By the summer of 1990, Robert Davro was no stranger to following England abroad. A Manchester United fan from Bournemouth, he’d already been part of the travelling support at Euro ’88. But Italia ’90 was a different level—a World Cup finals on foreign soil, and the atmosphere, intensity and chaos were like nothing he’d seen before.
Davro’s journey to Italy was an epic one: ferry to France, train to Paris, overnight train to Italy, and another ferry to Sardinia, where the Italian authorities had placed the England team (and their fans) in semi-isolation. Camping outside Cagliari with little money, no plans, and supermarket beers for sustenance, Davro found himself surrounded by thousands of like-minded, football-obsessed youth. The vibe was raw, tribal and exhilarating. Manchester United had the biggest presence on his campsite, but almost every English club was represented.
The standout memory? The march to England vs. Netherlands—a 3,000-strong mob charging through Cagliari, clashing with Italian police amid swinging batons and clouds of tear gas. It was a defining moment in a summer of pure, unpredictable energy. Though Davro would later choose club over country, Italia ’90 marked the end of one era—and the unforgettable peak of another.
“We had no accommodation, lived on ham and cheese rolls and supermarket beers, and most lads just slept out under the stars.”
Robert Davro
“This was a big step up from ’88, this was the World Cup finals, in Italy. I was a couple of years older and had ventured abroad a few times by now and had started going to United away games far more often so was a bit more clued up. The rave era had started, clothes had got baggy and I was on a high after the cup final (Manchester United had just beaten Crystal Palace in the FA Cup Final).
“The journey to Italy was epic: ferry, train to Paris, train to Italy, ferry to Sardinia. I travelled with a mixed bunch of lads containing Bournemouth, Leeds, Villa and Chelsea. The overnight train from Paris was spent with Scottish and Irish fans, but it was the jocks we got on with the best. They were older than us and had been to Argentina in ’78 and Mexico in ’86, they were great company keeping up a steady stream of stories, ow, and they liked a drink!
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MUFC Rotterdam 91 | Richard Davis
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San Siro Spirals
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Going to the Match | Richard Davis
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Wembley 1990-03 | Tony Davis
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England Lad – Italia 90
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“The Italian authorities were very concerned about us and had placed England on the Island of Sardinia as they didn’t want us on the mainland. The ferry to Sardinia had a heavy army presence who were there to back up the Carabinieri. On arrival no one liked us and all the locals seemed very wary of us, we had no accommodation and ended up on a campsite some way out from the capital Cagliari (the one featured in Kevin Allen’s World Cup diary which is on YouTube and worth a watch).
“We had a tent but plenty of lads just slept out under the stars. We had little money and lived on ham and cheese rolls and supermarket beers. The majority of fans were under 30 and quite frankly nuts. The biggest group on the campsite was Manchester United which would not happen these days but this was just my site, there were mobs from every club.
“The mob that marched through Cagliari to the Dutch game was the best I’ve ever seen—3,000 lunatics charging straight into police jeeps and armoured cars.”
Robert Davro
“The Dutch game was again the standout memory from my time in Sardinia; word had been spreading in the days leading up to the game -“meet at the station at 6”. The mob which marched through Cagliari to the game was the best I’ve seen, 3000 lunatics who when the police blocked the road with jeeps and armoured cars charged straight into them. This did not go down well and baton charges and tear gas were the response.
“I did not stay for the duration of the tournament but mates of mine did, Voodoo Ray who I had travelled with was at the campsite in Turin where England lit fires at the entrance to keep the Italians out at night. The whole buzz of following England back in these dates was exhilarating and Italy was an experience I will never forget. This tournament was my last on foreign soil, the minute United were back in Europe I binned England preferring the more chilled and enjoyable trips with my club. That said the march to the Dutch game, what a buzz, the atmosphere, the tear gas landing all around and the swinging batons. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything, would I do it again? Don’t be ridiculous, I’m a grown up and prefer a nice Airbnb, I do still like a train journey though!”
Robert Davro is a Manchester United and A.F.C. Bournemouth fan and a published author. You can get a copy of his cult football book, No Ticket Required, here – where Davro talks in-depth about 80s casuals, terrace culture and jibbing the turnstiles and the trains whilst following United home and away.
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