December 27, 1936: Lazio - Alessandria 4-0
- Dag Jenkins
- 22 hours ago
- 7 min read
Post Christmas stroll
The Biancocelesti win comfortably against a passive Alessandria
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished 7th, first under Czech Walter Alt (1-27) and then Hungarian József Viola. Top scorer was Silvio Piola with 21 goals (19 in Serie A).
This year the Magyar coach Viola (Italianised form) was kept on. The main new signings were midfielder Luigi Milano (Alessandria) and forwards Umberto Busani (Alessandria), Giovanni Costa (Vicenza) and Giovanni Riccardi (Alessandria).
Leaving were: midfielders Attilio Ferraris IV (Bari), Francesco Gabriotti (retiring), Odoacre Pardini (retiring) and forwards Antonio Bisigato (Ambrosiana Inter), Anfilogino "Filó" Guarisi (Corinthians) and Virgilio Felice Levratto (Savona).
So far, Lazio had played twelve games. The Biancocelesti had started well beating Milan 3-0 and had also beaten Juventus 1-0 at home but had lost the derby 1-3. They had won 7, drawn 3 and lost 2, giving them 17 points in the table and joint top position with Bologna.
The previous season Alessandria had finished 8th in Serie A. The manager was first Austrian Rudolf Soutschek and then compatriot and former Lazio, Karl Stürmer. In the league they had lost 0-3 to Lazio in Rome but won 2-0 at home. The Grigi had done well in the Coppa Italia reaching the final but lost 1-5 to Torino (they had also knocked Lazio out 1-0 in the quarters). The squad included future Lazio, Umberto Busani, Giovanni Riccardi and Luigi Milano.
This year the manager was still Karl Stürmer. The main new signings were: defender Alberto Rosso (Foggia), midfielders Giovanni Bigando (Pro Vercelli), Adolfo Giuntoli (GC Vigevanesi) plus forwards Elvio Banchero (Bari-but had already played for Alessandria 1925-1929), Luigi Casalino (Pro Vercelli), Bruno Castellani (Palermo), Armando Massiglia (GC Vigevanesi), Oreste Menighetti (Casale) and Eligio Vecchi. Midfielder Aristide Coscia was also up from the youth team.
Leaving Alessandria were: defender Michele Borrelli (after nine seasons-Liguria), midfielder Gino Costenaro (Palermo), Settimio Gastaldi (Pro Vercelli), Luigi Milano (Lazio) plus forwards Umberto Busani (Lazio), Alfredo Notti (Modena), Giovanni Riccardi (Lazio) and Pietro Svageli (Pro Vercelli). Some big losses especially Notti and the trio to Lazio.
The Piedmontese had so far won 4 (including Juventus 1-0 at home), drawn 1 and lost 7 (including first 4). They were currently 14th on 9 points, just one point above the second and last relegation slot (Napoli on 8). A tough season for the Orsi (Bears) who were also in financial difficulty hence their transfer market strategy.
Lazio were strong favourites today but the Grigi had won four of their last eight games including the most recent one.
The match: Sunday, December 27, 1936, Stadio PNF, Rome
A glorious sunny day gathered just under 20,000 spectators for this post-Christmas game.
Lazio had a full-strength team available while Alessandria were missing midfielder Oreste Barale.
The game was one way from the word go. Lazio attacked constantly but in the first half hour were denied by several excellent Ugo Ceresa saves.
The breakthrough finally came in the 35th minute. A good team move by Lazio had Giuseppe Viani, Giovanni Costa, Umberto Busani and Giovanni Riccardi all involved before Silvio Piola sent a mid-height cross in from the right which was finished off by Bruno Camolese from close range, 1-0.
Lazio then doubled their lead immediately. In the 36th minute a lovely Riccardi-Piola one-two allowed the Alessandria-born midfielder to charge forward and beat Ceresa again, 2-0.
A double strike in two minutes which would have floored many teams let alone today's struggling Alessandria.
In the second half Lazio continued to dominate and stacked up corners. In the 57th minute, on their seventh corner, Viani headed down to Piola who struck a crisp, precise shot past Ceresa, 3-0.
Lazio were unstoppable and eight minutes later piled more misery on the visitors. In the 65th minute Busani battled with a defender and managed to cross low into the area, Piola astutely dummied deceiving the keeper and Camolese acrobatically volleyed in, 4-0.
Lazio then eased off and from the 81st minute the Grigi had to continue in ten men as Umberto Lombardo had a bad fall and was forced off.
Any form of contest had long been over anyway as Lazio cruised to a comfortable win.
Lazio had been superior in every aspect of the game. The attack enjoyed the limelight with the goals but the midfield with Viani, Giuseppe Baldo and Luigi Milano had been superb.
Alessandria on today's performance looked like serious relegation candidates.
Lazio were still joint top on 19 points, with Scudetto favourites Bologna. Torino were close behind on 18 points and Juventus on 17.
Alessandria were now 15th as Napoli had defeated Ambrosiana Inter. If the league finished today the Grey Bears would be down
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Viola
Who played for Alessandria
Ceresa, Lombardo, Montanari, Rosso, Parodi, Bigando, Croce, Massiglia, Collimedaglia, Robotti, Borgonovo
Manager: Stürmer
Referee: Scorzoni
Goals: 35' Camolese, 36' Riccardi, 57' Piola, 65' Camolese
What happened next
Lazio had an excellent season and finished 2nd. In the next 17 games the Biancocelesti won 9 (including Napoli 5-3 away, Inter 1-0 at home and Alessandria 5-1 away), drew 2 and lost 6 (including derby 0-1). The top scorer was Silvio Piola with 31 goals (21 and Serie A top scorer).
With second place the Biancocelesti qualified for the prestigious Central European Cup played between June and October. Lazio reached the final but were beaten by the great Ferencváros 6-9 on aggregate.
In the Coppa Italia, Lazio crashed out straight away in January losing 0-5 away to Genova 1893.
Alessandria finished 16th and were relegated. In the next 17 games they won 4 (including Roma 5-3 at home), drew 1 and lost 12. Towards the end of the season they tried changing managers and brought in duo Elvio Banchero and Ottavio Piccinini but it was too late and they lost the last five matches (including Lazio 1-5) and went down. The top scorer was Alessandria-born Luciano Robotti with 6 league goals.
In the Coppa Italia they did not repeat the previous year's run and went out immediately to Milan 0-4 away.
The Scudetto was won by Bologna for their 4th title (three points ahead of Lazio). Piedmont lost two places in Serie A as both Alessandria and Novara were relegated.
Let's talk about Bruno Camolese
Bruno Camolese was born in Perarolo di Cadore (Belluno), on December 27, 1914.
He grew up in the Vicenza youth set up and made his debut for the first team in 1931.
The "Lane" were in Prima Divisione (3rd tier) and finished 8th under Hungarian Imre János Bekey. The following year they came top of their group and then second in the final group but were promoted to Serie B due to a change in format. In 1933-34 Vicenza came 12th in their Serie B group under another Hungarian, Otto Krappan, and should have been relegated but were saved, again to a change in format. In 1934-35 Vicenza were finally relegated to Serie C under future Lazio József Viola and Camolese left. He played 86 league games for the "Berici" and scored 39 goals.
In 1935 he joined Lazio in Serie A. The manager was Czech Walter Alt but after 27 games József Viola arrived. The Biancocelesti finished 7th and Camolese played 19 league games with 3 goals (Alessandria, Brescia, Napoli) and 2 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Roma in 2-1 win).
In 1936-37 Lazio had a superb season and finished 2nd. They also reached the Central European Cup final but lost to Ferencváros 6-9 on aggregate. Camolese played 30 league games with 4 goals (Novara, Ambrosiana Inter, Alessandria x2) plus 5 in the CEC with 1 goal (Ferencváros).
In 1937-38 Lazio finished 8th. Camolese played 26 league games with 6 goals (Genova x2, Bari, Lucchese, Roma, Liguria) plus 1 game in Coppa Italia.
In 1938-39 Viola was replaced by Luigi Allemandi after 19 games. The Biancocelesti finished 10th and Camolese finally won a league derby (2-0 in Testaccio). He played 23 league games with 2 goals (Modena, Lucchese) plus 1 game in Coppa Italia.
The 1939-40 season would be his last for now in Rome. The manager was Hungarian Géza Kertész and Lazio finished a good 4th. Camolese played less, 10 league games and 2 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Macerata). Lazio also won another league derby (1-0 at home).
In 1940 he returned to Vicenza in Serie B. The manager was first Pietro Spinato and then Eraldo Bedendo and the Biancorossi finished 6th. Camolese played 31 league games with 2 goals.
In 1941-42 he was back at Lazio. The Biancocelesti had a good season under Austrian Alexander Popovich and finished 5th but Camolese only played one league game.
In 1942-43 he was with Vicenza again in Serie A. The manager was Pietro Spinato and the "Nobile Provinciale" finished 12th. Camolese played 12 league games with 2 goals (Milan, Atalanta).
The war then brutally interrupted top football, though it continued at local level.
In 1945-46 Camolese was in Serie A Alta Italia with Vicenza, again beginning with Pietro Spinato and ending with Eraldo Bedendo. Vicenza finished 11th in their group and Camolese played 17 league games with 2 goals.
He then retired at the age of 31.
Camolese was an attacking midfielder who only played for two clubs, Vicenza and Lazio. He had a good club career with plenty of goals especially early on at Vicenza.
At Lazio he played 120 games with 18 goals. He was part of the team that achieved second place in 1937 and had five positive years on the Biancoceleste side of Rome.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Mitropa Cup |
1935-36 | 21 (4) | 19 (3) | 2 (1) | - |
1936-37 | 33 (5) | 30 (4) | - | 3 |
1937-38 | 29 (7) | 26 (6) | 1 | 2 (1) |
1938-39 | 24 (2) | 23 (2) | 1 | - |
1939-40 | 12 (1) | 10 | 2 (1) | - |
1941-42 | 1 | 1 | - | - |
Total | 120 (18) | 109 (15) | 6 (2) | 5 (1) |
Sources
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