It’s strange to think that alongside the likes of Totti, Pirlo, Cannavaro and Del Piero is a member of Italy's World Cup team who could have played for England. Or Ashton Town. But it’s true. And unbeknown to the maternity unit at Tameside General, a future World Cup hero was born there on September 17 1977.
 | | Simone Perrotta in World Cup action |
Simone Perrotta, who wears the No.20 shirt for his country, is a first choice midfielder for the Italian national side and won his 28th cap as the Azzurri booked their place in the Final on Sunday July 9. But life for our hero began in Ashton-under-Lyne. His father Francesco and mother Anna Maria had moved from Italy to Manchester to join Francesco's brother and for some years, helped to run Yates' Wine Lodge on Stanley Street in Manchester. Simone was the youngest of three boys - his brothers are Gianluca and Max - and went to St Anne's School in Ashton. But in 1982, when Simone was just six years old, his parents decided to move back to the Cosenza province of Southern Italy. And so Ashton's loss was Italy's gain. However, Perrotta isn't the only footballer from the town to play in a World Cup final: Geoff Hurst, England's hat-trick hero of 1966, was also born in Ashton-under-Lyne! Forza Perrotta! Simone Perrotta plays now for Serie A side AS Roma, but has had previous spells with Reggina, Juventus, AS Bari, and Chievo Verona, signing for his present Rome club from Chievo at the start of the 2004/05 season. But Italian as he may be, there will always be a part of him that belongs to Manchester. And even though England are out, at least there’s another side we Mancunians can legitimately support in the Final. Forza Perrotta, we say! | 
