This clipping from a local San Benedetto Del Tronto (Marche, Italy) newspaper, commemorated the return, after two decades, of a favorite son—Nicola Lagalla, known to locals as “the earthquake.”

Nicola returned to San Benedetto when the hometown soccer team, Samb, was having a spectacular season.

Nicola’s daughter, Marida Parkes, in sending me the clipping, explained:

“When Samb climbed up the soccer ladder—because of their win—the town went berserk… they celebrated for weeks (as you do when you are Italian). Dad and mum flew to Italy for the festivities.

“Dad is fanatical about his soccer and Aussie Rules football. To this day he does not miss a match and will get up at all hours to watch.”

Sanbenedettese, the name for a person who is born in San Benedetto Del Tronto, is also the name of the soccer team—or Samb for short. Red and Blue are the Samb team colors.

Translation of the article:

NICOLA LAGALLA (earthquake)

“Today amongst us, we have chosen an enthusiastic, fanatical pureblooded Sanbenedettese who, from such a distance, has maintained his love not only for his soccer team, Samb, but also that of his hometown.

“He immigrated to Australia 20 years ago. With such distance between them, he missed his family and he has also missed his beloved team—Samb. The only comfort, as the newspaper reported on Tuesday, was that the Red & Blue team was promoted on the football ladder. Upon hearing this, he could not ignore the call to return to his roots and returned to San Benedetto Del Tronto for the festivities.

“He [Nicola] will remain here with us until the beginning of the next season/championship.”

In italiano:

NICOLA LAGALLA (terremoto)

Oggi, tra il pubblico, abbiano scelto un tifoso sambenedettesa puro sangue, che a migliaia di Km di distanza ha mantenuto intatto l’amove per la Samb e per la città de cuore.

Emigrato in Australia, 20 anni fa, più che la lontananza della famiglia ha sofferto la mancanza della sua Samb. L’unico conforto il giornale del martedì che riportava I risultati della Samb. Venuto a conoscenza della promozione della squadra rossoblù, non ha saputo ribellarsi al richiamo del sangue ed è tornado a S. Benedetto per la festa della promozione. Resterà con noi all’inizio del prossimo campionato….

For posts of Nicola’s role in the rescue of escaped prisoners, see these posts:

“Nicola and Liberato Lagalla—Rescue by Sea”
“Nicola Lagalla—After the Rescue”