The Arch of Augustus is the ancient gate to the city of Rimini built in 27BC and is one of the oldest Roman arches in existence.
Piazza Tre Martiri (square of the three martyrs) dates back to 200 BC and was the sight of the market but its latest name reflects the three partisans that were executed on 16/8/44 by the occupying German Army in WW2, there names were Mario Cappelli, Luigi Nicolo and Adelio Pagliarani.
Parked in front of the Monument to Caesar is a red/green 'pay as you go' bike, in a hideous example of old meets new
The main feature of the square is the Brioli Palace and clock tower built in the 17thC
If you stay on the Corso d'Augusto you come to the incredible Ponte Tiberio (Bridge of Tiberius). The construction of the bridge was completed in 20 AD under the reign of Tiberius. It was the only bridge that the Germans did not destroy during the Battle of Rimini in WW2
Facing the town of Rimini
The full profile showing all 5 semicircular arches
The area around the Bridge of Tiberius is called 'San Giuliano a Mare' and is a small but stunning fishing village
Some of the murals outside of the houses depict the occupation of the home owner, perhaps this guy was a racer of motorbikes
The weather was still unrelenting so we stopped off for a pint at the infamous Rose and Crown. It proved fortuitous because Birkie (Everton) was in there and managed to sort us out with a seat on the bus back to Ancona airport (leaving in two hours). Bonus!
The pub has some interesting history about that infamous night during Italia 90 when the Italian riot police deported 246 English fans, it was in this pub where the first arrests took place
Leaving Rimini for Ancona airport, as nice as it is I do hope that we will draw someone other than San Marino, when the hand of fate once more takes a dip into pot 6.
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