PRO VERCELLI v TRENTO - STADIO SILVIO PIOLA - SERIE C - 1st MARCH 2025

Getting there

 If you want to take in a piece of Italian football history and happen to find yourself in Milan or Turin, then you could make the short 45 minute trip to Vercelli , home of Pro Vercelli 1892. Pro Vercelli are 7 time winners of the top division title and sit  7th in the all time winners list, still way ahead of the likes of Roma, Napoli and Lazio. All those titles came over a century ago but they are still proud of the fact with several nods to past successes dotted around the ground. Pro Vercelli play at the Stadio Silvio Pioli, named after their former player, World Cup winner and Serie A all time goalscorer.  The stadium is a 10 min direct walk from Vercelli station or 20 minute meander through the town, which was pretty deserted for this Saturday afternoon game. 

Getting in.

A slightly pricey 22 euro seat via Vivaticket in the uncovered  Gradinata Nord stand for this Serie C Saturday night live Now TV game. Based on the look of the seats in this stand, they were neither expecting a big crowd, or had seen one in quite a while. 

What its like.

Not for the first time the town, stadium, fans and  4 Euro Moretti made up for lack of  excitement on the pitch. You often see or hear  the football cliché about playing until midnight, next week or next month and no one would have scored but it was pretty apt for this game. There were very few opportunities from either side, the nearest falling to Vercelli on 85 minutes with a deep cross from the right landing at the far post 6 yard box but the chance was blazed well over the bar and almost out of the ground. It is though a lovely little ground with a very enclosed feeling sitting on the edge of a park and surrounded by flats. Built in the 1930’s it still retains some of its art deco era look through the main stand. No doubt the place is rocking when there is anything approaching the 5500 seated capacity but with the team struggling near the foot of the table , it was more like 10% of that figure. Worth a visit if you are nearby.