After the frustration of drawing at home to Bologna — a game we really deserved to win — we were back on the road once again.
This time it was Parma away: a new ground for me, and another away day alongside Simone.
Once again, we’d sold out our away allocation. Around 3,800 Lazio fans made the trip, turning what could have been a routine provincial away day into something that felt big before a ball was even kicked.
And once again, we found ourselves battling not just the opposition, but a referee who seemed determined to make life difficult. Two controversial red cards certainly didn’t help, but it was great to see the team respond with real fight — digging in, holding firm, and coming away with three precious points and another clean sheet.
The journey
Simone kindly offered to drive, which made things much easier. He picked me up first, before we collected Janina, Luca and Davide from Calenzano.
The journey itself was short and smooth — and it’s funny how perspective changes. What I now consider a “short” away trip would have felt like a marathon back in the late 90s, when I was criss-crossing England following Watford.
We stopped for a coffee — and a smoke break for the smokers — at Modena services, one of the better service stations in Italy. As we went in, we spotted Lids and Giulia outside. Clearly, it was a popular stopping point for the travelling support.
Just as we were about to leave, Janina asked if I fancied a beer. Sensibly, Simone vetoed the idea — at least until we actually got there.
Photo shake-up
A couple of weeks earlier, at Fiorentina vs AEK Athens, things kicked off at half-time. I took a photo from a distance — nothing dramatic, or so I thought.
Ultras immediately grabbed me, forced me to delete the picture, and very nearly took my phone. It was a genuinely nervy moment. My friends Matthew and Seamus arrived just as things escalated — by that point the ultras were extremely aggressive, with hands on my throat and arm.
Around us, chaos was unfolding anyway. The toilets had been ripped apart by Fiorentina fans, seemingly to use parts as missiles towards the AEK end or simply to fuel the fighting after coins had already been thrown. Later, we heard that ultras had even thrown fridges at armed police who’d entered the Curva.
I was stupid, no doubt — but I was also far from the trouble and genuinely thought it was safe. It clearly wasn’t.
I mention this as a reminder to be careful when taking photos at games, especially in the Curva.
It’s ironic really: after more than 20 years watching Lazio from the Curva, I’d never experienced anything remotely like that. It’s definitely made me think twice about taking pictures now, particularly when standing at the front.
Getting in & pre-match warm-up
We crawled off the motorway and parked up in the allocated away-fans car park.
Luca cracked open a large beer, which he shared with Janina and me before we boarded the shuttle bus to the stadium — around a 5km journey.
As we entered the stadium and passed through security, both Simone and I noticed police recording every Lazio fan coming in. This was despite it being around 45 minutes before kick-off, with the away end already jammed.
I’d hoped to meet Francesco inside, but it was impossible. We didn’t even have an actual seat — instead, we were stood in the stairway, wedged in with everyone else.
As kick-off approached, the ultras led a full warm-up for the end. There was pre-arranged choreography using scarves, after a clear request that no flags be brought in for this game. The noise built steadily, organised and intense — a reminder that even before the football starts, these games are already being played on another level.
The match
From the first whistle it felt like one of those afternoons — tense, physical, and constantly on the edge. Parma were aggressive without being particularly clever, and once again it seemed as though every 50–50 decision was going against us.
The two red cards were both incredibly soft. Neither felt like clear-cut dismissals, and the sense of injustice inside the away end was immediate. Whistles, chants, arms thrown in disbelief — it was one of those moments where you brace yourself for the worst and wonder how the team will react.
Credit to the players: they didn’t panic. They stayed compact, disciplined, and stubborn. And when the changes came, they actually made us stronger.
Noslin’s introduction in the second half was a real turning point. He brought energy, intelligence, and a real willingness to carry the ball under pressure. Every touch felt purposeful, and he gave Parma’s defence something new to think about. Performances like that don’t go unnoticed — he’s genuinely starting to make a serious claim for a place in the starting XI.
Seeing the team grind out the win under those circumstances, with two men sent off and everything seemingly stacked against us, made the final whistle feel even sweeter. Three points, another clean sheet, and a performance full of character.
Francesco
Even after the final whistle, Francesco and I were still messaging each other, desperately trying to work out if we could meet. As time passed, it seemed increasingly unlikely.
Simone and I were stuck in the queue waiting to be let out, but spirits were high. We joined in with the songs — especially the anti-Roma ones — voices hoarse but smiling all the same.
Then, after about an hour, we were finally released. As we shuffled forward, I glanced to my left — and there they were. Francesco and Mattia, completely unexpectedly.
It was frustrating that we only had a few minutes together, but it was still good to see him. We agreed we’d properly catch up at Napoli at home, along with our mutual friend Nigel, who’s travelling over from Singapore with his wife for a few weeks.
While they headed off into town, Simone and I made our way towards the buses back to the car park.
The bus back & the journey home
We had to wait again for police clearance, but no one seemed to mind. The atmosphere was electric — everyone bouncing, singing, the bus literally shaking under the weight of it all. I genuinely hope the Parma bus drivers get hazard pay on match days.
Once we were escorted back, it turned into a full-blown party bus. Songs rolled on uninterrupted, windows rattling, smiles everywhere.
No stops needed on the way back, and best of all, we were home before midnight — tired, hoarse, and completely satisfied. Another away day done.
Match day experience
| Category | Details |
| Fixture | Parma vs Lazio |
| Competition | Serie A |
| Stadium | Stadio Ennio Tardini |
| Away end | Sold out (approx. 3,800 Lazio fans) |
| Travel | Car from Florence with Simone (via Calenzano) |
| Distance | Short away trip by Italian standards |
| Pre-match stop | Modena services (coffee & smoke break) |
| Entry & security | Heavy police presence, fans filmed on entry |
| Kick-off atmosphere | Away end already packed 45 mins before KO |
| Seating | Standing only – stuck in stairway |
| Choreography | Scarf display, no flags (ultras’ request) |
| Match context | Two very soft red cards, referee hostile |
| Key moment | Noslin’s impact off the bench |
| Result | Lazio win |
| Post-match | Long wait to exit, non-stop singing |
| Journey home | Party bus with police escort |
| Return time | Home before midnight |
Conclusion
On paper, it might seem strange that people got so excited about beating Parma. But football isn’t played on paper — and neither are away days lived that way.
When the referee is clearly against you, when you’re reduced to nine men, when everything feels stacked the wrong way, victories hit differently. Add in the emotional release after the winning goal, the defiance in the away end, the songs, the waiting, the sheer exhaustion — and suddenly it becomes far more than just three points.
It was one of those nights that reminds you why you do this: the miles, the nerves, the risks, the repetition. Not because it’s easy, but because moments like this make it unforgettable.
