An Italian supporters’ group of Heart of Midlothian FC have come to Edinburgh to watch their team potentially secure a historic league title win.
Lombardia Hearts was formed in 2003 by die-hard Hearts fans from the Lombardy region of Italy.
While Italian at its core, the group’s members now includes Canadians as well as local Gorgie fans and is embedded in the fabric of the club.
While Italy has its own rich football culture, Andrea, the group’s founder and president, has made Edinburgh his second home after falling in love with the team.
His first game, a 1–0 victory against Aberdeen in 2001, began what would become a story of deep ties with Hearts.
Andrea said: “I was following the Scotland national team first, and then had to decide which club to support.
“At that time, there was no internet so it was very difficult to find Scottish football in the Italian press.
“They don’t care about Scottish football, so it was very difficult to find a way to follow Hearts or to follow Scottish football in general,
“I came [to Edinburgh] for the first time in 1993. The city was fantastic, wonderful.”
Although still living in Milan, Andrea and Lombardia Hearts are deeply embedded with the club and is known to club staff and players.
He was once given a jacket by former Hearts captain Steven Pressley during the latter’s time as caretaker manager in 2005, prior to his controversial departure to Celtic in 2006.
The group’s vice presidents, couple Anna and Fabio, received messages from the club’s now-former chairman Ann Budge as well as players on their wedding day, which was also attended by friends from Edinburgh.
Lombardia Hearts’ Italian members, including Andrea, Anna, and Fabio, are currently in Edinburgh for the team’s final match day showdown against Celtic on Saturday.
Since Aberdeen’s league title win in 1985 under Sir Alex Ferguson, no team outside of Rangers or Celtic have won the Scottish Premiership in its various iterations.
Andrea said: “It’s massive. Tomorrow everyone is going to cry if we win. Everyone is going to cry, that’s for sure.”
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