During Italia 90 whilst only ten years old, I got the bug. The passion, the drama and the romantic elements of Italian football got hold of me, it was the start of a life time obsession. The following years saw the Channel 4 coverage help to expand my knowledge of Calcio and enhance my desire to see the majestic stadiums of Serie A for myself. It was not until 2007 that this dream became reality and it came with a thunderous bang.

Born and raised in wealthy little town of Lytham my upbringing could not have been further removed from the life on the Curva that I so longed for. Private School and University came and went I found myself a job in the family firm and met my gorgeous future wife Rachel. I bought a house and settled down, life was good, life was as it was meant to be. There was however, always the pull of Italy, the people, the culture and mostly the football. In 2007 three friends and I planned a trip to the Giuseppe Meazza, it was one trip that nearly ended in disaster but instead became one of the best trips of our lives. 

Rachel and I have been constantly in and out of Italy holidaying in Rome, Verona, Venice, Lake Garda, Florence (where we got engaged), Pisa, Milan and more and on some occasions I have managed to see the stadiums I have always dreamt about. Now as we enter 2012, I started the year with a trip to watch two Serie A games at the start of my quest to see every Italian Football stadium on the Peninsula. It is an epic quest that will take a life time, it started in 2007, who knows when it will end.

Throughout all of my life I have picked up knowledge of the Italian game. I write for www.footballitaliano.co.uk and will post all my in depth articles on this page. I will also update news and analysis everyday as well as documenting my own travels. 

I speak as yet no Italian, yet I have managed to fulfil a dream of standing shoulder to shoulder with the Ultras. I have over come many of the pitfalls that you encounter watching football on the Peninsula and I will be spreading my knowledge of travelling in Italy from the perspective of a Gentleman who was accepted by the Ultras.