*translation of a post first published on “Centenario dello Stadio Ennio Tardini” Facebook page.

“Venice Parma, we return defeated, but there is a Crusader fan who smiles when he thinks back to the day.

No, it’s not because of the team’s play or the visit to the city, his smile comes from looking at those present at the away match.

Those present were few, or at least lower than the number one might have expected (there were 518 in total), but it is by observing them closely that a different observation arises: there are a lot of young guys.

Following up on this observation (40% of those present were under 35 years old and a percentage between 10/15% under 20 years old) the desire to delve further arose: how is our fan base from a demographic point of view? Not in general, obviously, but that part that cheers, that shouts, that moves, that goes away.

Here is the data.

This year in the Curva Nord there were 4,233 subscriptions subscribed and more precisely:

2633 full – 490 reduced women – 706 under 24 – 404 under 14

This means that 1110 people under the age of 24 have subscribed to the Curva Nord, representing over 25% of those who have pledged loyalty to the Crusaders no matter what.

25% is a very high figure, from a quantitative point of view; but it is a fundamental value from a qualitative point of view, because those who are under 24 undoubtedly represent the future of our fans.

But that is not all.

In this championship, just over 2000 tickets per match were sold at the box office; had half of these been developed by a group of ticket fans between 14-24 years.

You can immediately understand how the percentage of young people attending the Curva is growing more than proportionally (and affecting potential enthusiasm).

We turn to them, so that they have the desire and courage to involve other peers, to question themselves, to make the Parma match an unmissable event, to identify completely with the only team that represents our splendid city and our magnificent province, to bring all their enthusiasm, making up (at least in part) for the gaps and shortcomings of the Crusade fans.

But we also turn to Parma Calcio and the fan organisations, so that everyone is increasingly encouraged to involve, bring together and make the passion that a boy of that age can have explode.

We “little old men” must act as “little old men”, encouraging and stimulating them, without acting as a stopper..

Young people must be young because the future, for us and for them, has already begun and is already here.

Forward Young Crusaders!”