NoITA EXPERIENCES
Now we tell our experiences to the succession of Scottish national:
* 11 October 2003, SCOTLAND-LITHUANIA
Done it! Another year had passed since our last game, but luckily we had another chance to reach Glasgow to support our beloved team. This year the marvelous equipe was made up by me (Mauro), my brother Simone and Giovanni Irn-Bru, and we were able to reach Glaesga two days before the Lithuania game. We spent them visiting the city (again!) and a couple of grounds (Firhill and Ibrox) which were still missing from my photo album. The night before the match was spent with some of the LA contingent, whom had traveled ahead of the rest of the troops to watch the Proclaimers live, and some boys from WESTA with whom we stood drinking in the Iron Horse till midnight. Match-day dawned and we soon realized it was a bright sunny day, wich allowed us to wear our short-sleeved Scotland shirts (me in my 70's style effort, Giovanni in his pin striped one and my brother looking the part in his Italian Army jacket, long hair and cow-sporran). As usual the pre-match swally was held at the Horse, later during the day we moved on to Shed with Scootk, Phil, Artour and some more guys, and we spent some hours drinking (not too much...) and socializing. We reached Hampden with a good 30 minutes to spare, wich were spent taking pictures and looking desperately for a toilet. The match itself was quite eventful, wich Fletcher breaking my personal 3-years-without-a-goal streak. Post-match was (again!) spent drinking with some Bankies boys (Billy and friends) at the Horse and Captain's Rest, celebrating the victory and looking forward to the playoffs. All in all another great trip for NoITA lads. Scotland Forever!
- Mauro -
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* 21 August 2002, SCOTLAND-DENMARK
There we go again! Exactly one year after the match against Croatia NoITA is again on the road, heading towards Glasgow as Scotland was ready to face Denmark. This time Fede wasn't able to make it, so it was Mauro and the NoITA Loch Como represantatives Joe and Marco.
Great time was had by all, also because we had never met before. We met up with Scootk, Phil and Mirza (at the Iron Horse) with whom we spent the whole afternoon, basically drinking and socializing.
It was great, as I was finally able to have a good chat with Scott after two previous failed attempts. We then headed for the Pandora where more beers were consumed and more Known faces were spotted in the crowd. After a fish supper and an Irn Bru we started our walk to Hampden, not before a quick stop at Mc Neill's, a real pilgrimage for our mate Joe, an hard cored Celtic Fc fan.
The game itself was shite, the Scots were extremely disappointing and the Danes, after managing an early goal, didn't seem interested in doing something else. Depressed by the poor performance of the team, we opted for an early night in the Iron Horse. Anyway, another succesful journey up north, hope next time the team will be better skilled.
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* 1 September 2001, SCOTLAND-CROATIA
To be present at our first game in Scotland two NoITA members, Mauro and Federico have approached to Hampden Park to unite at the game Scotland-Croatia a small holiday in Scottish land also. After any hours spent on the skies of Europe we finally arrive at Glasgow airport, where we find our WESTA friend John that there will entertain and there will do from guide for the Glasgow roads.
After a fast supper immediately around pubs, beer, beer and still beer...
The following day, Saturday 1 September, we to our awakening find an other WESTA friend to wait us, John has scattered the voice and many people wants to know us.
After have done a nourishing breakfast we go to the central pub "Iron Horse", center of the WESTA, where together the Tartan Army finds many croatian fans that drink, sing and dance all together... to tghe face of violence!! Atmosphere is relaxed, greet, we embrace all and we do new friendships; here we meet the responsable of fanzine Haggis Supper, Mr Kevin Donnely, that we from the tickets for the game and there tells that at night Brussell would have left for, blessed he!
The schedule of the game draws near (kick off fixed for the 15:00 unfortunately) and we decide to approach us to the stadium; we do as acquaintance of the "Pandora" pub, where we meet so much guys between which Ezzy friend, and of the "Mc Neill" pub, place managed from the unforgettable Celtic player champion of Europe in the 1967.
When we enter into the stadium the first impact is impressive: we are at Hampden Park, don't seem me true. We take place in the West Stand, the Tartan Army and all standing to sign and we are not from less, only sin that Blues doesn't play well; Croatia in fact is well mass in field and finds our unprepared defense often, but it finishes with an equalize match.
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* 7 October 2000, ST. MARINO-SCOTLAND
The boys of the North-East have arrived since Friday in the small republic, where they have suffered begun to know Scots; the rest of the group reached him Saturday, and after a small and fast lunch, all to Rimini to drinking with the Tartans. Afternoon is departed first in a cafè with boys of Aberdeen and Dundee, then in a pub of the zone that transmitted England-Germany: choirs, beer, beer and still choirs, all enthusiastic for defeat of the english rivals.
After have drink for the nth turned to the english defeat, we approach to the Olimpico Stadium of Serravalle. That show, everywhere blue, is sung and expect the beginning of the game: only sin for the bleakness offered from the stadium, nationals hymns not been practically felt.
However after a proof not bright of Brown's boys is been able to win 2-0, but that suffering until at 71° o'clock (thank you Elliot!!). Party moves again to Rimini, this time to celebrate a defeat not others but for our victory. Fantastic!
