Parma Calcio is a Family, when you come in the town and especially in Tardini you notice it. It is the kind of things it is more difficult to explain by words than to feel.
Between Parma and Empoli there is a friendship that last since 1984. On 25th November 1984 during Parma vs Empoli match in Serie B there was so much fog that some Boys Parma fans – usually located in Curva Nord – went in the opposite side of the stadium to watch at least the goal on that side, where Parma was trying to score: we were loosing 1 to 0 but Empoli fans didn’t know it because they could not see the opposite side goal because of the fog.
At the end of the mach some Parma fans that were in Curva Sud congratulate with Empoli fans for the victory and they were surprised by that since they supposed it ended with a 0 -0 draw. The chat ended up with some beers after the match and there begun one of long-lasting friendship in Italian football history.
Rivals on the field but friend outside: the link grew year by year and soon the Gemellaggio was officialized with a flags parade before a match. Tradition that was observed also last Sunday in Tardini before the 7th Serie A round. Before the match begun, both supporters groups sang the name of the opposite team.
We use to repeat that football is made by fans, by people. This is the demonstrations: ultras organizing friendly Fans football match before the Serie A game as a chance to stay together (here the photo gallery); presidents of both Centro Coordinamento – the organizations that coordinate all official fans clubs – embracing for the meeting in Serie A after years like old friend does.
In the picture you see well-know president of Centro Coordinamento Parma Clubs, Angelo Manfredini, and his Empoli equivalent, Athos Bagnoli: both dedicated life to their football passion and in defense of fans rights despite Tv oriented and tickets price rising policies that are keeping people far from football.
