By Chris Wright
Having just signed Paolo Di Canio from Celtic in August of 1997, Sheffield Wednesday opted to present their new man to the press at Hillsborough in as culturally sensitive a manner as possible: by roping in their only other Italian player, Benito Carbone (who joined the Owls from Inter Milan the previous summer), and have the pair pose with a mouthful of what was obviously considered in Yorkshire to be the Italian national dish – a £1.50 ham and mushroom frozen pizza from Asda, completely raw of course…
Mmmm, just like Mama used to make back in the old country.
A couple of months earlier, Regi Blinker was unveiled at Hillsborough by having him burst out of a giant edam in the middle of the pitch. *Sigh* Those were simpler, more innocent times.
(Photo: Chris Turvey/EMPICS Sport)