Football in Malta (3) THE TURBULENT YEARS OF PEACE AND WAR hen the volunteer-admin­ Hamrun Spartans fielded their entered the field of play and W istrators sallied forth to first official side and to their carried off their players shoulder give the game some semblance of surprise and that of everyone else high to Valletta, without order and a measure of discipline, they found themselves leading the troubling to complete the they soon found that teething famous Greens by three goals to remaining time of play. This time problems were many and varied, two. With only a couple of punishment was meted out, and and were soon holding a rather minutes to go Floriana were able the points were rightly awarded undisciplined baby in their arms. to salvage some of their lost pride to Floriana, but nothing could However, patiently and with when they were awarded a take away the Citizens' joy that much tact they soon found that a penalty which was converted by they were the first club to score a formula based on common sense the usual Friggieri. So elated were league goal against Floriana, and a measure of compromise, the Spartans that when the whose defence marshalled by the would help them decide in the referee signalled for extra time great Friggieri had held out many instances of "abandoned they packed their bags and went against all-comers in League matches" when crowds jubilantly home. warfare. The club was also stormed on to the pitch, when Crowd trouble, when suspended till the end of the referees, all recruited from the supporters came to blows and season. Services, gave the wrong surged on to the pitch, was the It is relevant to point out that decision, the hibernation of cause of another abandonment the excellence of the individual in clubs, plus the free movement of when Floriana met St. George's all phases of the skills of the players from one club to another. in the League for which Hamrun game, was one of the main attrac­ That the game not only survived, Spartans and Valletta United also tions, especially at a time when but grew in stature, was mainly competed. This game was played no "tactics" spoilt the easy flow due to this policy of semi­ at the Athletic Ground, and of attractive football. It was not tolerance, with the result that Floriana were again awarded the much the work of the team as a more and more people became game, and no punishment was whole that pulled the crowds, but attracted to the game, and despite meted out to the Saints. Later, the game's showmen were the fact that many decisions taken during the season Floriana and definitely the main attractions. by the M.F.A. were not always Hamrun did not enter for the That is why the Saints of popular, bigger and bigger Cup tie competition which was Cospicua attracted so many crowds, averaging some six won by St. George's. admirers, as outstanding players thousand for every important Another incident worthy of like Josie Fearne at centre-half, match, began to be registered. record was the one when Floriana Consiglio a great winghalf, and During this initial period of were playing Valletta United in the wiles of Masu Hicks competitive soccer, Floriana the League and were leading by dovetailing so well with the without the incubus of competing two goals, when Valletta scored a scoring abilities of Tagliaferro, against their eternal rivals of St. goal against the Greens. As these were able to form the basis of a George's, won three consecutive latter had for the past three years great side. championships without conceding kept their net intact, this goal was There were many others a single goal. so much appreciated by the emerging in the different camps In the first cup-tie competition Citizens that their supporters - of these one harps over in another time, but at this stage one player emerged head and shoulder above all others, and that was Floriana's mighty atom, Ruggiero Friggieri. His ability to kick and volley perfectly with both feet, and his uncanny way of anticipation, made him not

Crowds surge over the boundaries of the pitch during a match. Crowd trouble and "abandoned" matches were the obvious res ult McAllister, and another star in the making, the great Gejtu Psaila ("II-Hacca"), then vying for the post of centre-half in the Malta Eleven with Busuttil ("Balolu") of St. George's. Both were great headers of the ball, and whilst the Saints' pivot showed more mobility and strength in the tackle, Psaila was a more refined type of player. His skill with the ball flowered and flourished when after playing for the Malta Police, he left the The great St. George's, winners of the "Duncan Challenge Cup" Force to join Floriana as the first full professional. only the outstanding personality gather the League title was for The following season 1914 - 15 of the period, but he also became the first and last time decided on saw Valletta's star shine brightly a legendary figure. "Iz-Zibga", as goal average, when the newly above all others, and with he was called, was found to be launched Hamrun Spartans and Floriana and St. George's not practically unbeatable, and this St. George's ended on equal competing, they won the fourth opinion was also shared by the points with the former's table League championship dropping many skilful players then abound­ showing twelve goals for and one only one point in a goalless draw ing in the Services. against, whilst the Saints had with Cottonera, the team fielded He was a must in the many fifteen goals for and two against. by the Cospicuans in the absence Pick Malta sides that played It is said that Floriana, who of St. George's. Other teams then against the Services, he was the finished fourth, fielded their in action included Sliema general in the Maltese Army team, strongest side against St. Wanderers, which club was the King's Own Malta Regiment, George's whom they beat by two always represented since its and he became a star of great goals to nil, whilst against inception, Msida Rangers, Melita magnitude when he played for Hamrun they fielded a side so F.C. of Vittoriosa and Hamrun the United Services later in weak as to lose by I I goals to nil. Spartans. Egypt. After this, the once invincible For the Cup-tie competition, After Floriana had won their Greens side, then known as "Ta' Melita F.C. took on the name of third successive victory, they !-Irish", began to disintegrate Vittoriosa Rovers, whilst a settled all arguments about the and star players began to flock cigarette firm, Messrs A.G. "Imtarfa Incident", by winning and play elsewhere, with Herbert Cousis, decided to present a the replay at the Mile End and Holland going over to shield for winners to inscribe Ground, by an early goal scored Valletta whilst Salvu Tabone, their name on. With the wind in by their outside right Semini. Friggieri's great partner at full­ their sails, Valletta United went Although this match was back, together with Mallia, on to win a memorable double by ordered to be played behind joined Hamrun Spartans. The beating Sliema Wanderers by a "closed doors" digressing latter were then earning a great penalty goal in the final. somewhat, even now 70 years reputation, with such fine players later, when UEFA the highest as Lewis, Wimshurst - whose J.H. Griffiths authority in football in Europe is son later played for the Con­ meting out this kind of punish­ stitutionals of Paola (to be continued) ment to clubs' unruly supporters - yet it is estimated that thou­ sands watched the match after clambering over the unprotected walls of the Mile End Ground, to the dismay of the Saints' officials who had faithfully stuck to the hundred tickets allowed them by the Association. When the war clouds began to

A typical picture of the period ... Vittoriosa Rovers soon after the club's change from Melita F.C.