Granata — la passione di Salerno
Back in 2019, I wrote my first piece on Salernitana (The Granata), an Italian football club which is based in Salerno. The club had just managed to navigate their way past a relegation playoff against Venezia and were celebrating their centenary, filling social media streams with pictures of vibrant colours and passionate fans.
Like many of you, I didn’t know much about the club who had not played in Serie A since the 1998/99 season, I wanted to find out more and managed to speak to a few of their fan-base via Instagram.
It was clear after talking to individuals that the side meant everything to the people of Salerno, there was the expectation that if you were lucky enough to put on the clubs colours you would give your all for the badge. As for the Granata supporting Salernitana wasn’t just sport it was a way of life.
Fast forward two years and here I am again writing a post about the club which I have grown to love, only this time the emotions are purely euphoric after Salernitana have just secured their return to Serie A after defeating Pescara in the final game of the season.
Promotion had not been an objective at the start of the season and it wasn’t looking like a possible outcome until the final four games which were played over an intensive 10 day period.
The big moment when the Granata started to believe came against Pordenone, the game being tied until a late penalty scored by Gennaro Tutino secured the three points for the away side and second place, meaning that the destiny was in the control of the team.
Determination and hard-work are characteristics of the squads DNA, which has seen the side pick up vital points at the death. Trailing 2–0 to Pisa back in February, goals in the 76th and 93rd minute secured a point, again trailing to Venezia in April a late brace from Cedric Gondo in the 92nd and 94th minute secured all three points for Salernitana.
Given the fact that Serie B arguably has superior technical sides such as Lecce, Monza, SPAL and Venezia, the true grit and mental toughness of this Salernitana side has delivered the unimaginable to the fans.
The celebrations which followed the game in Salerno were of raw emotion, we all know that Italy has been hit hard by COVID-19 and the region of Campania has had no fewer than 400,00 confirmed cases and 6,700 deaths.
Many of the Granata would have been affected by the pandemic and there was no holding back in ensuring that the promotion was celebrated to it’s fullest, with fans adjourning the streets to wave the clubs colours and rejoice.
Ownership
Claudio Lotito must sell the Granata as he is also the owner of Serie A side Lazio. This is to comply current rules in relation to multi-club ownership.
Article 16 of the licensing and registration regulations for clubs prohibits individuals from owning multiple clubs in the same division.
The word on the grapevine in Salerno is that there potentially is already a buyer lined up, this news itself for some will be better than the promotion as Lotito despite turning the club around is not as loved by a large segment of the fan-base as you’d expect.
Whoever the new owner is there is one thing which the people of Salerno will desire, commitment and longevity.
The return to Serie A
Salernitana’s stadium the Arechi has a capacity of 26,000 and should certainly see multiple sell-outs in the forthcoming campaign when the return of some of Italy’s most historical sides (AC Milan, Inter, Juventus) visit the Arechi.
This will provide the Granata with moments to cherish, replacing some of the distant memories which can be found on YouTube of the club back from 1998/99.
The Granata will also be anticipating the derbies with Napoli, as both sets of Ultra’s clash in what is expected to be a highly passionate affair as each club strive to be the dominant force in a highly competitive region, one which see’s all clubs (Avellino, Nocera, Cava, Pagani etc) hold a strong football identity and sense of pride surrounding their club.
“tra il dire e il fare c’è di mezzo il mare”
In terms of expectations, the above Italian saying translates to “between say something and do something is the sea”
The Granata will wait to assess the results on the pitch before setting any objectives, there is one thing that goes without saying the supporters of Salernitana have waited 23 years for this moment, regardless of the outcome it will be one which the fans and I will enjoy.
I would like to say a special thanks to Rosario Pecoraro for responding to my initial message back in 2019, through your conversations I have learnt so much about not only the football club but the people of Salerno.
A very proud, cultured and passionate region of a country which I have always had a close affiliation.
I am proud to call you a friend.
