Brit abroad...playing in San Marino
How does a man from Leeds in his thirties, end up playing top flight football in San Marino? Well I'm glad you asked, as it's quite the story. On a bright December afternoon in a suburb of the mountainous microstate, I found myself watching Campionato Sammarinese in the company of Adrian Eacock. Two follicly challenged men from different parts of the UK is not a common sight in these parts, the Campo di Montecchio playing host to AC Juvenes Dogana and SS Pennarossa.
Adrian is the typical nomad, not content with staying in one place for too long, having lived in Spain and Greece amongst others, it seems he has finally found somewhere to call home. Why San Marino, the worlds oldest republic, home to just over 30,000 people? As is so often the case, football and passion is intrinsically linked. "It all started with the game FIFA World Cup 2010! I was living with mates at university in 2012 and we came up with the San Marino Challenge, where you had to try and qualify for and win the World Cup with them, all in one sitting. Then, we found out that San Marino were hosting England - on the very day of my 21st birthday. Obviously we had no choice but to make a trip of it, and things went from there" tells Adrian
This is a nation who are ranked dead last in the FIFA rankings, the league is bottom of the 55 UEFA coefficient ratings, not an easy sell to young lads who could easily be dazzled by Barcelona and their tiki-taka or Real Madrid and the Galácticos, but something stuck for Adrian and his mates.
"After that trip, we were hooked, and we have been following San Marino home and away on a regular basis ever since. I even learnt Italian and moved there for a year back in 2014. Further down the line, we bumped into Massimo and Andrea, two top lads from San Marino who often travel with the national team, as official supporters if you like. One thing led to another and Massimo became president of Juvenes Dogana last year. I had been half-joking with him about playing in this league just before the pandemic hit, and he knows that I love life in this part of the world, so you can imagine my reaction when he put a little message in the group chat saying he wanted an English player".
Ah Massimo, Il Presidente, a crucial player in this tale. When I arrived at the Campo di Montecchio, the HQ of the San Marino Football Federation (FGSC), there were lots of important looking people milling around, talking, smoking, in the most continental way possible. Adrian introduced me to Massimo, and despite the language barrier (my Duolingo Italian was of little use), he made me feel welcome. Amongst lots of fast talk about life, football, and a recent trip to Santa Lucia to watch San Marino in an international friendly, one thing could be gleaned. Massimo is incredibly ambitious for Juvenes, and does not see the small population of San Marino as a barrier, he orates and holds court in a charming and engaging manner with the air of a politician (just slightly more trustworthy).
The game kicks off and a youthful Juvenes start brightly, scoring the opener and playing with ability that defies the lowly position they find themselves in. Due to painful bureaucracy, Adrian watches from the curva and provides colour alongside the action. Pennarossa get one back, and it's that inexperience showing that has been a recurring theme throughout this season. Perhaps the grizzly veteran from Yorkshire can provide the steel? A versatile player, who can cover the left flank with pace, think Milner crossed with Bale. I'm curious, with the damming FIFA and UEFA rankings, what is the standard like?
"This is the highest level I have played at for sure, but I have always tried to play football at a decent standard even if travelling and living in various countries has made this challenging in recent years. For example, I trained with and impressed at a fifth-division side in Greece for a whole season, but never actually got to play because of bureaucratic hurdles. The style of play here is quite structured and the build-up is more patient than I am used to, particularly when compared to the English game - running around like a headless chicken doesn't get you the plaudits it does back home, sadly" explains Eacock.
The big target man for Juvenes restores the lead, and it's certainly deserved. Patient build up play and quality persists, and the 'home' side make it 3-1 after a sweeping move. It's an entertaining game, and a great result, and both Massimo & Adrian are deservedly pleased with their team. It's a low attendance, but there are clearly loyal supporters here, and despite being free entry across the championship, this is no Sunday league operation. As Adrian describes "I must say that I have been impressed by the FSGC in general during my years as a San Marino supporter. In recent years in particular, they have raised the profile of the national team, opening an online shop for the kit and merchandise for example. Since moving here, I have had a glimpse of how well organised the national league is, the facilities available, the emphasis on youth development and so on. It looks to me as if everything is going in the right direction and I feel privileged to be seeing it first hand"
Three points on the board, a youthful mix of Sammarinese and Italian footballers, all coached in a bright way, but what next for Eacock. "I am relishing every minute I have as a 'European top-flight footballer', as I love to tell people, but I won't be taking anything for granted either. My objectives for now are to help Juvenes Dogana on and off the pitch as much as possible, and simply enjoy life". With Adrian on the field, overlapping and using his knowhow, and Massimo pulling the strings from the boardroom, Juvenes Dogana has a bright future.
