All together passionately. And those who weren’t there, we’re sure, had their hearts there, on that pitch where mystique and passion remained stuck in 1994. There’s no point in hiding it, seeing them at Appiani today in socks and shield-white shirts still has a certain effect. Captains Ottoni and Longhi first and foremost. And then Gabrieli, Franceschetti, Rosa, Pippo Maniero, the hero of that sultry afternoon in Cremona, core of Padua Maurizio Coppola, Lele Pellizzaro, Davide Tentoni, Giordano, Roberto Perrone (protagonist in the first season in Serie A) and many others. A dive into memories. The sweetest and most cuddly ones for the more than 500 Paduans present at the Appiani to embrace Padova on the 30th anniversary of the last promotion to Serie A. A day of celebrations and festivities, with an eye to charity, organized by the fan group Appartenenza Biancoscudata to remember the victorious play-off of Cremona’s Zini against Cesena on 15 June 1994. In the past, there is the daughter of the historic president Puggina, Antonella, present and future embraced in two colours: white and red. Representing the biancoscudata club is the general secretary Pagliani and no one else.
The day
We started already in the afternoon, with the exhibition match of the Under 13s directed by Damiano Longhi against the same age group of Montagnana. For the record, the match ended 6-0 for the young biancoscudati, who appeared decidedly loose and at ease on the pitch where their coach designed football and made the history of the club. Around 6:00 pm the decibels of emotions began to rise, with the 1994 Padova team entering the field, with some loans, against the selection of fans of the Appartenenza Biancoscudata group. The usual photos, strictly of mixed teams, and then everyone on the pitch after the ritual presentations and the video introduction of the Cremona match on the big screen. Kick-off at around 6.40pm, the first half the glories of Padova play with the 4-4-2 of that year, with some modifications on the theme. Bonaiuti, Cuicchi, Nunziata, Galderisi and Montrone are missing due to previous commitments before the organization of the event, so Tentoni plays right back together with the well-tested trio of Rosa, Ottoni and Gabrieli. In midfield Pellizzaro moves to the right like many years ago, while in the middle Coppola, Franceschetti and Longhi move the ball around, rediscovering the geometries of the past in a single sigh. Pippo Maniero and Andrea Giordano forward. Two halves of 30′. Ready to go and immediately there’s Coppola’s crossbar and then Gabrieli’s. At 6.52pm time stops and applause begins. The reason is simple: thirty years ago at that time Gildo Fattori announced Padova’s promotion to Serie A. We start again, with the most fluid team of fans, but in the end we win with two goals in the second half from Gasparello (for occasion with Nunziata’s shirt) are the glories. At this point the tears are wasted, as are the hugs and smiles on the field. The match shirts are auctioned off, with the proceeds entirely going to charity for the pediatric hospital of Padua in the presence of Prof. Perilongo. The dinner with Italy on the big screen closes an evening that will remain in everyone’s hearts for a long time. Because only by remembering what Padova was can we think of building the society of the future. Maybe in B, because these people deserve to get out of the swamp of the third series.
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