The Italian Army is the Owls Italian supporters club, and acts as a focus for Wednesday supporters in Italy, although most of the members are from Milan. The English side of the club is run by Paolo Ortonelli from his base in Harlow, Essex. The Army has been in existence since 1993.
Sheffield
Wednesday gave the Italian Army's latest banner pride of place at Hillsboro, by putting it
up at some home matches starting with the West Ham match on 30 Nov '96, sited underneath
the control box (under the scoreboard). Wednesday obviously recognised the importance of
encouraging the midfield genius Beni Carbone. The 'Italian Army' would like to
thank Wednesday for recognising the value of the support of its Italian members, when it
read out an announcement at the West Ham match - "Paolo, Ginetta, Guiseppi, Dino,
Moglio and Otello".
For obvious reasons, the Army can only make a few trips to matches each season. The 1996/7 season's official match trips were to Arsenal away, Oxford away, West Ham at home and Carlisle away. Now there are only one or two trips per year- e.g. Spurs home (1999/2000), Huddersfield home (2000/1), Sheff Utd. home (2000/1),
Article from Page 3 of The Star (Sheffield), 24 March 1994.
Flying the flag: Paolo Ortonelli with the banner, missing since
the semi-final against Manchester United at Old Trafford
The Italian job!
| A GROUP of the Owls' most ardent fans are singing a Latin lament after
losing their most prized possession - a huge Sheffield Wednesday banner. The "Italian Army" banner disappeared after Wednesday's recent semi-final against Manchester United at Old Trafford and, despite appeals, it has not turned up. The banner was paid for by the club's Italian supporters, headed by Paolo Ortonelli. |
By Lisa Salmon |
the banner before last year's April semi-final. "Followers abroad contributed, including one member's grandmother in Sicily, who chipped in a few lira as the Wednesday craze took hold. "Our friends and relatives in Italy are always on the lookout for the banner in crowd shots when English soccer matches are televised there. "We think the banner was picked up by Sheffield supporters leaving the semi- final." |
Article from P.3 The Star 6th April 1994:
Fans make banner headlines
| AN UNIKELY benefactor has stepped in to help Sheffield Wednesday's Italian
fans. The fans, led by former city man Paolo Ortonelli, were dtermined to save up to buy a
huge banner after their first one was stolen. But their fundraising was cut short after they received a £50 donation - from the chairman of AC Milan and Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi. Mr Berlusconi sent the cheque |
after receiving a letter about the banner from one of Paolo's Italian relatives. Now the Italian Army, which goes to Wednesday matches all over the country, has a new banner, bigger and better than the one they lost at the Coca Cola Cup semi- final leg against Manchester United at Old Trafford. A delighted Paolo, who now lives in Bishop's Stortford, said: "one of my relatives in Milan must have written to him." |
The
Army has received a few moments of publicity: One of its members was interviewed live on
Radio Sheffield from Wembley on the day of the glorious semi-final, having travelled all
the way from Milan to see the match. The famous quote was given on being asked why he
followed Sheffield Wednesday, rather than the Milan teams, Paolo's answer of "Because
I lika da name, an I lika da way dey play" was accepted as the discerning view of a
regular at the San Sero.
The photo shows some of the club members and was taken before the Glorious Semi-Final at Wembley in 1993.
We would like to thank Wednesday, Radio Sheffield and The Star (particularly Lisa Salmon) for the publicity they have given us. All in a worthwhile cause.