Italian student Jacopo Ghirardon begins 21-hour journey to see his side take on Dover Athletic tomorrow
Football fans are used to making long journeys for away games – but few will go to Jacopo Ghirardon’s efforts this weekend.
The Italian student left the family home in Chioggia, 18 miles south of Venice, Italy, at 2pm on Friday, February 17, as he began a 21-hour journey over land and sea in order to reach Perry’s Crabble Stadium, the home of Dover Athletic Football Club.
After catching an overnight train from Venice to Paris, the 19-year-old will take another train to Calais on Saturday morning and then a ferry to Dover in good time to join his fellow Truro City supporters for Saturday’s 3pm kick-off.
Ghirardon explains that his love for Truro City started three years ago when he began studying English culture at school and he became a “full-time supporter” this season after his local side, Chioggia Sottomarina, went bankrupt and was dissolved in the summer of 2011.
“I have always been a fan of real football,” says Ghirardon. “For many years I was a loyal supporter of Chioggia Sottomarina, who played at a level equivalent to the Blue Square Bet leagues in Italy, but they went bankrupt in 2011 and I was devastated.”
Ghirardon, who had been to all of his side’s home and away games over the past three years, needed a new team to follow.
“I had begun to look for Truro’s results when they were still in the Southern Leagues as I am attracted by the philosophies of non league football and then after my team died I became a full-time supporter. While studying, I fell in love with the Cornish heritage so there was only one team for me,” he says.
After promotion to the Blue Square Bet South at the end of last season, Truro City currently occupy 11th place in the sixth tier of English football. The most famous name on their books is former Fulham and Leicester City striker Barry Hayles, but Ghirardon’s favourite player is Jake Ash – after the City captain tweeted Ghirardon with a congratulatory message on his 19th birthday, which he also celebrated with his family’s gift, a prized Truro City shirt.
Ghirardon is looking forward to the terrace banter and loves joining in with the chanting. His favourite Truro song is “Who needs Mourinho, we’ve got Lee Hodge-io”, in honour of the team’s manager, Lee Hodges.
Ghirardon made his first trip to Truro – and England – with his father, Ettore Ghirardon, for the home game against Tonbridge Angels on Saturday, November 19, 2011. He was hooked after seeing the Tinmen win 2-0 and began planning his next trip, which he makes alone this time; Saturday’s game against Dover.
Alan Alger, PR manager Blue Square Bet, comments: “Supporters often have incredible bonds to their teams, but Jacopo really must be applauded for his efforts in getting to see Truro play. After the lengths he’s gone to I haven’t told him that Truro are the 14/5 outsiders!”
Dover Athletic v Truro City odds on Blue Square
Dover 3/4
Draw 13/5
Truro 14/5
