He raised entire generations of boys, united by a passion for football and its values. A special person, loved by everyone, in the hamlet of Cambiano (where he lived) and beyond. In 2018, a poll promoted by “Sei di Castelfiorentino se…”, Castelfiorentino’s most-followed social page, had in fact decreed him as the “Personality of Castelfiorentino” having obtained the most votes.
Corrado Innocenti, who passed away in 2013 and was the real “soul” of Cambiano, will be named after the hamlet’s sports field on Sunday 7 April (10.30 a.m.) during a ceremony attended by the city authorities (Mayor Alessio Falorni, Councillor for Sport Simone Bruchi, President of FBC Castelfiorentino United ASD, Alessandro Maltinti), his daughter Sonia and finally the “Ragazzi di Corrado”, a group born on social networks in 2014 that will also hold a “little match” in his memory.
The naming of the Cambiano sports field, an act strongly desired by the Falorni Administration and FBC Cambiano United, is motivated by the promotional role played by Corrado Innocenti in the realisation of the sports facility and, later, in the foundation of FBC Cambiano, which he directed for over 25 years with a very special, unique love and attention, destined to leave its mark.
“From there, children passed on, later to become fathers,” write the FBC Cambiano United executives, “who continued to send their children to play, believing strongly in that school of football and life. A football of other times, made of love, dedication, attention to detail. At the basis of everything was education and respect for others”.
The manager of a newsstand for over 50 years, Corrado was also the animator of numerous other initiatives: his was the idea of bringing newspapers to the “Santa Verdiana” hospital, as well as a series of events to make the small Cambiano community a living, vital, supportive one.
“Corrado”, stressed the mayor, Alessio Falorni, “was for decades the noblest and best-loved reference point of the hamlet of Cambiano, leaving an indelible memory for entire generations of locals who approached football and – thanks to his precious teachings – loved it not only as a sporting discipline, but above all as a school of life. A person to be taken as an example for his dedication to the common good, to the community in which he lived, and for having known how to spread the most authentic values of sport. The Cambiano Sports Field could only be named in his memory, and I am happy to be able to conclude my mandate by respecting this promise made to FBC Cambiano United, which he had directed with great professionalism and love”.
