1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, winners of the football league, Malta, 1903.
Football was, of course, introduced to Malta by British servicemen. As such, Association was played on the island from its earliest days. The competitive football played was confined to British regimental and naval teams, although Maltese teams such as Malta Athletic Club (founded 1886) and St George's Square (founded c.1901) did play friendlies against the military teams.
In 1899, a competition known as the Soldiers Cup was organised by the Services. Eleven teams took part, among them the Royal Malta Artillery. This was the first time a Maltese team participated in a competitive match.
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Football was, of course, introduced to Malta by British servicemen. As such, Association was played on the island from its earliest days. The competitive football played was confined to British regimental and naval teams, although Maltese teams such as Malta Athletic Club (founded 1886) and St George's Square (founded c.1901) did play friendlies against the military teams.
In 1899, a competition known as the Soldiers Cup was organised by the Services. Eleven teams took part, among them the Royal Malta Artillery. This was the first time a Maltese team participated in a competitive match.
Army-Daily Malta Chronicle Cup winners 1908
Army and Navy shared the trophy in 1910
The Maltese FA was founded in 1900, but it was another nine years before a league was organised. During this interim period the biggest game on the local football calendar was an annual match played between the Army and the Navy for the Daily Malta Chronicle Cup. The competition, started in 1904, was hugely popular with the Maltese public, with both Army and Navy having very partisan groups of followers among the locals.
Floriana, 1909-10
The following teams contested the first championship:
Floriana FC
Sliema Wanderers
St. Joseph's United
Boys' Empire League
Malta University
When England played Italy in May 1933 a number of Maltese supporters traveled to Rome to support England.
In recognition, the Football Association donated a silver trophy, commonly known as the F.A. Trophy, to the Maltese FA. Sliema Wanderers won first 3 editions.
Sliema Wanderers 1933
