Popes and Panzers, war and Wednesday — Steve’s remarkable life ends in the places we know: football terraces, barbershops and home. But it begins in a world we can barely imagine.
What an interesting and evocative story. My own grandfather was an Italian POW, most likely at Stoney Middleton, who had a brief fling with a local 17 yea old girl (my grandma) whilst working on the land. Unlike Steve, he went back to Naples after the war leaving behind the product of this fleeting romance (my mum*). We never met him, but there is a famous Neapolitan pizzeria with his surname above the door, however it could be a common name there!
Oh , that was absolutely fascinating! Thank you so much for sharing. One looks around at a ground full of supporters, never realising what stories they may have in their family history, so it was great to learn about yours.
And you're right: (a) you couldn't make it up; and (b) he did look like Pope John Paul II.
A great piece of history writing; thank you very much.
What an interesting and evocative story. My own grandfather was an Italian POW, most likely at Stoney Middleton, who had a brief fling with a local 17 yea old girl (my grandma) whilst working on the land. Unlike Steve, he went back to Naples after the war leaving behind the product of this fleeting romance (my mum*). We never met him, but there is a famous Neapolitan pizzeria with his surname above the door, however it could be a common name there!
*the partial subject of my first Pinch piece.
Oh , that was absolutely fascinating! Thank you so much for sharing. One looks around at a ground full of supporters, never realising what stories they may have in their family history, so it was great to learn about yours.
And you're right: (a) you couldn't make it up; and (b) he did look like Pope John Paul II.
A great piece of history writing; thank you very much.
Sue.
Great story- well written. Thanks