Written by Greg Stock.
MARCONI SQUAD for the 49th VIAREGGIO YOUTH TOURNAMENT Goalkeepers; Les Pogliacomi Robbie DeBrincat Defenders; Daniel Ucchino Buddy Farah Michael Galluzzo Michael Cunico Peter Krljar Midfielders; Chris Care Vaughan Hunter Michael Kladis (c) Mark Robertson Joe Bruni Mark Racker Strikers; Luke Tomich Mauro Van Cuylenberg Robbie Cicek Andrew Daniele Nick Bosevski Coach; Lee Sterrey Manager; Frank Labbozzetta
| In January and February 1997 Marconi were invited to participate in the 49th edition of the prestigious Viareggio Youth Tournament. The tournament conducted in Italy is used as an oppurtunity by the Italian clubs to diaplay their talented youth squads in a tournament against other high profile teams. The Marconi side was one of the 32 sides competing and were drawn in Group 2 against Italian clubs Torino and Udinese as well as English side Manchester United.The first of these matches was against Udinese in Cenaia. | ||||
| Played : January 27 1997 | Venue : Comunale Studio, Cenaia, Italy | |||
| Udinese (ITA)
Mattia, Orefice, Michelutti, Pittiliro, Cornelio, De Dagari, Tardivo, Ripaldi (Citossi 59), De Falco, Temporini, Motta. |
0 | - | 0 | Marconi Les Pogliacomi, Michael Galluzzo, Buddy Farah (Peter Krljar), Michael Kladis (c), Daniel Ucchino, Vaughan Hunter, Chris Care, Mark Robertson, Mark Racker (Joe Bruni 70), Nick Bosevski, Luke Tomich (Mauro Van Cuylenburg 83) |
| Coach : Lee Sterrey (Marconi) | ||||
| The second match was against Italian club Torino in Montecantini. | ||||
| Played : (Date not known) February 1997 | Venue : Studio Comunale, Montecanini, Italy | |||
| Torino (ITA) Paelotti, Longo, Corallo, Barberro, Malaga, Alessi (Pelissier 56), Di Donato, Lo Gatto (Grauso 87), Andreotti, Tribocchi (Bruno 75), Bernardo Goals : Malago (15), Tribocchi (40) |
2 | - | 0 | Marconi Les Pogloacomi (Robbie De Brincat 70), Peter Krljar, Buddy Farah, Michael Cunico, Vaughan Hunter, Chris Care (Luke Tomich 16), Mark Robertson, Michael Kladis (c), Joe Bruni, Nick Bosevski (Robbie Cicek 65), Mauro Van Cuylenberg |
| Yellow Cards : Chris Care (8), Buddy Farah (60) Coach : Lee Sterrey (Marconi) | ||||
| The third and final game of the group was against the glamour English side of Manchester United. The Marconi side were only 60 seconds away from advancing through to the next round when Manchester United equalised in the 89th minute through striker David Brown. This result saw the Marconi side out of the tournament. | ||||
| Played : (Date not known) February 1997 | Venue : Scandicci, Florence, Italy | |||
| Marconi Les Pogliacomi, Michael Galluzzo, Buddy Farah, Daniel Ucchino, Vaughan Hunter, Mauro Van Cuylenberg, Michael Kladis (c) (Joe Bruni 88), Mark Robertson, Michael Cunico, Andrew Daniele (Mark Racker 75), Nick Bosevski Goal : Mark Robertson (68) |
1 | - | 1 | Manchester United (ENG)
Culmin, Duncan, Wallwork, Curtis, Brishtwell (Malvern 73), Wilson (Brebner 73), Phil Neville, Ford, David Hilton (Norman 63), Naylor, David Brown Goal : David Brown (89) |
| Coaches : Lee Sterrey (Marconi), Jimmy Ryan (Manchester United) | ||||