Irish League footballer's 'incredible experience' with Inter Milan ultras

Photo shows Aaron Traynor (inset) who watched Inter Milan draw with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium
-Credit: (Image: Aaron Traynor/Getty Images)


An Irish League footballer has described meeting the famed Inter Milan ultras as an "incredible experience".

Portadown defender Aaron Traynor linked up with the Curva Nord fans' group during a recent trip to watch the Italian giants play Manchester City.

Traynor has followed Inter since he was a boy after taking a liking to the club's blue and black kit, while annual summer holidays to Italy only fed his enthusiasm even more.

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The former Cliftonville man tries to get to as many games as he can, and when the opportunity came about to attend Wednesday's Champions League showdown at the Etihad Stadium, he was straight on to a flight to Manchester.

Traynor said: "I have been a fan since I was young. I always got Inter Milan jerseys when I was young, I'm not sure why.

"When it came to Christmas and my mum asked me to pick a top, I always went for Inter. And back in the 1990s the Serie A was always the pinnacle of European football. I always had a thing for Inter.

"We also go to holiday in Italy. For the past 15 years we have gone to Lake Garda, and I always take a trip to Milan. And the last couple of years I wanted to watch more matches.

Photo shows Inter Milan fans pictured in Manchester
Inter Milan fans pictured in Manchester -Credit:Aaron Traynor

"I don't support any English or Scottish teams, and I just thought I'd follow Inter Milan. I went to the derby last year, and then I went to the Etihad last week for the European game. It was brilliant."

Traynor added: "Normally I go through third party websites, but I bumped into a crowd of fans at the airport. They were all wearing Inter jerseys and I chatted to them.

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"They told me they were the Inter Belfast Supporters' Club and they have about 75 members. I didn't know about that.

"I had a ticket for the home end, and they said I could get any ticket I wanted with them. They could sort me out, and the tickets are face value for any game. So it means in future I can go through them, and pay the normal price."

Traynor decided to sample the authentic Inter Milan experience by joining fans at Shambles Square in Manchester before parading to the stadium. The walk was organised by the Curva Nord ultras.

"After the flight landed, I asked the Belfast lads what their plans were. They said they were meeting up with other fans' groups in a place called Shambles Square. There were a couple of thousand there," he said.

Photo shows Aaron Traynor (circled) with Inter fans as they march to the stadium
Aaron Traynor (circled) with Inter fans as they march to the stadium -Credit:Aaron Traynor

"And then the ultras organised the walk to the stadium which took about an hour. The ultras stand at the front and link their arms together, and nobody can stand in front of them.

"Some of the boys were on the drums and speakers, and they sang and chanted the whole way to the stadium. I joined them for the experience, and it was incredible. It only added to the atmosphere.

"You see things like this on social media, and you see away fans at different cities. I just wanted to experience what that's like. It is the authentic Italians and it's their culture. They live and breathe Inter Milan.

"Normally, you hop on a bus to the stadium and then watch the game. Then hop on a bus and go home. This time it was completely different.

"The Curva Nord are the main ultras group with Inter Milan. They are the ones who are there every home match with flags, the speakers. And then the away games they organise the fans.

"They are passionate supporters who just live and breathe Inter Milan."

Photo shows Aaron Traynor inside the stadium
Aaron Traynor inside the stadium -Credit:Aaron Traynor

It proved a successful trip for Inter after they claimed a spirited draw against Pep Guardiola's City. They also did it resting some key players.

"They rested a few big players because they have the Milan derby this weekend. But the Italian teams just do what they do. Look at Arsenal and Atalanta finishing 0-0, and then City vs Inter finishing the same," Traynor said.

"That's why I love Italian football. Because I am a defender, the Italians are always so well set up and hard to beat. And look at some of the country's football legends. Alessandro Nesta, Fabio Cannavaro, Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta. They have always been so good defensively.

"That's why I have always loved Italian football."

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