EAFC Tours

Previous Tour to Biella, Italy (above) March 4th-7th, 2004.

Several years ago, Vittorio Musso, president of Italian club Biella met an old Accie at Shanghai airport. Vittorio asked him if it would be possible to organise a game for Biella if they came to Edinburgh for the 2002-3 Scotland vs Italy game. Being an Accie he naturally delegated the task to someone else!

In March 2003, the Italian 6 Nations weekend, Biella did indeed visit Raeburn Place! An exciting match, which saw an Accies combined 2/3rd XV (coached by Lions and Scotland great Finlay Calder) beat Biella, was followed by an evening of festivities in the Club.

Food was supplied by our resident Chef, Parky, who showed off his Italian cooking skills! Later on that evening the players took themselves up town to the opening night of "Faith" nightclub, which by all accounts was an interesting evening!

As a result of the success of the evening, Accies were asked to send a team out to Italy in March 2004 when Scotland again played Italy in the 6 Nations Championship.

Accies accepted this invitation and, while there, presented Biella with an especially painted whisky bottle showing the famous pavilion of Raeburn Place together with a print commemorating Calcutta Cup matches at the Accies ground.

On the back of the Accies visit the Under 21 international between Italy and Scotland was awarded to Biella and so the away team were lead out by an Accies piper and cheered on by the tourists from Edinburgh.

All in all it promises to be the start of a beautiful friendship....

If you'd like to see some photos (7 to be exact) taken while on tour in Biella then please visit the site's photo Gallery