The WhatsApp Group That Keeps a Football Miracle Alive
Every morning at 6am, the digital heartbeat of a footballing miracle begins to pulse. Osvaldo Jaconi, now 79, sends his "Good morning" message to a WhatsApp group titled simply "Serie B." This is how the legendary Castel di Sangro team of the mid-1990s maintains their bond, three decades after their extraordinary achievement of reaching Italy's second division from amateur obscurity.
From Mountain Backwater to Serie B Sensation
Castel di Sangro's story remains one of Italian football's most remarkable tales. This small town in mountainous Abruzzo, with its population barely exceeding 5,000, somehow produced a team that climbed from local amateur leagues to Serie B in 1995-96. Their achievement, known as "Il miracolo" (the miracle), was followed by "La salvezza" (the salvation) - an equally unlikely survival from relegation the following season.
"It's like 30 years haven't passed," says Angelo Petrarca, the team's former masseur who performed countless backroom roles. "It shows how much love everybody has for each other, and did back then. As if everybody is still right here."
The American Writer Who Captured the Magic
The story reached global audiences through American journalist Joe McGinniss, who embedded with the team during that first Serie B campaign. His book, The Miracle of Castel di Sangro, became one of the most celebrated sports books of all time, detailing his journey from football novice to passionate observer of this extraordinary community project.
"There were three of us on the staff and things were really family-run," recalls Petrarca, now 73. "If the kit man wasn't around I'd take my two sons to the stadium laundry and we'd wash the players' clothes. Our guys were the lowest-paid in Serie B and perhaps in Serie C. We went to Palermo, Bari, Turin, Genoa, cities with more than 700,000 inhabitants, but we survived."
The Current Generation Keeping the Flame Alive
Today, Castel di Sangro Calcio competes in Italy's ninth tier - the lowest level of organised football. The club was reformed two years ago after previous entities had moved the team to neighbouring Molise and operated from Naples. Ferdinando Iacobucci, who was a ballboy during the miracle years, headed the local group that founded the new club.
"We're starting with good intentions," says Iacobucci. "The miracle is difficult to replicate but we hope to reach a level that Castel di Sangro deserves. Seeing kids from Castel di Sangro unable to play for their home town broke our hearts, so we decided to begin all over again and let them wear the jersey."
Family Connections Across Generations
The legacy continues through family lines. Goalkeeper Gabriel Romito, who saved a penalty from Napoli's Amin Younes in a friendly five years ago, represents the current team's dedication. Meanwhile, right-back Angelo Bonomi plays where his father Claudio scored the famous winner against Pescara that secured La Salvezza in 1997.
"It's an honour to see a member of my family wearing the Castel di Sangro shirt," says Claudio Bonomi, who went on to play for Torino, Sampdoria and Fiorentina. "It's a great town and a great club, and these guys need to be aware of it. Football has changed and it's really tough now. It's very unlikely we can repeat our climb, but you never know."
Controversy and Enduring Friendship
McGinniss's relationship with the club ended controversially when he suspected match-fixing in the final game of the 1996-97 season - allegations strongly denied by those involved. The book also documented other dramas including player tragedies and bizarre signings.
"A writer who doesn't understand football could clearly have misinterpreted some banal things," says Jaconi of the controversy. "It would be the same if I went to report on fashion shows. I would also not understand anything."
Despite this, friendships endured. Petrarca remained on good terms with McGinniss, who sent champagne when the former visited New York. The WhatsApp group continues to connect the old team, including goalkeeper Roberto De Juliis who suffered a brain haemorrhage in October 2024 but remains part of the conversation.
A Legacy That Transcends Results
As the current team wins 3-1 against Gessopalena, maintaining their position at the top of the ninth tier, the spirit of the miracle years lives on. About 50 spectators watch from behind wire fencing, while Petrarca continues performing every conceivable odd job from filling out team sheets to collecting identity cards.
"We've started over with the legacy of the old," says Iacobucci, who spends match days in the tiny club shop pouring coffee and selling replica shirts. "And we're seeking a glimmer of light in the new."
Jaconi, despite claiming he "never thought anything of it," maintains the daily WhatsApp ritual that keeps the miracle alive. The stream of messages popping up on Petrarca's screen tells the true story: some achievements become permanent parts of a community's identity, passed down through generations regardless of what division they play in.
