18 SENIOR TIMES- NOVEMBER 2018 SENIOR TIMES - NOVEMBER 2018 I 19 commotion erupted from heeded the linesman's signals Scene from the Challenge Cup match of Mtarfa between St George's FC and the crowd. Knives, knuckle­ for a goal-kick. Floriana. The match captured the imagination of the Maltese and on the day ,. - of the game a crowd of over 1 0,000 spectators fought for every inch of space dusters and other implements To draw a conclusion, it is- to watch one of the classic matches in the history of Maltese foot ball. of war appeared in the hands probable that the Saints were a of some of the best-known shade better than Floriana on trouble makers. the day, but it is certain that It must have been a horren­ they were surprised by the dous situation for a player improvement shown by the finding himself in the crowd Greens who showed that they aft ~r a furious tackle espe­ were on the threshold of great cially if he happened to belong things. In fact, in the next few to the other team. Punches, years they were to dominate scratches and spitting were all Maltese football with perhaps in order in those brief seconds the greatest team of the pre­ that he spent in the enemy's World War One era. The teams camp (A Survey of Maltese Soc­ on that historic occasion were: cer II, Daily Malta Chronicle, StGeorge's: Neriku Camilleri, April27, 1928). Lawrence Busuttil, T. Camilleri, It was not long however, John Born, Josie Fearne, before Robbie Naudi equalised Emmanuel Busuttil, Guze for the Irish. ·Naudi scored Tagliaferro, Masu .. Hicks, with a tremendous kick which Emmanuel Delia and P. nearly broke the rigging. Theuma, G. Cordina; and for When the game was Floriana FC: Pawlu Borg, Rug­ restarted Floriana won several gieru Friggieri, Fredu Friggierk corners, but they were badly Salvu Tabone, Guzi Mallia, taken. The minutes ticked by Emmanuel Vella, F. Mifsud, W. and the Saints' goalkeeper Pisani, Guzi Vella, Salvu Samuel Nerik u Camilleri was kept and Robbie Naudi. busy by the Greens' forwards, Floriana FC 1908-09: Salvu Samuel, Fredu Vella, (L-Ispagu), Pawlu Borg, Fredu Friggieri (ld-Dreadnought), W. Pisani, RA Naudi, but he did his job splendidly. -.. A.V. Camilleri (Secretary), J. Jones (President), Ruggieru Friggieri (lz-iibga), Jack Holland, Manwel Vella (11-Baiokk), Gui:i On the half-hour, StGeorge's Mallia and Salvu Tabone (Tai-Luminata). pressed forward in a desperate charge on the Irish fort but Naudi scored Pawlu Borg in goal was equal '' to the occasion and averted with a disaster for his team. It was now the Irish turn to tremendous The class· c match of Mtarfa attack and once more Camil­ leri was tested with two kick which A great game between StGeorge's and Floriana attracted thousands and fired up straight shots at his goal but once again he was not found nearly broke the Maltese imagination, says Carmel Baldacchino. wanting. At 4.45 p.m. Sgt. Hicks whistled for the end of the rigging n December 1907, were ready to face the might of position. It is estimated that the game with the score still Joseph Fearne, captain StGeorge's. Negotiations were over 10,000 spectators sur­ level at 1-1. A hurried consul- and secretary of St opened between the two clubs rounded the square or took tation was held, and it was The arguments were long I George's FC issued a to stage another match for a other points of vantage to view agreed to play another quarter and widespread and there was challenge in the local newspa­ silver cup. The negotiations the game. of an hour each way. At the a huge outcry for the game to pers to all Maltese civilian were long and hard but at last Mos.t of them were decidedly end of this period however be replayed but it took the two teams (Malta Herald, Decem­ they came to a positive end against St George's. Nor were the score remained the same, . parties nearly three years ber 17, 1907). in February 1909. The parade they bashful in displa~ng their therefore the referee declared before they reached an agree­ In January 1908, he issued ground at Mtarfa, situated as sympathies. For them, every a draw (Daily Malta Chronicle, ment and he issue was another challenge, this time to far away as possible from one of the Floriana players was February 16, 1909). decided. The game was finally the winners of the Junior both districts was chosen as a hero, and every Cospicuan After the match StGeorge's replayed on Saturday, Febru­ Football League. Then, in the neutral venue for this a deadly foe. However, despite accused Floriana of having ary 24, 1912 behind closed February of the same year St great encounter. this charged atmosphere broken the pre-match con- doors in the newly-opened George's challenged any ship The publicity given to the everything was orderly and, tract. The Saints complained Mile End Sports Ground. Flo.­ of the fleet to play against game during the long months although extra police were sent StGeorge's FC 1908-09: Lawrence Busuttil, Emmanuel Busuttil (Ba/o/u), Salvu Gili, Griffiths that Floriana FC was really riana won the game 1-0 to win · them (Daily Malta Chronicle, of negotiations fired the imag­ up from Valletta, their services (President), P. Mugliett, Josie Fearne, J. Seychell, Gui:e Tagliaferro, Masu Hicks, J . Consiglio, a 'picked team' from all over the coveted trophy. That, how­ February 13, 1908). ination of the Maltese. Hun­ were not required. A. Cordina and G. Pisani. the island. In those days .. ever, is another story. The Saints were at the time dreds of bets were placed as The game started with St when the registration of This contest so fired th~ the undisputed kings of Mal­ February approached and the ~eorge's taking the initiative. players was unheard of, imagination of the Maltese tese football and few teams if Mtarfa Cup became the only Floriana were more energetic were renowned for the crunch Before the game with Floriana sages from both warring par­ there was an unwritten agree- that the following season any, were ready to accept their topic of conversation in Malta. but they were not as accurate in of their tackles. The crowd he boasted and bragged that ties. This pique which devel­ ment among teams represent- some Maltese gentlemen challenge. However, towards Even housewives going about their passing as the team from enjoyed every minute of it. he would kick the hell out oped between these two great ing a district that all the stepped forward and set the end of the 1907-08 season their shopping made sure to Cospicua. The first good chance About Friggieri we have of Friggieri. characters of Maltese football players had to come from the about to organize Maltese a threat to the Saints' domina­ tell their neighbours that it was to open the score fell to St already spoken in this series. 'Ii:-iibga' was no novice in added fuel t9 an already explo­ place they represented. Flori- football by setting up the tion arose from their old rivals a sure bet that their favourites George's when t~ey · were It is appropriate however, at these tactics. He was also sive situation. It seems that ana did not abide by this rule Civilian Football League . .. , from Floriana. would win the trophy. awarded a penalty, but the ball this point to say something renowned fo r his extraordi­ Delia got the worse of the and therefore St George's There is no doubt that 1908-09 The Greens had never got The great day arrived. was kicked high overthe ribbon. about Emmanuel Delia. 'It­ nary physical strength. He did exchanges because during the felt cheated. was the turning point in the over the humiliation suffered Crammed trains, swaying cabs Ruggieru Friggieri Ii:-iibga rice' apparently was quite a not fear anybody, and he made game he had to leave the pitch StGeorge's also claimed that history of football in Malta. in 1900 when StGeorge's had and a dense mass of pedestri­ of Floriana and Er:iimanuel character. He was small but it known that he \oYOUld rattle twice to attend to his injuries. in the incident which led to The spark which was ignited The classic Mtarfa Cup Trophy which nowadays rests in defeated them in the Floriana ans made the journey. Mtarfa Delia It- of St George's tough as nails and he enj oy~d the bones out of Delia's body. Midway through the first Floriana's equalizer the ball by students:, of St Ignatius Floriana. First played for in 1909 between Floriana FC and St Ticc _George's the game ended in a 1-1 draw. The replay was played Cup encounter. Slowly but presented an imposing specta­ opened a personal battle an awesome reputation in Before the game reports half, Masu Hicks sold Friggieri was over the line before College and the pioneers of three years later in 1912. Flori ana won the second encounter surely, they were building a cle of sound and movement as between them on the pitch. Cospicua for his toughness arrived daily in both camps the dummy before shooting Mifsud centred to Pisani and Cospicua had by now become 2-0 and the right to keep the trophy. strong team and by 1908 they the huge crowd jostled for They were small men, but they and great physical strength.