St. George's F.C.

St. George's Football Club,[2] is a Maltese football club from the city of Cospicua in the Mediterranean island of Malta, believed to be the oldest club on the island. They are currently playing in the Maltese First Division, and is popularly claimed to be the pioneers of Maltese civilian football.

For football clubs with a similar name, see Saint George (disambiguation).
St. George's
Full nameSt. George's Football Club
Nickname(s)The Pioneers
Founded1890 (1890)
GroundCentenary Stadium, Malta
Capacity2,000
ManagerDemis Paul Scerri
LeagueMaltese First Division Challenge League
2019-20Maltese First Division, Pospond (Due to covid 19 pandemic )[1]
WebsiteClub website
The oldest known photograph of the club, taken in 1894 after defeating Floriana F.C. to become Unofficial Civilian Champions.

History

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

1916–17

1913–14, 1917–18, 1929–30, 1939–40

1936–37, 1949–50

  • Cousis Shield

1916/17, 1926/27

1991–92, 2005–06

  • Division 2 Champions

1953/54, 1956/57, 1958/59, 1965/66, 1971/72, 1973/74

  • Division 2 Knock-Out Winners

1958/59, 1971/72, 1973/74

  • Division 2 Knock-Out Finalists

1953/54

1987–88, 1996–97, 2003–04

  • Second & Third Division Knock-Out Winners

1987/88

  • Second & Third Division Knock-Out Finalists

1999/2000

2002-02

  • Division 2 Sons of Malta Cup Winners

1971/72, 1973/74

  • Christmas Cup Winners

1939/40 1

Current squad

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
31 GK  MLT Azzopardi Julian
4  MLT Caruana Manuel (C)
6 FW  MLT Bonett Leeroy
7 FW  MLT Caruana Dylan
10  BRA Gomes Dos Reis Bruno Bryan
11  MLT Magro Owen
18  MLT Grech Jurgen
19  MLT Tanti Rennie
23  SRB Mandic Ratco
33  COL Rojas Serna David
94 GK  MLT Bartolo Mario
3  MLT Gili Andy
No. Pos. Nation Player
14  MLT Darmanin Shawn
15  NGA Ekeh Kelechi Cosmos
20  MLT Hili Aaron
98  MLT Agius Lee James

See also

References
  1. https://www.soccerway.com/national/malta/second-division/20182019/regular-season/r47005/
  2. Cassar Pullicino, J. (1956). "Social Aspects of Maltese Nicknames" (PDF). Scientia. 22 (2): 92.
  3. St. George's. Archived from geocities.com on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
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