Floriana F.C.

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Floriana

Full name	Floriana Football Club
Nickname(s)	Greens,Tal-Irish
Chairman	John Camilleri
Manager	Roddy Collins
League	Maltese Premier League
2008/09	Maltese Premier League, 6th
Home colours Away colours

Floriana Football Club is a Maltese football (soccer) club in the town of Floriana, that currently plays in the Maltese Premier League. It has the largest fans following on the islands and remain the most sucessful club in Maltese history. Winning over one hundred domestic trophies in Maltese Football.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Formation 1.2 Formation of the second team 1.3 History of club colours and mascot 1.4 Domestic successes 1.5 1936 Algiers invitational tournament 1.6 UEFA competitions 1.7 Youth sector 2 Rivalries 3 Colors 4 Honours 5 Players 5.1 Current Squad 6 Out on Loan 7 Transfers for 2009/10 7.1 In 7.2 Out 8 Current staff 9 Administration 10 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 11 UEFA Intertoto Cup 12 UEFA Cup 13 UEFA Champions League 14 Notable Maltese former players 15 Foreign players (Since 1909) 16 References 17 External links 17.1 Official Website 17.2 Unofficial Websites 17.3 Media Website

[edit] History

Floriana Football Club was founded in 1894, and together with St. George's FC, is one of the two oldest clubs in Malta. During that period, football in Malta was introduced by the British Servicemen who were stationed on the island which was then a colony of the British Empire.

The club is affiliated to the Malta Football Association which in turn is both a member of UEFA and FIFA.

The team, which plays in green and white, is nicknamed The Irish, after having adopted its colours following a friendly match against the Dublin Fusiliers who were stationed in Malta at the time.

Floriana Football Club has won the major Maltese League championship for 25 times.

In June 2008 Floriana signed a partnership agreement with the most successful Irish side of all time Shamrock Rovers and in December 2008 signed a second partnership agreement with Russian professional side FC Volga Ulyanovsk, a powerhouse in regional football on the Volga.

[edit] Formation

Football was introduced in Malta at the end of the 19th Century by the British troops stationed on the island. At that time Malta formed part of the British Empire and, the Island was the base of British forces in the heart of the Mediterranean.

The British forces in Malta were mainly stationed in the three cities, Mtarfa, Tigne', St Andrews and in Floriana. The forces' barracks, which were strategically located around the Island, enjoyed large areas that were used as parade grounds, training areas and for sporting activities. The sports practised by the soldiers were mainly cricket, hockey and football.

Obviously, the locals who were influenced by the soldiers stationed in the area were introduced to these sporting activities. The most popular sports amongst the residents of Floriana was football, however some also practised cricket and hockey. It is worth noting at this juncture that Floriana still has its hockey club, carrying the name Floriana Young Stars Hockey Club.

[edit] Formation of the second team

It is said that at the end of the 19th Century a group of youngsters from Floriana, assisted by soldiers based in the area, formed the second football team. It is understood that this team held football matches against another team formed in Cospicua, the St George's. There is also historical proof that both teams were the first football teams in Malta. However there is evidence that FFC was established in 1894, which makes it the second team to be born on the Island (because St. George's FC was established in 1890).

[edit] History of club colours and mascot

Between 1894 and 1905 the club's colours were green/red quartered shirts, black shorts with green and red socks. The official colours of the club as we know them today, green and white vertical striped shirts, white shorts and green/white horizontal striped socks, were introduced in 1905. At that time the Royal Dublin Fusiliers were stationed in Floriana. During that year, three friendly matches were held between this regiment and FFC, at the end of the final match both teams exchanged their shirts and, the officials of the Dublin Fusiliers expressed their wish that FFC changed their official colours to their green and white shirts. Incidentally, this regiment left the Island in that same year.

The ties between Floriana and the Royal Dublin Fusiliers were so strong that the people hailing from Floriana were nicknamed after the Irish, "Tal-Irish".

The club's mascot is the lion, which features prominently on the club's badge together with the Latin motto "Ex Ludis Virtus", meaning "virtue out of the game. In this regard the club's badge represents the fierceness of the lion together with the virtues of sportsmanship.

[edit] Domestic successes

Since the foundation of the Malta Football Association (1900) and local competitions the club won a total of 98 major honours, which include 25 league titles and 18 FA Cup knock out competitions. The club has also achieved a number of impressive feats, such as four consecutive league championships, ten doubles (League plus FA Cup) and a League title with maximum points.

[edit] 1936 Algiers invitational tournament

In something of a pioneering trip in 1936 Floriana competed in a four team invitational tournament in Algiers. With Algeria then under French colonial rule the official programme^[1] listed the venue as "Stade-Velodrome Municipal d'Alger" and the participants as:-

Le Queen of the South - La Belle Equipe Ecossaise de Première Division

Racing-Club de Santander - Favori des Championnats d'Espagne

Floriana F. C. de Malte - Champion Officiel et Vainqueur de la Coupe

R.U.A. - Champion de l'Afrique du Nord 1935

The match days were Thursday May 21 and Sunday May 24.

Home side Racing Universitaire d'Alger (R.U.A. for whom Nobel Prize winning author/philosopher Albert Camus had played in goals for their junior team) had already won both the North African Champions Cup and the North African Cup in the 30s (R.U.A. would win each twice by the decade's end). Goals by Willie Thomson and Joe Tulip saw Queens book a place in the invitational tournament final with a 2 - 1 victory against them.

In the final Queens faced a Racing de Santander side who had just finished 4th in Spain's La Liga notching home and away double victories against both Real Madrid and F.C. Barcelona. Racing had seen off Floriana in their semi final. Norrie Haywood's goal and a 1 - 0 scoreline saw victory for La Belle Equipe Ecossaise. The trophy can still be seen in Queens' club museum today.^[2]

[edit] UEFA competitions

Over the years FFC participated in the various competitions organised by the European football body, UEFA, such as the:

• UEFA Champions Cup
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
• Fairs Cities' Cup
• UEFA Cup
• Intertoto Cup

In 1962, the club was the first to represent Malta in UEFA competitions in its Cup Winners' Cup against the Hungarian side Upjest Dozsa. Over the years, FFC had the opportunity to meet some renowned European football clubs with the likes of:

• Ipswich Town (UK)
• FC Internazionale (Italy)
• Sparta Rotterdam (Holland)
• Panathinaikos (Greece)
• Ferencvaros (Hungry)
• Dundee Utd (Scotland)
• FC Porto (Portugal)
• Borussia Dortmund (Germany)

On two occasions FFC made it to the next round, 1993/4 Champions Cup and Intertoto Cup 1999/2000.

[edit] Youth sector

In 1987 the club founded its youth sector, Floriana FC Nursery (FFCN), which is affiliated to the Malta Youth Football Association. The club's youth sector may also be considered as one of the most successful organisations of its type on the Island, not only has it produced a number of some of the finest footballers, but it has also managed to win a good number of league titles organised by the Association. The following are some of the major honours won by FFCN.

06 / 07 UNDER 14 Knock out competition

• U/14 League Champions - twice
• U/16 League Champions - six times, four of which in a row, 1993 to 1997
• U/18 League Champions - six times, four of which in a row, 1996 to 2000

Today all the major six Premiership clubs in Malta have at least two players forming part of their squad, which have been raised by FFCN.

(www.florianafc.com)

[edit] Rivalries

During their history Floriana FC had two main rivals Sliema Wanderers and neighbors Valletta. The rivalry against Sliema is very old but today has lost many of its legacy. The rivalry was at its peak during the 1920s and till the late 1970s when the two sides dominated the Maltese football scene. Fighting between supporters during the direct conflicts were something usual. Today the rivalry declined due to Floriana's lack of good performances in the domestic scene were in the last 30 years they won only two league titles, in 1977 and in 1993.

On the other hand the rivalry against Valletta City is still alive. Despite the fact that it has been a long time since Floriana were in their hey days, the fact that the two cities are near each others the rivalry continued to persist and it is one of the most classic derbies in the Maltese football. The 2007–08 season also started with a bang as Floriana hosted Valletta FC at the Ta' Qali Stadium. Both sides played their role but at the end Floriana overcame their rivals with a 3–2 win. Despite this, in the other rounds Floriana suffered consecutive defeats of 4–0, 1–0 and 2–1.

[edit] Colors

Floriana's official colors at the beginning of the century were green and red quartered shirts with black shorts. Later on these were replaced with green and white striped shirts and white shorts. Tradition has it that these colors were adopted after a game played at the Floriana Parade Ground against the Royal Irish Fusiliers. This regiment of the British army was stationed at Floriana. The two sides played four times against each other in 1904–05. The Fusiliers won the first two games while the third one ended all square. A fourth game was organized between the two sides and this time Floriana won 2–1. As a symbol of friendship, the players swapped their shirts. From that moment onwards, Floriana Football Club adopted the colors of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, which are the green and white stripes and white shorts.

It must be noted that the Florianites are still called 'Ta' l-Irish' meaning 'The Irish'. In the early 1920s which went something like this:

“

Ta' l-Irish minn dejjem ħadid, Jagħmel li jrid, deni jew ġid.

”

In plain English, this translates as 'The Irish are always as strong as metal; they decide if to inflict harm or not'.

[edit] Honours

From 1900 to date, Floriana FC won 103 honours. 29 of them were won before the second war, that is, between 1900 and 1940. The other 74 honours were won from 1940 to date.

Floriana FC holds the following records:

• Won four consecutive championships - 1949-1950, 1950-1951, 1951-1952 and 1952-1953.

• In 1961-1962, Floriana FC won the league without losing a single point. Played and won 14 games, scored 43 goals and conceded 10 goals.

• Made the League and Cup double for a record 10 times in seasons 1912-1913, 1921-1922, 1927-1928, 1928-1929, 1930-1931, 1949-1950, 1952-1953, 1954-1955, 1957-1958 and 1992-1993.

• Between 15 February 1976 and 22 May 1977, Floriana played 37 consecutive games without losing a game. During this period, the Greens scored 99 goals and won seven major honours, which are the League, Trophy, Independence Cup, twice the Sons of Malta Cup and twice the Testaferrata Cup.

Maltese Football League: 25 1909-10, 1911-12, 1912-13, 1920-21, 1921-22, 1924-25, 1926-27, 1927-28, 1928-29, 1930-31, 1934-35, 1936-37, 1949-50, 1950-51, 1951-52, 1952-53, 1954-55, 1957-58, 1961-62, 1967-68, 1969-70, 1972-73, 1974-75, 1976-77, 1992-93

League Runners-up 1922/23, 1925/26, 1935/36, 1937/38, 1953/54, 1955/56, 1965/66, 1968/69, 1971/72, 1975/76, 1993/94

First Division Champions 1985/86

MFA Knock-Out Competitions (25 times):

National Ground Cup (MFA Cup) 1910-11

Gaelic Whisky Cup (MFA Cup) 1912-13

Cousis Shield 1921-22, 1922-23, 1930-31

Empire Sports Ground Cup (MFA Cup) 1927-28, 1928-29

FA Trophy (18 times) 1937-38, 1944-45, 1946-47, 1948-49, 1949-50, 1952-53, 1953-54, 1954-55, 1956-57, 1957-58, 1960-61, 1965-66, 1966-67, 1971-72, 1980-81, 1992-92, 1993-94

FA Trophy Finalists 1934/35, 1935/36, 1955/56, 1959/60, 1964/65, 1973/74, 1976/77, 1977/78, 1978/79, 1987/88, 1988/89, 2005/06

Super Cup (Once) 1992-93

Cassar Cup (10 times) 1920-21, 1922-23, 1935-36, 1936-37, 1949-50, 1951-62, 1952-53, 1953-54, 1957-58, 1960, 61

Independence Cup (7 times) 1966-67, 1968-69, 1972-73, 1975-76, 1977-78, 1978-79

Sons of Malta Cup (6 times) 1967-68, 1968-69, 1973-74, 1975-76, 1976-77, 1977-78

Super 5 Cup (4 times) 1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1997-98

Testaferrata Cup (3 times) 1975-76, 1976-77, 1977-78

Schembri Shield (3 times) 1952-53, 1953-54, 1954-55

Scicluna Cup (3 times) 1958-59, 1961-62, 1962-63

Poppy Day Fund Cup (3 times) 1952-53, 1.953-54, 1954-55

Christmas Cup (2 times) 1968-69, 1969-70

Malta Playing Field Association Shield - MPFA (2 times) 1951-52, 1953-54

Partisans Cup (once) 1909

Amateurs Cup (once) 1911

Mtarfa Cup (once) 1912

Prince of Wales Cup (once) 1921

Malaya Congress Cup (once) 1924

Marian Congress Cup (Once) 1949

Infantile Paralysis Cup (once) 1953

Lowenbrau Cup (Once) 1993-94

MFA Centenary Commemorative Cup finalists(once) 2000

[edit] Players

[edit] Current Squad

No. Position Player 4 DF Julian Briffa 5 DF Sunday Eboh 7 MF Marlon Briffa 10 MF Christian Caruana 14 DF Owen Bugeja 16 DF Duncan Pisani 17 MF Joseph Borg 18 FW Ryan Darmanin

No. Position Player 19 MF Luke Agius 21 MF Pablo Doffo 22 MF Mauro Brincat 28 MF Orosco Anonam 81 DF Clyde Camoin GK Jurgen Micallef DF Jermain Brincat FW Roberto Brincat

[edit] Out on Loan

No. Position Player GK Simon Agius on Loan to Sliema Wanderers MF Kurt Formosa on Loan to Dingli Swallows

[edit] Transfers for 2009/10

[edit] In No. Position Player GK Jurgen Micallef (loan return from Vittoriosa Stars)

[edit] Out No. Position Player 1 GK Steffen Sussner (released) 12 GK Glenn Zammit (loan return to Gudja United) DF Steve Bonnici (loan return to Melita) FW Dylan Zarb (loan return to Valletta) FW Paulo Rodrigo Da Silva (released)

For recent transfers, see List of Maltese football transfers summer 2009.

[edit] Current staff

Position	Name
Manager	Roddy Collins
Assistant Coach	Tony Alamango
Kit Manager	Ronald Brincat

[edit] Administration

Position	Name
President	John Camilleri
Vice President	Paul Agius
Secretary	Dione Borg
Treasurer	Alex Cassar
Member	Daniel Attard
Member	Anthony Stellini
Member	Andrew Mifsud
Member	Peter Agius

[edit] UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

Season	Competition	Round	Country	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1961-62	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	Preliminary Round		Újpest FC	2-5	2-10	4-15
1965-66	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1. Round		Borussia Dortmund	1-5	0-8	1-13
1966-67	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1. Round		Sparta Rotterdam	1-1	0-6	1-7
1967-68	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1. Round		NAC Breda	1-2	0-1	1-3
1972-73	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1. Round		Ferencvárosi TC	1-0	0-6	1-6
1976-77	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1. Round		Śląsk Wrocław	1-4	0-2	1-6
1978-79	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1. Round		Internazionale FC	1-3	0-5	1-8
1981-82	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1. Round		Standard Liège	1-3	0-9	1-12
1988-89	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	1. Round		Dundee United	0-0	0-1	0-1
1994-95	UEFA Cup Winners' Cup	Qualifying Round		Sligo Rovers FC	2-2	0-1	2-3

[edit] UEFA Intertoto Cup

Season	Competition	Round	Country	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1995	UEFA Intertoto Cup	Group 11, game 1st		FC Tirol Innsbruck	0-4
		Group 11, game 2nd		Hapoel Petah Tikva FC		1-1
		Group 11, game 3rd		RC Strasbourg	0-4
		Group 11, game 4th		Genclerbirligi		0-3
1997	UEFA Intertoto Cup	Group 12, game 1st		SV Ried	1-2
		Group 12, game 2nd		FC Tbilisi		0-5
		Group 12, game 3rd		FC Torpedo Moscow	0-1
		Group 12, game 4th		Iraklis FC		0-1
1999	UEFA Intertoto Cup	1. Round		Aberystwyth Town FC	2-1	2-2	4-3
		2. Round		FC Jokerit	1-1	1-2	2-3
2000	UEFA Intertoto Cup	1. Round		Stabæk FC	1-1	0-2	1-3

[edit] UEFA Cup

Season	Competition	Round	Country	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1969-70	Inter-Cities Fairs Cup	1. Round		Dinamo Bacau	0-1	0-6	0-7
1991-92	UEFA Cup	1. Round		Neuchâtel Xamax	0-0	0-2	0-2
1992-93	UEFA Cup	1. Round		Borussia Dortmund	0-1	2-7	2-8
1996-97	UEFA Cup	Preliminary Round		Beitar Jerusalem FC	1-5	1-3	2-8

[edit] UEFA Champions League

Season	Competition	Round	Country	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1962-63	European Cup	Preliminary Round		Ipswich Town	1-4	0-10	1-14
1968-69	European Cup	1. Round		FC Lahti	1-1	0-2	1-3
1970-71	European Cup	1. Round		Sporting CP	0-4	0-5	0-9
1973-74	European Cup	1. Round		Club Brugge	0-2	0-8	0-10
1975-76	European Cup	1. Round		HNK Hajduk Split	0-5	0-3	0-8
1977-78	European Cup	1. Round		Panathinaikos FC	1-1	0-4	1-5
1993-94	UEFA Champions League	Preliminary Round		FK Ekranas	1-0	1-0	2-0
		1. Round		FC Porto	0-0	0-2	0-2

[edit] Notable Maltese former players

Malta

1900-1930

• Ruggieru Friggieri * Fredu Friggieri * Alex Semini
• Salvu Samuele * Guzi Samuele * Salvu Tabone
• Jack Holland * Salvu Tabone * Jack Herbert
• Guzeppi Alamango * Gejtu Psaila * Fredu Chetcuti
• Charlie Hedley * Salvu Grima * George West
• Harry Samuele * Emmanuel Azzopardi

1930-1950

• Emmanuel Azzopardi * Kaneni Cauchi * Pawlu Friggieri
• Censu Friggieri * R.Pisani * Emmanuel Cauchi
• John Bennetti * Emmanuel Azzopardi * Andrew Bartolo
• Effie Borg * Alfred Preca

1950-1970

• Lolly Borg * Lolly Debattista * Pullu Demanuele
• Tony Cauchi * Guzi Alamango * Leli Zammit
• Frans Xuereb * Zaren Alamango * Tony Dalli
• Frankie Busuttil * Tony Vella * Horace Herbert
• Benny Camilleri * Charles Azzopardi * Joseph Grech
• Alfred Vella James * Charles Galea

1970-1990

• Louis Arpa * Anton Camilleri * George Ciantar
• Alfred Debono * Willy Vassallo * Raymond Xuereb
• Frankie Micallef * John Holland * Dorian Holland
• George Xuereb * Ray Farrugia * Edwin Farrugia
• Alfred Mizzi * Silvio Demanuele * Hugh Caruana
• Charles Farrugia * Poey Miccallef * Charles Grech

1990-2010

• David Cluett * Pierre Brincat * Richard Buhagiar
• John Buttigieg * Dennis Cauchi * Albert Busuttil
• Joe Brincat * James Brisco * Jesmond Delia
• Mark Marlow * Martin Gregory * Justin Haber
• Kevin Borg

[edit] Foreign players (Since 1909)

England Yala Bolasie Michael Greeno Mark Miller Ted Philips Alan Rogers Ireland Brian Crawley	Bulgaria Ivan Vassilev Todor Zaytzev Brazil Bizú André Rocha da Silva Wendell Gomes	Congo Riad Gango-Rsta Rufin Oba New Zealand Kim Wright Macedonia Darko Krsteski	Serbia Igor Stefanovic Dejan Maksic Croatia Zoran Levnaić Angola Vata

[edit] References

1. ^ Back cover, 'Through the lens glimpses of Old Queen of the South', published by Dumfries and Galloway Libraries, Information and Archives with Queen of the South Museum, 1998
2. ^ Profile of the Queen of the South 1936 overseas tour including the Algiers invitational tournament

[edit] External links

[edit] Official Website

• Official Website

[edit] Unofficial Websites

• Unoffical Website
• Supporters Club Website

[edit] Media Website

• Malta Football Leagues Website

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