What Roma means to its fans

Following the Serie A season ticket campaign, some fans were particularly eager to extend their ticket to the four Europa League group stage games, as well as the Coppa Italia last 16 clash. By 16:04 CET on 29 July these keen supporters had already snapped up their cup places.

There are still fans with season tickets for Serie A matches who are yet to take up the option to extend to cup competitions: they have until 13:00 on Wednesday 13 August. After this date these seats will go on general sale.

Even if "you can’t explain Roma," we asked the four season ticket holders who were quickest off the mark in extending their ticket to cup competitions the same question: if you had to put into words what Roma means to someone who isn't a Roma fan, or doesn't follow football, what words would you use?

Here’s what they had to say.

Ambra, Curva Sud Laterale

"Roma is a love that doesn't need much explanation. Roma encompasses a whole world: it’s a family that shares the same passion. If I had to summarise the concept, I’d say that Roma is my life: I organise my holidays around the chance we make it to a European final."

Andrea, Curva Sud Centrale

"Roma means tradition. Roma is a tribe. I’ve followed the club since the days of Carlo Mazzone. Why was I so quick to get tickets to the cup competitions? Because there’s no better way to spend your money."

Fabrizio, Curva Sud Centrale

"There’s something about Roma that, since 1999, regardless of transfers, results and players, makes me renew my season ticket in the Curva Sud. For me, it’s about renewing my pact of unconditional love: Roma, you exist, and I love you.

Roma is something which you organise everything else around: work, holidays, travel. Roma defines your life, your memories. Roma is the girlfriend who doesn't understand but accepts, Roma is the friend who hugs me every time I well up at the Olimpico, Roma is my mum who told potential suitors to avoid phoning me because "Hey, are you crazy, Roma are playing, call me later."

Roma is the sandwiches my mum made for me to go to the stadium, Roma is the lies I told so I could go to away games. Roma is the version of me who asks: "How did Roma do?" after undergoing a six-hour open-heart operation. Roma is my dad who took me as a child to watch the games from Monte Mario before the Olimpico was renovated in 1990.

Roma is romance, Roma is love, it's that phase we'll never get over, it's an illness, it's a community, it's a family.

Roma is something that others can't understand, because... it can't be explained."

Federico, Tevere Parterre Nord

"How am I supposed to answer that? It's impossible - it's like if you were to ask me if you loved your mum or dad more. Roma is intangible, Roma is beyond everything. Roma is Roma, Roma will always be there regardless of other circumstances. In my case, for example, the transfer market doesn't matter: Roma will be Roma and that’s that.

I've followed Roma since the day I was born. My parents and my uncles had lifetime season tickets and the first time I saw Roma live was at the Citta di Roma tournament in 1997. Since then, I’ve barely missed a kick…"