An espresso with Wayne Girard - Writer at Roma Official and a "Calciolover" from NYC

“I got into a serious car accident when I was younger, wearing my favorite Totti-shirt, that became a defining moment for my life”, tells Wayne Girard, writer for AS Roma website and an American Calciolover.

How Wayne become involved in AS Roma
Wayne Girard is one of the main contributors and writers for the AS Roma website, working with certain projects to integrate the fans more, it is a childhood dream that have become true for the New York-living Romanista.
- At the time when Pallotta took over Roma, and thereafter hired Paul Rogers from Liverpool to improve the social media communication, I was writing on my personal website and moderating the Roma forum Big Soccer. They were looking for writers. I contacted Paul and said I would be happy to help. So, I started writing for them. In 2014 my first text was published on the site.
- I remember that WHOA-feeling of the first time I saw my name on the website. It was so cool!, says Wayne.

To fall in love with the "Calcio" in the United States of "Soccer"
Despite Italian football not being that popular in the big apple overseas, Wayne got into contact with the beautiful “Calcio” already as a four-year old.
- I grew up in New Jersey with my mom and we didn’t have that many channels on our TV. However we had the Italian state TV of RAI, so in that way I suddenly realized that Italian football was something, especially Totti, Roma and the Romanitá with its symbolic wolf, power and unity.
- Seeing Totti and the beautiful red and yellow shirts of Roma, the club became a cornerstone in my childhood.
- I know we have Italian ancestors but it is a long time since they immigrated to USA. Therefore Roma also became a way for me to connect back to my Italian roots.

To further strengthen Wayne’s passion for Roma he went to his first Roma-game when the club travelled to USA to play Liverpool in a pre-season game, long before International Champions Cup etc. The shirt he wore then has always played a key role in his life.
- My mum brought me to Liverpool-Roma at Giant Stadium, in 2004. I was wearing my favourite Totti-shirt on that game.

From that game in Giant Stadium:

The Car Accident
- Two years later, wearing the same shirt I got into a serious car accident. I survived but it became a defining moment in my life. And that I survived when wearing that shirt, it got an even more special place in my life.

The story about this car accident and how Totti has meant a lot to Wayne did actually reach “Il Gladiatore” himself.
- Before Totti´s last game at Olimpico I sent Roma this story. Telling about the car accident, how the Roma-shirt was an important piece in my life and as well how much Totti has meant to me.
- Roma actually appreciated that text so much that they sent me a signed Totti-shirt back.

The Giallorossi-signed match-shirt is clearly visible when we make a Skype-visit at Wayne’s place in NYC and it is an impressive piece.

Wayne´s latest projects
Nowadays Wayne has project-assignments at AS Roma and writes pieces well worth reading at his own website, Gentleman Ultra, Italian Football TV, Al Jazeera and These Football Times. Moreover he is teaching history at a high school, as well as college.

In terms of writing, the Corona-pandemic have made him switched focus a bit.
- I do some writing for local businesses here in town. For instance my favorite pizzeria in Manhattan (Song é Napulé) and telling how that Neapolitan pizzeria is an example of how NYC is a capital of the new world.
- That the city is home for Neapolitans living distant from Naples is a really good example of how this city has its way of reaching and being meaningful for people from all over the globe. LINK

But of course, Wayne still does some interesting football pieces.
- Recently I wrote a piece on Giuseppe Rossi and how he came to represent an entire generation of kids from NYC. Despite that he was accused of being a villain among US football fans as he chose to represent Italy instead of USA. LINK

Great piece. Thank you???????? https://t.co/7Sd3hj3Oxb
— GIUSEPPE ROSSI (@GiuseppeRossi22) April 30, 2020

- Also I wrote a piece about Gonzalo Villar. Looking really close on his performance and promoting how he is an extremely smart player, and how that may have gone unnoticed in the last match against Cagliari. LINK

The Future of Roma?
As a final episode in our Skype-visit to Manhattan we took the chance to discuss the future of Roma. We both agree that we, before the pause, saw some inspiring potential in Fonseca´s team.
- Before the break we scored 8 goals in two Serie A-matches (Cagliari & Parma) and I think it really showed that the players and the team started to come together. I mean before the season there were so many new players, and a new coach that were to come together.
- Then Atalanta has just smashed us. I didn’t see that beforehand, I have seen Ilicic for the last ten years and could never expect him to be one of the absolute best RWs which he has been this season. Gasperini has really shown how to form that team.

Just looking at the football-side, Wayne is slightly positive to the break.
- We have been very injury-prone throughout the season and now we got time to recover those injuries. This extra time would also be good for coaches and players, who can become more of a team.

And even further...
To finalize the interview, we ended our Manhattan-visit with some optimistic considerations about the future.
- I have good hopes for the future. We are lucky that we can build around Zaniolo as our #10 and have him as our focal point.

Can’t wait to have him back, and really just to see him having fun out there again https://t.co/Lg04sqAbKJ
— Wayne Girard (@WayneinRome) May 10, 2020

- Then if we in the coming years can form a consistent back line, keeping the core players and talents of e.g. Pellegrini, Diawara, Mancini, Kluivert, Under, Villar we should be able to complete.
- Add a top-right back and a top-striker when we have the chance I have hopes that we could be able to race for the title.

With those optimistic thoughts we say goodbye to Wayne and hope to see him on a game at Olimpico in not a too distant future.

If you want to read more about Wayne´s stuff, here are some good links… AND... Do follow him on Twitter!

Once upon a time Antonio Cassano & Francesco Totti descended from heaven to grace the football world. The greatest duo we may ever see: pic.twitter.com/Dso9d53ScW
— Wayne Girard (@WayneinRome) September 29, 2018