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I came across this little gem several weeks ago yet didn’t know how to work it into the site. After writing on Paul Ince’s demise at Blackburn Rovers under “The Anglo Angle” it now fits in nicely as an English cross-over to the Italian game, or Christmas special for anyone wishing to remember the early morning Sunday show Football Italia no longer with us.

What you’ll see below is Football fan Elvis Costello as he joins James Richardson on Football Italia April 30, 1995, discussing the weekend’s matches and the Fiorentina vs Juventus match they both attended.

Being a child of the 80’s I grew up listening to Elvis, his songs were a staple food for someone now understood as, an alternative music junkie. Obviously you can understand how I was grinning like a Chester cat after discovering this clip on Youtube which I had never seen before and if you listen closely you’ll hear Richardson mention a familar face to Chelsea fans when he covers the scores of the day with Parma’s victory over Brescia.

This current season there is no LIVE broadcasts of Serie A football in England and that is a crying shame. Whilst the 3 million viewing figure of 1992 dwindled to 20,000 in 2006 for Football Italia, the show was loved by many and it has been greatly missed. Comments attached to the video represent that interest and perhaps there is enough to spur a movement to bring back Serie A coverage to the country.

Here’s hoping football fans of the Italian game in England get their Christmas wish and someone in the glass towers of BBC, Skysports or Setanta wake up and realize the Premier League ain’t the only flame in town.

YouTube Football Italia video with guest Elvis Costello
Football Italia with guest Elvis Costello, April 30th, 1995

There is a facebook group, Bring Back Football Italia for anyone wishing to join the cause and I’ll quote one member and viewer of the program who writes, “used to watch this religiously!!!! as a long time Juve fan was the best program on tv, sat morn too gazzette football italia, bring them back 100%”

Always enjoyed watching Paul Ince in his glory days at Manchester United, Liverpool, Internazionale and of course appearances for England. Scoring 72 goals during his career he wasn’t the most prolific but he had great pace and good passing ability and was of course uncompromising when tackling . An additional attribute is the canon of a shot Ince was blessed with and it most certainly rattled the cages of quite a few keepers.

Moving forward and almost reflective of his pace and power, Ince’s rapid ascendancy as manager to England’s top division has been prophetic.

During his very brief transition from third tier English Football, Ince would become the first black British manager of the English Premier League. However, unlike his on-pitch endeavours, the English ambassador to the Italian game wasn’t able to maintain the same stamina so well known for as a player having been sacked earlier today after winning just three games in seventeen, just six months in charge of Blackburn Rovers. At the age of 41 Mr. Ince will be back and more prepared for the demands of topflight. It is in his determination as both player and manager which makes football or any sport so enjoyable.

Related Articles

TheFA.com – Englishmen Abroad: Paul Ince
The Independent – Blackburn sack Paul Ince
The Guardian UK – League Managers Association demands patience for Ince