Many have heard on the radio or television “let’s take the line from the Castellani stadium in Empoli ..” without knowing who the person after whom the Tuscan city named the stadium was. Around Italy there are sports facilities that with their name want to remember stories and characters that must not be forgotten.
What happened many years ago is still fresh in mind, not only in Empoli. The name Carlo Castellani is indelible, the project of this solidarity sticker has two purposes: to pay homage to those who have never forgotten it, to restore strength to the historical memory of those who still do not know the life and tragedy of this champion.
The Celebrative Sticker #36 is Carlo Castellani, born in Montelupo Fiorentino on January 15, 1909, died in Gusen on August 11, 1944. In between, a lot of football played, many goals scored with his Empoli, the Tuscan club’s absolute best scorer for over 70 years . The record will be surpassed only by Francesco “Ciccio” Tavano in 2011.
In the dark years of the war and the regime, although his family is anti-fascist, Carlo doesn’t get involved in politics. On the night of 8 March 1944, the carabinieri and the hierarch knock on the door of the Castellani house to take away his father David, who however is ill. Carlo decides to take his place, without resisting for fear of retaliation against his family.
Carlo is taken to Florence. From platform 6 of the Santa Maria Novella station he is loaded onto a train for Germany, crammed with hundreds of other deportees and deportees, some will die along the way, he arrives days later at the Mauthausen concentration camp.
Carlo Castellani, physically and mentally exhausted, died on 11 August 1944.
This solidarity stickers was made possible thanks to the collaboration with Aned – National Association of Former Deportees in Nazi Camps, in particular the sections of Empoli, Florence and Bologna. It is sponsored by the Municipality of Empoli and the Municipality of Montelupo Fiorentino and is created in collaboration with the Empoli Football Club which allowed the official logo of the white-blue club to be inserted.
Special thanks to Franco Castellani, Carlo’s son, for sharing memories, letters, photos. Of these photos, only a few but significant ones have given life to a folder that acts as a splendid frame for a figurine that will remain over time. To never forget.
The Celebrative Sticker #36 solidarity sticker will be presented on Friday 3 March 2023, at 4.30 pm in the Press Room of Empoli FC at the Carlo Castellani Stadium.
TOGETHER for ANED!
With the proceeds of this new solidarity sticker + folder, it will be possible to support the activities of ANED the National Association Ex Deported in the nazi camps (http://www.deportati.it/?lang=en); we strongly feel the need to keep the memory of what happened alive and daily, because it should never happen again. 150 of the numbered version and 50 of the unnumbered version were donated to Aned Empoli as our support to this important reality, for a total value of 1,000 euros
We want to remember Vittorio Staccione both for the great man, persecuted, that he was, and for the great footballer, as the facts say, that he was.
CARLO CASTELLANI
Celebrative Sticker #36 – Sticker + Folder
Limited and numbered edition 300 copies
Cost € 7.00
+ postage costs (for Italy € 5.00, Europe € 8.00)
How to pay:
- Bank transfer:
Bank:Emil Banca – Credito Cooperativo
Branch:Borgo Panigale, Bologna Italia
IBAN:IT82 Y070 7202 4000 0000 0427 519
BIC:ICRAITRRTS0
For purchases by bank transfer, please always follow an email to figurineforever@gmail.com - Paypal to the address only figurineforever@gmail.com, with Paypal the price per card is € 1.00 more
- IN THE CAUSAL ALWAYS INSERT: WHICH CARD YOU WANT TO BUY AND YOUR ADDRESS FOR SHIPMENT, PLEASE BEFORE TO PAY ALWAYS POSTAGE COSTS FROM ITALY TO YOUR COUNTRY
AVAILABLE NOW! (copies available 116/300)
the folders of the solidarity stickers are numbered, the number you receive is random. The choice of the specific number is a pre-sale service only and only for the members of Figurine Forever
An unnumbered version was also printed, mainly used for distribution to institutions, schools, cultural and social realities as a method to raise awareness and always keep historical memory alive.
