St. George's F.C.

St. George's
Full nameSt. George's Football Club
NicknameThe Pioneers
Founded1890 (1890)
GroundCentenary Stadium, Malta
Capacity2,000
PresidentRodnick Abdilla
ManagerEdmond Lufi
LeagueNational Amateur League II
2024–25National Amateur League II, 3rd of 10
Websitefacebook.com

St. George's Football Club is a Maltese association football club from Cospicua. They are currently playing in the Maltese National Amateur League II, and is believed to be the oldest association football club in Malta.[1][2]

History

The oldest known photograph of the club, taken in 1894 after defeating Floriana F.C. to become Unofficial Civilian Champions.

During the 1880s, a group of Maltese youngsters was watching English soldiers playing football at the Verdala Barracks; an officer gave the young Maltese a ball and that was the start of the game on the island. They formed the first football club in Malta and named it Santa Margherita; two other clubs emerged soon after: St. Andrews and St. George's. The three clubs in Cospicua merged in 1890 to form one club, holding on to the St. George's name.[3]

During the first years of the 20th century, they became Civilian Champions. The best season for the Cospicua team was 1916–17 during which St. George's F.C. won the 'double' by being crowned League champions and Knock Out Cousis Shield winners. One of the most notable players of St. George's was Emmanuel Balolu Busuttil, the only player to captain the St. George's side to their only championship in the 1916–17 season.

One of the most notable matches St. Georges played in their history was the 1965–66 the old second division decider against Qormi at the old Mannuel Island, a match that saw the biggest crowd of that season in all the MFA competitions. The match ended with a 2–1 score line in favour of St. Georges. From the corner flag, Zambula kicked the ball without anybody touching it straight into the nearest upright.

Achievements

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  MLT Clive Caruana
— DF  MLT Gianluca Borg
— FW  MLT Jaden Camilleri
— FW  MLT Julien Iwueke
— FW  MLT Kenneth Aquilina
— MF  MLT Matthew Gauci (vice–captain)
— MF  MLT Owen Galea
— DF  MLT Jordan Debono
— MF  MLT Jeanpaul Baldacchino
— DF  NGA Victor Kayode
— GK  MLT Jake Schiavone
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  MLT Kurt Zahra
— FW  MLT Jurgen Gerada
— FW  MLT Nathan Belhadj
— MF  MLT Dale Valletta
— DF  MLT Jael Vella
— DF  MLT Alexander Cauchi
— MF  MLT Lee Agius (captain)
— MF  MLT Sean Ellul
— MF  MLT Owen Cassar
— FW  MLT Matthias Formosa
— DF  MLT Johann Zarb

U21 squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW  MLT Dashiell Refalo
— MF  MLT Ismael Abela
— FW  MLT Greig Vella
No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF  MLT Jayden Aquilina
— MF  MLT Lawson Cassar

Committee (2024–25)

  • President: Stephen Vaughan Jr.
  • Vice President: Rodnick Abdilla
  • Secretary: Timmy Cucciardi
  • Treasurer: JohnLouis Sammut
  • Members: Kyle Azzopardi, Ludwig Bonnici, Ivan Camilleri, Clyde Agius

References

  1. ↑ "Summary - National Amateur League - Malta - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway".
  2. ↑ Cassar Pullicino, J. (1956). "Social Aspects of Maltese Nicknames" (PDF). Scientia. 22 (2): 92. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015.
  3. ↑ St. George's. Archived from geocities.com on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2011.