The oratories: the cradle of Italian football A reflection on a magic place that no longer exists

Nostalgia can be a trap. It’s easy to assume that life was simpler in the past. Take football, for example. In Italy, when people discuss why the Azzurri missed out on three consecutive World Cups, one of the most overused clichés is that children no longer play in the street, causing a loss of passion for football. This is a subtle way of saying that children nowadays spend too much time playing video games or scrolling through TikTok.

Photos: Alberto Castellano - Milano

This is not entirely true. Yes, it's less common to find kids playing football outside a church or in their village's main square. However, as with all clichés, there is some truth to it. In this case, it's impossible to overlook the fact that children in Italy no longer play football at the oratory like they used to do.

Photos: Emanuele Mattia D'Angelo - Catania

These places were unique. Before the advent of mobile phones and social media, oratories were the best place to disappear without worrying your family. We would spend hours and hours with the ball at our feet, trying every possible trick: playing on a full-size pitch with 11 players on each side; playing 5-a-side on concrete; and playing one-touch football with smaller goals. To be honest, it didn't matter who our opponents or teammates were, as long as the ball was in play and our minds were free from distractions.

Photos: Fabio Monaco - Napoli

It was a way of developing skills, learning the rules, and learning how to behave within a group. These are all lessons that would prove valuable later in life, especially if you end up playing football professionally. Now, this has been lost. It's a sign of the times — there are simply more possibilities now than there were back then. Even for football.

Photos: Giacomo Ricciardi - Roma

Back then, the easiest way to express your passion for football was to play it, and because there were no other options, all the kids would play with you. Now, you can still play football, of course, but you can also watch it and read about it. It's now easier to access other sports besides football, too. A ball bouncing in front of you is no longer the main attraction. All that remains are places that are being left to fall into disrepair and be forgotten.

This article was originally published in French in the latest issue of Views.