NOT PROGRAMMED

We shall leaving our Tower Villa in a few hours and typically by a process of elimination we got internet back. Well about time too! Some said it Monday and the operatives are back working, we think that pressing the correct button on the router by chance,may have led to connection. So I have missed the next qualifying round of the FA Cup but did get to the local derby of Modica v Scicli in southern Sicily, Gironde H we think. Probably no higher than Step 7 in our pyramid. Hard to judge since the skill level was high and this must be helped by having an artificial pitch.

A drive to the Sicilian town eventually led us to the ancient town centre and up on the hill was the ground. At first we thought it was a school play area because it was surrounded by flats with some substantial municipal blocks that had netting in front of them to stop wayward balls. It cost nothing to get in although posters in Scicly suggested 5€. My friend thought that might have been the charge for getting on the supporters' bus. There seemed to be no facilities.

The ref was neatly turned out in Italian jeans and black shirt with a jacket as he inspected the pitch. It was an Astro surface and had no deviations but understandably he was mentally preparing himself for an emotional 90 minutes. He also had little help from the "linos" who were there just to do in and outs, indeed one of them furthest away from the crowd sat in the dug out! The ref had a word at half time.

The teams came out to a huge welcome from the Ultras, the home fans. There were maybe thirty or so, standing on concrete steps behind the 12 foot wire netting. The youngest of the party, some probably in single figures, no doubt dragged along by their fathers or older brothers, were allowed to stand at the back of the "choir" whilst the seniors were leading from the font. The choir master saw little of the game with his back to play as he led his "troops" with a megaphone and arm gestures.

There appeared to be no visiting fans prepared to stand up and make themselves public. A few did applaud one of Scicli's goal which deserved congratulations. Modica were big and direct, Scicly small and neat with no forwards. Modica had a free kick expert, or the opposing goalie was a tad "heavy" and there were two screamers scored by each team which made the day. Modica won 4-2, deservedly, and when we eventually got back to Scicly, after a post match analysis, we saw the losing team's minibus dropping off players in their home town. They live to fight another day.

You have to love non-league football because it is so personal. The Ultras clearly enjoy doing what they are doing, it was harmless fun and since our party of four is made up from grandfathers, we would want to initiate the youngsters in the world of Calcio as the Italians call it, though we could do with out the lung burning flares let off as the teams came out.

By including the interesting hair pin journey, a lemon soda in a smart boutique cafe and the smiling faces of our loved ones when we got back with the pizzas, then it was day well spent. But no programme!