Aldershot Town 2 v 1 Swindon Town.......

Paolo Di Canio was born in Rome on 9 July 1968, in the district of Quarticciolo - a working-class area populated by Roma fans.

But despite the strident peer group pressure Di Canio was nevertheless drawn to Lazio and he signed for the club in 1985, remaining there until 1990, when he was sold to another of Italy's biggest clubs, Juventus. He subsequently left there after an ‘animated exchange’ with manager Giovanni Trapattoni and spent the 1993-94 season with Napoli. Two seasons followed at Milan, culminating in another row, this time with Fabio Capello.

In 1996 he joined Celtic and following a successful season in Glasgow he moved to the Premiership and Sheffield Wednesday. Whilst with 'The Owls', Di Canio was the club's leading goal scorer and fans favourite…..although he did make referee Paul Alcock look pretty stupid with a gentle push while playing against Arsenal……over went the ‘ref’ in a ‘reverse Ashley Young’ and poor old Paolo was banned for 11 matches.

In January 1999, Di Canio left Hillsborough and signed for West Ham United, leading them to a UEFA Cup position.

Then in 2001, Paolo won the FIFA Fair Play Award following a noteworthy display of sportsmanship. Di Canio shunned a goal scoring opportunity when he caught the ball from a cross instead of burying it in the open goal, with Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard lying injured on the ground after he twisted his knee attempting a clearance on the edge of the box.

A few more public rows followed, both in England and Italy, before Paolo announced his retirement in March 2008 ending a colourful, 23 year playing career.

Just over 3 years later, on 20 May 2011, Di Canio was appointed manager of Swindon Town.

Now I wonder where his mind was on Tuesday night as he watched his ‘Robins’ fail to secure the point needed for promotion from League 2?

Perhaps his emotions were drawn towards thoughts of his mum and dad……sadly both parents died in the space of the last six months.

And is it possible that when the pitch irrigation system turned the Recreation Ground into a stage set in the piazzas of Navona or Trevi or Barberini, Paolo’s concentration was distracted by a flashback to his youth? Under the brilliance of the Recreation Ground floodlights could he see images of the wonderful fountain in Piazza Mattei in the Ghetto, said to have been built in a single night as a romantic gesture and decorated with tortoises by Bernini?
In the end it didn’t really matter as Aldershot were simply too hungry and animated for a competent but lacklustre Swindon Town.

And as the final whistle cut through the cold evening air Paolo walked somewhat forlornly towards his travelling fans……I feel the next page of his life is about to turn.