[Albion] Gazzetta Football Italia Channel 4

[The Wookiee]

Used to love watching this in the 90’s - never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that one day we would be playing a European match in the Stadio Olimpico

 

[Weststander]

Magical, following on from Italia 90.

Living in a flat I wasn’t allowed to have Sky, so this was my first experience of live league football on the TV, when Serie A ruled the world.

I adored AC Milan, Lazio and Sampdoria. Van Basten and Beresi were gods.

 

[Beach Hut]

James Richardson was an absolutely superb presenter and it all started as Michael Grade then Chief Executive of C4 thought it would be great to broadcast Gaza's first game for Lazio. Everything that is so good about C4.

 

[BN41Albion]

Fiorentina for me. Just loved the purple kit, and Batistuta of course. Parma too with that iconic team late 90s due to the Parmalat riches!

 

[Vicar!]

Magical, following from Italia 90.

Living in a flat I wasn’t allowed to have Sky, so this was my first experience of live league football, when Serie A ruled the world.

I adored AC Milan, Lazio and Sampdoria. Van Basten and Beresi were gods.

Thinking about it then this is my first ‘competitive’ game in Italy since David O’Leary struck the penalty that took Ireland to the quarter finals. (Wifey 34 weeks pregnant then, finally, put her foot down and home I went) Owen, reading the script, didn’t grace us for another two weeks.

Wonderful walk back to the station afterwards, which took six hours hitting every bar in the process.

 

[Invicta]

Excellent programmes, the Saturday show and live game on a Sunday. Seemed so much more exciting than dreary English football of the time,

 

[Weststander]

Thinking about it then this is my first ‘competitive’ game in Italy since David O’Leary struck the penalty that took Ireland to the quarter finals. (Wifey 34 weeks pregnant then, finally, put her foot down and home I went) Owen, reading the script, didn’t grace us for another two weeks.

Wonderful walk back to the station afterwards, which took six hours hitting every bar in the process.

From memory, was that Ireland win in Genoa?

Loved WC90.

 

[Weststander]

Excellent programmes, the Saturday show and live game on a Sunday. Seemed so much more exciting than dreary English football of the time,

James Richardson with his expresso’s and sports newpapers.

 

[Meade's Ball]

I was a regular viewer, but the late night showing on a Monday was usually a dreadful affair showing an undramatic draw, often with Julio Dely Valdez.

 

[armchairclubber]

James Richardson with his expresso’s and sports newpapers.

& not forgetting Brightons very own and sadly now departed Peter Brackley in the commentary seat.

 

[BadFish]

Fiorentina for me. Just loved the purple kit, and Batistuta of course. Parma too with that iconic team late 90s due to the Parmalat riches!

Ancona for me as I lived their but Fiorentina stole my heart after watching this game



Batistuta was incredible, goals and hair.

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

This was peak football TV for me. There was something wholly romantic about it that we’ve always struggled to replicate over here.

It helped that the best players in the world were there at the time.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

At the time, there was no way of watching foreign footballers apart from world cups and the odd European game. At least there wasn't for me.

It was all just so glamorous

 

[jessiejames]

Magical, following from Italia 90.

Living in a flat I wasn’t allowed to have Sky, so this was my first experience of live league football, when Serie A ruled the world.

I adored AC Milan, Lazio and Sampdoria. Van Basten and Beresi were gods.

A time when Italian football was like Religion, church in morning then to te match. Family in Foggia so i follow them. Yes RDZ graced the Zaccaria both as player then manager.

Best match i have seen in Italy was Verona beating Juventus 2 nil, this was September 82, just after Italy won the world cup, alot of the players were playing for Juventus at the time.

 

[Doc Lynam]

Magical, following on from Italia 90.

Living in a flat I wasn’t allowed to have Sky, so this was my first experience of live league football on the TV, when Serie A ruled the world.

I adored AC Milan, Lazio and Sampdoria. Van Basten and Beresi were gods.

Got my brother a knock off AC Milan shirt with Van Basten on the back one holiday; turned out to be almost indestructible and looks great 30 odd years later!

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Got my brother a knock off AC Milan shirt with Van Basten on the back one holiday; turned out to be almost indestructible and looks great 30 odd years later!

Unlike the player sadly

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

Loved the Ch4 football.

Italia '90 still brings back so many good memories, and having Serie A broadcast soon after was amazing for football fans here. You couldn't have got a more perfect presenter than James Richardson I dont think.

As others have mentioned, the cafe style news show was great, and then the games on a Sunday (while mum was making the roast dinner) rounded off the weekend nicely.

Always been a Roma fan (ironically) but always had a soft spot for Fiorentina too. Anyone else remember the magazine they did as well?

Great days.

 

[stewart12]

I also always liked Fiorentina. Something about the kits and they always had a bit of an underdog vibe alongside Parma. Even though Fiorentina are a big club it always seemed like they were punching up against the likes of Juve and the two Milan sides

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

Baggio for just £1.3m!

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

I also always liked Fiorentina. Something about the kits and they always had a bit of an underdog vibe alongside Parma. Even though Fiorentina are a big club it always seemed like they were punching up against the likes of Juve and the two Milan sides

100% agree. Some great players, but never reached the heights of the other big teams.

And the kits were glorious