During the 1970s, the football scene in Rome was filled with many young men connected to Inter fan clubs or various pseudo-clubs. However, in 1979, a group of supporters who regularly attended matches and were drawn to the growing Italian ultras movement decided to create something greater – an identity that would go beyond an ordinary fan club.
Within the Inter Club “11 Stelle”, led by Maurizio and a historic core group composed of Gianni (Spillo), Marco (Er Riccio), Pino (Er Negro), Sergetto, Renatone, Umberto (Er Bokassa), Franco (Er Lucertola), Stefanino, Stefano “Il Fotografo”, Zabbarah, and later joined by Claudio Ovindoli and Enrico Pesce Palla, the subgroup Boys San – Rome Section (Boys Roma) was founded.
The core consisted of around thirty young men between the ages of 18 and 25, coming from different social backgrounds but united by their passion for Inter. The political climate of that period – the so-called “Years of Lead” – was marked by street conflicts and deep divisions. Most of the group leaned to the right, though some members sympathised with the left.
A year earlier, in Rome, Luigi “Il Pantera” and Remo, together with a few friends, had founded the Pantere Nerazzurre, a group that later merged with the newly formed Boys Roma, leaving behind a strong and respected legacy among Inter supporters.
The group’s first major test came during the 1979 Coppa Italia final, when Inter defeated Napoli 2–1 in Rome. The South Curve of the stadium was filled with Nerazzurri flags, while a small group of Napoli fans attempting to start chants were “relocated” to the North Curve by the police, as the atmosphere was clearly unfavourable for them.
The first official Boys Roma banner made its debut on 24 February 1980 in Milan, during the match Inter vs Catanzaro (3–1). From that moment, the group began to appear more frequently, particularly in the decisive final matches of the 1979/80 championship – against Roma, Fiorentina, and Ascoli. Their presence grew stronger and more consistent, always positioned on the right side of the North Curve, near the “Eagles” group, where the Inter Club was based at the time.
Over the years, many members have come and gone. Some are no longer with us, others have stepped aside, but countless names have kept the Boys Roma spirit alive – including Danielone, Carletto, Mauretto, Fabrizietto, Pennellone, Manolo, Robertino, Massimo, Robertone, Portellone, Portellino, Tanuzzo, Tiziano, Paolone, and later Dario and Ferruccio – who proudly carried the name B.S.R. 1979 throughout Italy and abroad.
Today, Boys Roma counts over 300 active members, with many more followers and supporters, making them a true reference point within the region and beyond. They remain one of the most recognisable groups within Inter’s ultras movement, and a symbol of loyalty that embodies their long-standing slogan:
“Players come and go… but Boys Roma will ALWAYS be there.”
