Sampdoria and St Pauli: story of a friendship forged on the terraces

Many football fans will be aware of St Pauli, the cult club from Hamburg currently competing in Bundesliga 2. The club has no glorious traditions: it has never won a national league or cup title, but the name is known across Europe because of the club’s activism and its unique bond with its fans, who play a key role in club life.

So what’s this got to do with Sampdoria, we hear you ask?

Well, in the early 2000s, a friendship was born between groups of fans from the Gradinata Sud and those of the Südtribüne, the heart of St Pauli’s Millerntor stadium. The relationship has gone from strength to strength since then, with the two sets of fans waving flags in honour of their counterparts at their respective stadiums every year.

Check out the video below for more on this unique footballing tale…