I Turned My Back On English Football for the Italian Ultras

[@underthestocksbridgesun9761]

I’m a Sheffield Wednesday season ticket holder but got a love for Atalanta. Went over last year,fantastic supporters made us feel very welcome.

[@carloclemente8026]

Atalanta are comunists pieces of shit. We ac milan fans beaten (off and on the pitch) them a lot of times, The real ultras are Lazio, Milan, Rome, Naples. All right wing violent 🤚🏻

[@antonypavon1777]

naples or napoli is better

[@antonypavon1777]

@@carloclemente8026 what did u just say???

[@stefanpintican]

oddio bergamio! communista merda

[@carloclemente8026]

@@antonypavon1777 just read

[@thescarecrow.8581]

In a way I can understand where he is coming from the community felt integrated in the club also had a sense of belonging. It now feels more like a businesses than anything else. The price of the tickets and the merchandise have put a lot of the original supporters off from attending their beloved football team.

[@carlosparra8976]

But the same fans demand a better team, results, achievements, and most of that can only come if you run the club more as a business, like every other club is doing right now.

[@thescarecrow.8581]

@@carlosparra8976 The problem is larger football teams the price themselves so lot of the supporters and their families can no longer afford to go. The merchandise is extremely expensive and changes frequently if you have a family where you have three children and they all want the latest strips it becomes extremely expensive. There is very few football teams I put back into the community but expect the community to support them. Footballers overpaid if they were paid on performance we would have a better standard of football and not the mediocre football we have.

[@AliG-yu2bn]

@@carlosparra8976 bs. Only in the pl

[@craigmullen9046]

@@carlosparra8976 English premier league clubs have no excuse for charging the obscene ticket prices they do they make billions in tv revenue and sponsorship etc it's pure greed.

[@robsroams]

Love it. Been a fan of Italian football and the whole culture in Italy since I can remember. James Richardson in a cafe somewhere on channel 4 back in the day (calcio italia) loved it and wish it was still on. Obviously a time when serie A was flourishing but still love it to this day and the main reason I have BT sports now. I've visited a good few stadiums in Italy and get over when I can. Fans in Italy are on a completely different level to England. Its all over policed and structured here and it takes the heart and soul out of it completely. I'll never forget my first serie A experience walking into a packed stadio olimpico to watch AS Roma v AC Milan. One of those moments that will last forever in the memories. Hoping to return to a game this year. Forza italia 🇮🇹

[@SiDeusProNobisQuisContraNos]

Good comment. Da Italia 🇮🇹 Ultras liberi

[@mattkinsella9856]

I get what he's talking about, top level football in England is losing it's soul. Back in the 80s my Grandad used to take me to games and it was a very different atmosphere and feeling. It was a community thing. The ticket costs, mega stadiums, different fans and lots of other factors have totally changed things and robbed the heart out of it.

[@lil-g4879]

100% agree, the Premier League is about commercialisation of 6 clubs.

[@MrCharlieC23]

English football has become woke and feminised

[@lil-g4879]

@@MrCharlieC23 by woke do you mean, doesn’t allow racism anymore?

[@jabthejedi]

Fair play but the stadiums were shite in the 70s and 80s (and early 90s) and they also had hooliganism.

[@zombievikinggaming4258]

Losing? For a long time it's lost

[@pietro_ferrari]

For us, Italians, money and fame doesn’t matter. Passion and love does.

[@Porkcylinder]

And that’s why all the big names have left

[@mr.diabolik5997]

@@Porkcylinder Wtf you talking about England and English football is run by foreigners

[@Porkcylinder]

@@mr.diabolik5997 firstly even if that was true wtf has it got to do with ANYTHING I said you stupid tw@ And secondly of course foreigners want to invest in the worlds most popular league which it was before any Jonny Arab turned up. They just want a slice of the pie ya dozy jealous clown

[@critiquetest2594]

LOOOOL tell that to Juventus, AC Milan, Reginna, Lazio and the other clubs who love the MONEY!! MONEY MONEY MONEY.....BS on passion and Love apart from your apparels and cars lol

[@Adam-ui4ef]

@@Porkcylinder true. English football fans want their clubs to be bought out by a foreign billionaires. Italian and German fans would be repulsed by this English football is McDonalds - rich and powerful but a cheap imitation of food

[@youaintalivegaming8580]

He likes people that has the same love for the sport, nothing wron. Love soccer as well. Pasion!!

[@thefootballplanet5784]

YouAintAliveGaming what is soccer

[@johnread1147]

what is soccer

[@youaintalivegaming8580]

The Football Planet soccer is ⚽️ , football is 🏈 , in the us is like that. In mexico footballs means ⚽️ lol i know

[@path7595]

Its football mate

[@gipsybulldog3286]

It's football. You play it with foot.

[@chrisvultaggio1425]

Because you won't find a people with a zest for life and passionate than the Italians. And as foreigner or expat, they not only embrace you with warm hospitality, but they take a deep interest in who you are and where you come from as well. Viva Italia!

[@titanio784]

😂😂😂 ma vai a cagare 😂 prova ad andare in Sudamerica, poi vedi se non ci sono popoli più passionali di noi... Ridicolo 🤡

[@ashmsv]

I know where he's coming from, having experienced similarly intense support over nearly 30 years watching affordable football in Germany. Leaving the Boleyn was tragic and borderline criminal - a disaster for West Ham's support.

[@Flippityflap]

Im from Amsterdam and i've been an Ajax and AS Roma supporter all my life. I go to see Roma maybe 3 times a year. When they play in europe closeby i also try to go. Forza Roma

[@charismaticenigma1154]

i was in naples last year to watch a game as soon as i saw my seat i wanted to cry it was the totenham style pillar infront off my face it took not a single minute for some napoli ulteas to approach me and help me climb the fence to get to their side i had a phenomenal game just good moods and cheering together great memories thanks to those guys ❤

[@smokepepsi]

0:36 That's all you are to football clubs mate. Purely a customer.

[@grahamford5981]

Fully understand you

[@Yousef-fs3nx]

Doesn't everyone who was a teenager in 90's England have a secret Italian team they support courtesy of James Richardson and Football Italia on Channel 4. Mine was Fiorentina, the Viola 💜. Got a secret Toyota shirt I wear on special occasions. Goooolazzo!

[@papamuerte5752]

Forza Viole!!! Bless you mate!

[@JamesFoxx]

No era of football can match Italian football in the 90’s… the noise, the colours, the foggy flares… all coming across our TV’s on a Sunday afternoon! Magic…. 😢

[@dmenace8411]

Just had a Brilliant read of the comments. So much so that i have to watch the vid now👌⚒️😊

[@historygeek7779]

Italian football is still the best in the world, while the English game is just americanised now

[@oliveroconnor5983]

The legacy of Hillsborough got politicians into football. No flags, no safe standing, no flares allowed. English fans have passion it’s just we are priced out and aren’t allowed to express it

[@alipearson7001]

Its really not. A team of Man Utd cast offs is cruising the league... I personally love the the Italian style of play and the tactical culture but lets not ignore facts.

[@Porkcylinder]

Yeah that’s why the English second division has higher attendances than seria A 😂😂

[@Sebpz8342]

@@Porkcylinder that's because in Italy they've been able to watch every single game for 20 plus years. Now it's so cheap to watch football at home that it's almost silly to go to the stadium. You can watch every team in serie a for 20/30 euro a month. So it would cost a father and son double that to watch one game. Also Italy hasn't been thriving for the last 10/15 years economically

[@Porkcylinder]

@@Sebpz8342 you can also watch every premier game for £30 a month so that’s rubbish. and English football is the most expensive on the planet yet every stadiums full for every game. The reason seria A is dead is because it isn’t competitive, it’s boring, it has problems with racists , violent thugs, corruption and out and out cheating and it was usurped by the premier league as the worlds number one, top players don’t go to Italy anymore they come to England., and your stadiums are crumbling and empty.

[@douglasmoletta6026]

As a Brazilian living in UK, I can say that the way some fans support around here is like a big theater I now some fans as crystal palace are really noise but I think the Italians football support are kind of the Brazilians 🇧🇷❤️🇮🇹.

[@Kkk-k7o7x]

As a Italian,i have always preferred English Football and Support !! At 8 years old was already a Scousers Fan; then i had to choose an Italian team:Milan AC!!! Music played its part( Stone Roses,Smith, Happy Mondays etc)

[@dmenace8411]

Respect Homeboy👌...Football,& the Love of it is 'Worldwide😊'. Bless⚒️

[@HKsauce99]

Just go to any league in England that isn't the prem

[@chillxi382]

Ik

[@TheAlbinoskunk]

I hear Millwall have a decent following

[@gustavocarvalho5419]

Just come to South America

[@dsk1359]

Or just adventure into kosovo

[@thefootballplanet5784]

HKsauce99 that’s a lie❌. There are NO ultras in England.

[@Littlegoba]

More relevant than ever!

[@michelJL76]

I support Sporting clube de Portugal and Fc Zurich. Im a SCP fan since im a baby but since i grow up in zurich i started to play in FCZ and i feel in love woth the team. Now i live in portugal and go to se sporting everytime i cane. Wento zurich after 20 years to see my FCZ and i cried so hard. Olaning my trip to londo to see west ham and to florenfe to see fiorentina this year

[@gofishglobal7919]

I love this story! That is how I am with Ourense CF...and, in the EPL, btw, I am a West Ham fan. Used to live at the Bolyen...literally. It is sad to see it so empty and it is sad to know that West Ham's former grounds have been destroyed!

[@arronblack67]

Guy with the Celtic top haha!! Brilliant up the Clapton

[@Peter-oy6nz]

I was his best man at his wedding 😂

[@tertiar2859]

I like your mentality. I'm 52 years old now and still can agree with everything you said. In modern football professional clubs always have the problem to maintain a balance between commerciality (which in a lot of cases ensures to a bigger degree survival) and its hardcore fanbase. For many of those the most important thing is the identification with the club, i.e. not to sell out. I'm from Basel and currently there is a controversy about selling the name of the stadium. There were other issues in the past and if the fans are organised they can have an influence. You have to fight back against some developments.

[@andabossftw]

I've been trying to bring Ultras to my local non-league club Wingate & Finchley but we only get 4 members at a game plus a few more people who join in sometimes. Everyone from the club appreciates us but it hasn't grown as much as others and I wanted it to. We only get 140 or so a game in a league that some teams get double or triple that but it still doesn't take away the positive atmosphere from the fans who come. We also have a friendship with a Greek 3rd division side and have met people from other ultras group. If anyone from North London and South Hertfordshire wants to join in with all the noise and be part of a new welcoming community you're welcome to join by just turning up to Wingate & Finchley games. We have a nice atmosphere suited to people who want to have their football fix, meet mates, bring family or people who are just fed up of Premier and Championship football. Turn up as it's cheap, a great place to socialise and destress yourself from whatever is happening outside of the stadium Stadium location: Summers Ln, London N12 0PD

[@muhamadirwan4025]

I love italian football

[@seansines]

This might be the most bbc three doc ever

[@ddd-ly3rv]

Sounds interesting. It's political in a way. Lad's telling you what's up.

[@lululsp7750]

E tutto passione❤️

[@trollingone1]

I’m a Cesena fan and we have a “second tier rivalry” with Arezzo but… I want to say: big respect for them and for you also. Football establishment want customers instead of supporters to squeeze any possible money from fans… that’s sad. I think, step by step, the people who will be capable of resisting to that thing will be just on little club stadium. Many people will surround but the positive side is that maybe some people will support their little local team instead of big club (big companies)

[@Schwaaaang]

"I feel like a customer" "I've lost my community, my sense of belonging" These words are far bigger than football. This is modern Britain

[@GC-xz7vh]

This moment he goes back to the Boleyn, when you see what has happened to the hallowed ground where you invested so much passion and emotion. Where your Dad took you as a small boy. Where you went with your mates as a teenager, where you took your son. And you see the second rate flats and shops and BS that has replaced it. This is truly the definition of sadness as a football fan. Perhaps it’s also a lesson. Same thing for me seeing what has happened to Highfield Road. PUSB.

[@NYCfrankie]

I'm 🇮🇹🇺🇲 from Bensonhurst Brooklyn born and raised 🇮🇹💯% ive had Italian citizenship since I was 22 my moms family is from Trapani in Sicily and my dads family is Neapolitan i absolutely understand where he's coming from but the Italian ultra scene isn't what it was especially with the fan id system but there is something special about attending games in serie a more so than premier league games but i think the English championship has some great environments also

[@unbicchieredacqua4859]

Forza Trapani 🇱🇻🇱🇻🇱🇻

[@cfclazio621]

Forza Calabria !

[@user-em1ig7xo9d]

Championship is incredible this year, the drama and unpredictability, passion and excitement, it’s everything the premier league used to be. Premier league has been dying since Pep and Man City money took over, and the Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney - Fergie vs Wenger, Viera Vs Keane, etc etc era finished. No rivalries anymore, Pep and Klopp have a bigger bromance than a rivalry. Fans aren’t allowed to be fans. Half the stands for big teams are Asians recording the game on their phones. Anfield atmosphere is dying, that tells you how bad it’s becoming. Feel so sorry for West Ham, one of the best and most notorious fan bases essentially killed off. Moving stadiums to a non football purpose stadium is pretty much like an nfl team moving states.

[@turns2ashes]

I am a lifelong Southampton fan but I get exactly what he is saying. I have completely fallen out of love with English football.

[@martinhill8896]

Love this. Know exactly where he is coming from

[@nickyjns]

I'm a football coach from Liverpool, lived and coached in England, Scotland & USA. I will be moving to Italy in the next year to coach and learn as much as possible from the Italian game. Not only has the clubs become disconnected from the fans in England so have the FA, SFA & FAW, they want to charge 15k for UEFA A & Pro licenses, the FIGC in Italy charge 3k! Remember when people on Sky Sports News used to say Italy should follow the English model by developing the stadiums and facilities and it will bring a better standard of supporter in and end the ultras culture!

[@waynehardiman5443]

I see you never made it as a coach or to Italy great statement though wish you all the best at Poundland

[@blaquenguni9249]

​@@nickyjnsdon't give up on that dream. Give us an update soon

[@JI7NKJ]

As a 57yr old Celtic fan I really miss the football of the 70s and 80s, seemed more real and more passionate.

[@alistairmacdonald5571]

I'm notva celtic fan but hibs 61 year old fan miss those days atmosphere etc 3pm ko every sat, chucked it years ago now watch east of scotland fitty more fun and enjoyment

[@waynehardiman5443]

Scottish football is so so bad Celtic no youngsters coming through only japans and Korean players looks. Like with a odd old guy that was crap in England lol 😂 rangers with a conference side still nearly winning the title so bad

[@AB-sn6er]

Thid guy is 100% truth speaking. The Premier League has pitiful atmosphere compared to our European neighbours. English football fans needed to more actively participate when watching games, not just sit there passively spectatinh. Atmosphere and the fans make up half of the football experience. Take the atmosphere away, and it's a little bit boring to be honest....

[@graduke1]

E all seater stadiums were the biggest killer as well as the more expensive tickets. Its difficult to get animated when you have to sit down! Saying that....ibrox has always had quite a good atmosphere...but i am sure it was better in the late 80s when Scottish football was buzzing. I say thatcas a dundee united fan and we played half the English national football team in a Scottish cup tie.ended up 2-2 but i swear the rangers fans were jumping out of their seats for throw ins . The atmosphere was incredible. The best I have witnessed and I am 50vand been to Brazil, Italy , Holland etc.

[@vittoriocatenajafranz7437]

respect bro, from lecce

[@marcus90gladiator]

I lived 4 years on Green Street, I’m a Lazio fan and obviously West Ham, everything changed since they move the club, no more atmosphere no more brotherhood..... LONG LIVE THE BOYLEN!!!! Lazio & West Ham 🦅⚒️

[@DeniSaripudingg]

Green Street Hooligans 4 : Becoming The Ultras 😂

[@pato2200]

In finnefgns bar, an irish pub in florence (san gallo) there is a whole group of italians who follow west ham and goim there to see the live games, and even meet there though game not on live. Buzarre but true.

[@MotownShaker]

As a Forest fan I completely agree with how this guy feels. I've seen football in Europe and it's a different level. The English game is passionless, bland, safe and sanitised

[@LoryM05]

I’m from arezzo but why this video is on my youtube home?

[@aidygooner]

Should have went to Salernitana instead. A club who play in maroon/claret colours, have a nice (but oversized) stadium and possibly a Serie A club soon

[@realcody1]

I understand , I don't agree with him 100% but I understand!

[@deanbaker6056]

Do get all you’ve said, 100% . I’ve done the same , but dropped down our divisions there’s a lot going in your home country

[@mickogavin5417]

Great Video, football is about community and passion

[@gameoveryeah412]

I feel exactly the same

[@alessandromazzini7026]

Oh you went to Arezzo :o you missed the good old days at Arezzo

[@vittoriocatenajafranz7437]

english prem fans are custumers, we are ultras!

[@jackwaldronibdfit376]

You follow your team because of the connection you have to it. I don't know how you could give up supporting your club because of a ground change.

[@Grodzan]

Club is just a organisation thats it

[@noreturn2231]

he literally said right in the beginning that he still supports them and just hates the new stadium lol

[@cincinellidavide6929]

Forza Arezzo!!!

[@Tom-se9ge]

8 years after leaving Upton Park I still despise the London stadium

[@darrenarchbold6860]

Totally agree

[@Interisti2506]

I supported Spurs for 45 years. And it got to the stage I was spending fortunes and they won nothing. My wife is Italian and she said go with family to watch Inter at the San Siro. I’m now a season ticket holder for the last 5 years. Price €525.00. I have also made so many new friends and travelled to Salzburg & Madrid for the CL games. Flights £60+ return and I stay out there from Friday to Monday. Forza Inter 😉

[@blaquenguni9249]

Inter have some incredible fans. I'll never forget when they took over the Bernebeau in 2010 for the final

[@alexchet1191]

Does anyone know this guys name, doing some research for my uni dissertation would love to get in contact with him

[@creasicle]

I went to the San Siro a few weeks ago which was something I'd wanted to do for years and I actually thought the atmosphere was pretty rubbish. Thousands of empty seats and most of the fans only piped up once they'd gone 1-0 up. The ultras were brilliant singing, dancing, beating drums throughout but they were at the other end of the stadium. Everyone around us was pretty quiet.

[@Interisti2506]

Who did you watch

[@creasicle]

@@Interisti2506 Milan v Empoli. Not a classic 😂

[@stelioskatis1083]

wondering if he is back to west ham now with hammers winning a european trophy

[@plc20100]

Probably yes .

[@frafrafrafrafra]

Come in Cosenza and you'll love the ultras there! Especially now that we are in serie B, Forza Lupi!🐺🔴🔵

[@CityCityJuve]

Up the calabrese 🔥

[@EatCycleRepeat]

Ive been around Europe watching games in Germany, Italy and Spain predominantly and the way the fans are treated at those clubs is far different to the money hungry machine that is the Premier League. A lot of people simply can't afford the financial commitment to head to support their local professional sides and are turning more to non-league which is a much better day out I find.

[@ChrisW81105]

This is very cool! There are so many hidden gems in lower league football. As an Arsenal fan I won't say I lost any of my passion since the move to the Emirates, but I do feel less of a connection than sitting in the clock end. My personal favourite is St Pauli! Brilliant experience!! P.S. no violence in football, please. Banter is more than enough

[@Dan-lg4bs]

St Pauli are communists though 🤢

[@xsnowy6210]

Moving to the emirates wasnt the same as what West Ham did. Emirates is a football stadium. The west ham one is a multistadium.

[@the_red_barron1002]

How i feel about being a Arsenal fan and now prefer to support Rangers

[@plsehansen9071]

Do you still support Arsenal ?

[@masonclark9110]

@@plsehansen9071 Arsenal, fans are good fans but it’s changed since. They changed stadiums but they do have flares a lot tbf

[@graduke1]

The big one or little one.....😅😅😅I'm Scottish

[@veliborvasovicofajax5358]

Now Millwall is still a Proper club

[@daleduffy79]

Random question here but does anyone know the name of the track that is playing when he is in his kitchen talking about when he was working in the clothes shop???

[@STW-l5v]

Plus a West Ham season ticket is £800 so when you consider a pint there is £6 and trains are so expensive it’s probably cheaper to go to another country than it is to see a premier league match. Says it all

[@Porkcylinder]

‘Posh’ flats in newham 😂😂😂

[@carmelosaia1583]

Fratello 👊🏻

[@richardgoode4761]

Community as football in support.

[@beastmasterakathabarbaric1509]

Love this brothers passion,Salud my West Ham bredren From the States

[@HibeeMcbee]

Is this guy a parody? 5 years on and I still don’t know.

[@VooDooMaGicMan81]

He's acting, but you're not supposed to know that

[@path7595]

Once a hammer always a hammer

[@comet11110]

AGAINST MODERN FOOTBALL

[@MrChipz900]

Bet he was in Prague for the Europa Conference final.

[@Pgcito]

Great story

[@alistair4692]

Is this a mockumentary?

[@user-gy7og5yh2s]

I thought that a few seconds in, but I think he just loves football and the atmosphere and the Olympic stadiums don’t have it , Berlin stadium is the same

[@adambartlett6277]

English football crowds have become an audience now rather than fans. While the ball is in play it's almost silent at times similar to tennis. It's all down to the high ticket prices pricing out working class fans. Fans expect to be entertained for the price their paying

[@Besteveruk]

This story is just sad

[@STW-l5v]

I feel exactly the same way about West Ham. Don’t even notice the club no more. Like it’s another club. Italian football still has that rawness of support. Shame that in England with modern stadiums and American/ overseas owners have completely destroyed the culture of football.

[@EGGZ1983]

My club Preston North End, beat West ham home and away in the championship not that long ago then bobby zamora ruined my life. Deepdale is the oldest continuous used football ground in the world and is actually re designed and modelled off of an Italian stadiums architecture. We had the national football museum but it left for old Trafford because they are a "bigger club". All I can say history is history, and sometimes its not best to change, especially when society wants to take tradition out of your proud club. Upton Park, the old Wembley, Highbury etc.. the list goes on. I'm only 40 and the "new modern fan" wouldn't even know of these once great stadiums.

[@Mil-w6d]

12% fluent

[@chillxi382]

Wait, so my guy didn't like the hammers moving stadium and buying tickets for extra, but he has to go to Italy for loads, buy a house (for loads) and buy a ticket, still cheaper but everything combined is super expensive lol, buy a house near the stadium lol but I can still kinda get his mindset and I respect this guy tho. *_(_* You can also just switch to lower division teams lol, it's much more fun there *_)_*

[@LasmaJoshy]

Oldham fan here, but I feel at home in Frankfurt ik it’s not Italian but both have ultras 🤷

[@federicosperti9850]

Forza Arezzo

[@MUFC-e4p]

Theres far to many kids and mums at the football these days eating candy floss and wearing silly hats 😂

[@cry2298]

Come in San Benedetto..

[@francisulrich61]

West Ham season tickets are 310

[@veliborvasovicofajax5358]

IS west Glam still worth me support ?

[@kevin0mc0kool]

Be a lot cheaper to get a train across town to Selhurst park!

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

It would be easier to wander over to Brisbane Road to watch Leyton Orient... and if it weren't for the old animosity you could go south of the river to the Den.

[@ianstrathern8929]

Know what you mean,I've transferred to Aldershot

[@rew0rked]

😭

[@SiDeusProNobisQuisContraNos]

W Ultras Italia 🇮🇹✝️🇮🇹

[@OpenDoorEnglish]

Football has gone from a sport aimed mainly at working class men to highly sanitised family entertainment. That obviously has pros and cons. I don't go to games anymore but on the rare occassion that I do it's all about suspending reality for an afternoon and enjoying the company.

[@TheStephtarr]

You’re West Ham till you die or you’re not West Ham at all. 🤷🏼‍♀️⚒️

[@Internationale1]

Went to West Hams new stadium this year...and almost fell asleep. Too many tourists. No soul.

[@JA-zg2cb]

Dresser, got all the clobber but don’t wanna get involved when it comes on top

[@robinpillay8462]

A couple of years ago, I drove along Green Street, and the area looked different now that the staduim had been knocked down and replaced with new flats. Globalism has taken over Football is England, rising ticket prices has changed the atmospheric at matches.

[@calumwalker4832]

🙌🙌🙌

[@EliteXtasy]

I feel he could find the same kind of support in teams with smaller stadiums or outside London. He probably doesn't want to support other English teams so that he doesn't betray West Ham United. All he's doing is sending money out of the UK economy.

[@GGMatt]

Elite I'm sure the UK can deal without 900 quid.

[@jneal21]

Yh don’t know why he don’t go non league tbh

[@GHENDYRL]

Why not find like-minded West Ham fans and start your own group?