A record buried by time. Rediscovered twenty-six years later. The Veronese striker Lorenzo Pinamonte, 47 years old, a life among professionals between England and Italy, he has scored the first professional football goal of the Third Millennium.
«I was playing for Brighton, I headed a Freeman cross into the goal after 18 minutes against Exter. It was January 1, 2000, and our match started at 12.30. That day we won 4-2 and I scored a double.” He had arrived on trial. Then Brentford took him for 85 thousand pounds.
Pinamonte today with its beloved lake behind it. The former striker is the owner of an accommodation facility in Brenzone
«A journalist ran up to me at the end of the race and said: Lorenzo you have entered the history of English football scoring the first goal of 2000.” Not just English football, given that Pinamonte’s goal was also the first goal in Europe. «I replied to the journalist: good story, I’m happy. I hope, however, they remember me in England more for the goals than for the record.” The day before was unusual. The world is counting down to the arrival of the year 2000.
«We, on the other hand, retreated to the hotel to play cards and billiards. I remember that it was a stormy night and we were staying on the seafront in Brighton. Then, at midnight, the granting of a toast with sparkling winenot too good to be honest. And then to bed.” After the record-breaking goal «the first phone call was to my father. But almost 20 years ago, calling a cell phone from England to Italy cost a lot.” Just a few words. The English adventure of “Pinagol“ (called “Gipsy” by the English, due to his long hair and physique carved out of rock) is full of significant images.
«I remember entering the pitch at White Hart Lane, Tottenham’s stadium, for an FA Cup match. Two national teams marked me: the German Freund and the English Campbell. We lost 2-0, leaving to the applause of the 35,000 people in the London stadium. And I also received compliments from Campbell, who at the time was an undisputed star of international football.” Indeed, «Campbell found me again a few days later in a pub in London. I feel a tap on my shoulder, it was him. Two hours talking about Italy between beers and memories. The people around watching. I felt like I was in a movie. Even too much beer, better say goodbye. He loved Italy, he asked me for new words in Italian. It was incredible. The English football star who comes looking for me…”.
Pinamonte’s dream «was being able to play in the Hellas shirt. Mark under the Curvego and celebrate with our fans.” It could have happened. «Yes, but then they preferred to take Morante at Verona. That was a very troubled season (safety in the play-off in Busto Arsizio in the 2007-2008 First Division tournament with a goal from Zeytulaev, ed.), it was better that it went that way. However, I met Hellas that year in the first round of the Italian Cup. I played in Lumezzane. It ended two by two with a brace from me.”
He returned to Italy «with the hope of being able to play sooner or later in a Serie B club. I think I earned that opportunity on the pitch. But things don’t always go as you would like.” Happy for everything he managed to do. For the goals, for the shirts, for the enthusiasm of the people. «In England» he closes «I was appreciated because I died on the pitch for the team. They were times of battles, of fights, of beatings. In silence, like real men. When the ball arrived high, you had to make space.” And Pinamonte was the typical English football striker. One of King Leonidas’ three hundred, a warrior not by choice, but by virtue. Go and see his networks uploaded on Youtube again. The power that becomes essence. And a record for life.
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