Birkirkara F.C.
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| Birkirkara | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Birkirkara Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Stripes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Founded | 1950 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Infetti Ground | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacity | 2,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman | Victor Zammit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head Coach | Stephen Azzopardi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Maltese Premier League | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005-06 | 1st | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Birkirkara FC is a Maltese football club, based in the town of Birkirkara, the largest town on the island.
Birkirkara FC was founded in 1950, although it wasn't until the late 1990's that the team started aiming high. This was the beginning of a new era, as in the 1996-97 season Birkirkara finished runners-up behind Valletta and qualified for the first time for the UEFA Cup, in which they played against Spartak Trnava.
In the 1997-98 season, Birkirkara lost the title to Valletta in their very last match. The title had to be decided in a last game showdown between the two arch-rivals. The match was played on the May 02, 1998 and attracted the largest crowd ever at Ta' Qali. Birkirkara needed just one point to be crowned champions but the Citizens won thanks to a controversial penalty.
In 1998-99, the title was again a two-leg race between Valletta and Birkirkara. The Stripes defeated Valletta on the three occasions but they dropped points against the other teams. Despite losing out in the title race, Birkirkara nevertheless won their first titles after triumphing in the Löwenbräu Cup and the Super 5 Competition.
Season 1999-2000 was dubbed as the season of reckoning as they landed the Rothmans Premier League title, leading the standings right from the start.
In another milestone, Birkirkara qualified for the second round of the UEFA competitions in 2001, when they managed to eliminate Lokomotiv Tbilisi of Georgia in the UEFA Cup Qualifying Round on the away goals rule.
In 2001, under the helm of Stephen Azzopardi, the club managed to win the FA Trophy - the only missing cup from the club's trophy room. Azzopardi's side emulated this success in 2002 and 2004.
In the season 2005-2006, Birkirkara won the Premier title again with 2 games from the end of the season. Coach Stephen Azzopardi was confirmed for another year.
[edit] Achievements
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- 2000, 2006
- MFA Trophy: 3
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- 2002, 2003, 2005
- MFA Super Cup: 5
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- 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
- MFA Löwenbräu Cup: 2
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- 1999, 2004
- MFA Trophy: 3
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- 1999, 2003, 2006
Actual History
Football in Birkirkara dates back to the year 1916. Salvu Troisi, a famous Msida player who later joined Floriana, founded a club called Birkirkara United. This club, together with Birkirkara Celtic, laid the foundations of the present Birkirkara Football Club. Birkirkara Football Club was established in 1950 after the amalgamation of both clubs, when the committees of these two teams agreed to sacrifice their clubs in an attempt to build a team capable of challenging for club honours on a national scale. Amongst the persons who worked hard to establish this dream were Wigi Borg, Carmelo Micallef, John Baptist Galea, Eleno Borg and Paul Gauci.
The first club premises which were bought, were situated in Main Street, a few meters away form the small church dedicated to St. Paul. The club premises were not much but it was a place where at least all committee members and supporters could meet. Once the club premises were purchased, the attention turned towards the team. Lolly Rizzo, Emanuel Borg, Victor Farrugia and Lolly Cuschieri were amongst the first players to form part of Birkirkara FC. The team was further strengthened by the coach Mr. Frankie Tabone from the then famous Ajax side. Tabone was engaged as a player coach. The team did not have an official training ground and most training was carried out in the streets of Birkirkara. The Metropole cinema, which was still under construction, was also used as a training ground. This problem was only resolved when the Education Ministry permitted Birkirkara FC to train at the Government Primary School (Brared Street) and later at the Imriehel Technical School. Once all these problems were settled, Birkirkara FC were ready to join the "big boys".
The main rivals of Birkirkara FC are Valletta FC and Hibernians FC.
The 1950`s and 1960’s
The baptism of fire proved to be too much for the Yellow-Reds. Losing match after match, Birkirkara FC were relegated to the second division. Season 1950/51 was no better. Birkirkara FC just managed to avoid relegation to the 3rd Division courtesy of a 4-1 win over Naxxar Lions in a relegation decider.
Season 1951/52 was totally different. Birkirkara won all the matches and were promoted back to the 1st Division. Not only did they win all their encounters but also they suffered just one goal in the process (against Melita FC)! The team was made up of some of the best elements ever to don the Birkirkara shirt. These included Raymond Cosby, Sunny Borg Cardona, E. Borg, L. Caruana, A. Preca, E. Attard, Valenzia, Manwel Saliba (il-Likku), Pisani, Sammut Tagliaferro and Frans Bonnici (Lula). This team, in season 1952/53, led Birkirkara to second place in the 1st Division and to the final of the Cassar Cup were they lost to Floriana by a solitary goal. The Birkirkara supporters later labeled the final as the "Briffa Cup" - a tribute to the referee who according to the supporters delivered the cup to Floriana on a silver plate. After this eventual final, Birkirkara remained in the top flight for a period of eight years. Not that these eight years were of any success, as Birkirkara were always hovering above the relegation zone.
During the 60’s Beatle mania definitely influenced Birkirkara FC, as like their hit song "Yellow Submarine", Birkirkara was floating between the 1st and 2nd Division on a regular basis. The Stripes were too good for the 2nd Division but were not up to the challenge of the 1st Division giants. Season 1967-68 was the most memorable. Apart from the 2nd Division championship, Birkirkara managed to land the Sons of Malta Cup. Birkirkara beat Gzira United 3-0 in the final to lift the cup.
The 1970`s
The 70`s were more exciting than the previous decade. Birkirkara managed to keep their place amongst the elite and established themselves as outsiders to win some silverware. In season 1970-71 Birkirkara had a good cup run and were only stopped by a solitary goal in the semi-finals in a tough contest against Hibernians.
Season 1972-73 saw Birkirkara challenging as outsiders for their first league title. Floriana started the league tremendously but suddenly hit a bad patch which enabled Birkirkara to creep closer. The ultimate game saw Birkirkara facing Floriana with the winner being declared Champions. The match was a tight affair. Everything pointed towards a draw. The young Floriana striker "Tichy" Grech thought otherwise and scored the match-winning goal in the 77th minute. Birkirkara had been so close but yet so far from their first Championship. A very good cup run followed this league defeat. On the 3rd June 1973, Birkirkara faced Gzira United in their first F.A. Trophy final. The match ended 0-0. This was the same result when the teams faced each other again in mid-week. Thus both teams had to meet again for the third time to settle this marathon final. Unfortunately Gzira United scored twice to end another dream. Birkirkara were destined to remain without any silverware.
The 1980`s
The eighties did not bring about any particular magic. Birkirkara maintained their trend of being promoted in one season only to face relegation in the next. It was only at the end of the 80`s did the Stripes supporters have anything to shout about. Birkirkara had a good F.A. Trophy run. In the first round they beat Zurrieq 2-1. This was followed by a 1-0 win over Senglea. In the next round, Birkirkara were drawn to meet Valletta but there participation had been withdrawn by the M.F.A. due to previous violence. Hence we were drawn to meet Floriana in the semi-finals. The Greens had just mauled Hamrun Spartans 4-0 in the previous round and hence were already dreaming of the final. Birkirkara, led by a superb Todor Raykov, twice came back from the dead to beat Floriana 3-2 in an exciting semi-final. The final pitted us against Sliema Wanderers. Birkirkara played a shrewd counter attacking game but lady luck once again turned her back on us. In the 90` minute Sliema scored the decisive goal through Hubert Suda. The jinx continued.
The 1990`s
During 1994 Birkirkara FC joined forces with Luxol St. Andrews in an attempt to establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with. The team was renamed Birkirkara Luxol. The amalgamation lasted only two years. This project, did not give the results expected. What it did give however, was the force and energy needed to change the team from a small club mentality to a more commercial target oriented organisation. Birkirkara were finally on the right track. In 1996 Birkirkara obtained new premises which were quickly converted into a modern administrative building. From here Birkirkara could embark on various projects. On the 6th December 1996 Birkirkara FC registered itself as the first football public company in Malta. This enabled it to register share holders to finance several projects.
The team was strengthened and it brought the surprise pack in season 1996-97. In a new league format, played over three rounds, Birkirkara maintained the pace with favorites Valletta right until the very end. The season presented us with several memorable occasions particularly the treble over Sliema Wanderers, a double over Floriana and a hard fought victory over Valletta. Birkirkara ended as runners-up and qualified for the UEFA cup for the very first time. Season 1996-97 saw us competing in Europe for the first time. Birkirkara were eliminated against Spartak Trnava 4-1 on aggregate with new signing Michael Galea being the scorer of our first goal in Europe. The league campaign again saw us challenging Valletta to the very end. In a packed Ta` Qali Stadium, Valletta lowered our hopes with a 2-1 win. It appeared that Birkirkara were really destined to remain without any silverware.
The first silverware
Season 1998-99 saw us challenging even stronger. The campaign couldn’t have started off on a better note. A 4-0 win over Hibernians landed us the Löwenbräu Cup. A similar score against Sliema Wanderers landed us the Super 5 trophy. Birkirkara were finally laid the ghost! The league campaign started off with Valletta racing into the lead with the yellow/reds hot in pursuit. The Lillywhites kept their head and maintained a slender leads over Birkirkara F.C. Both teams met again in the F.A. Trophy final but Valletta managed to beat us. A couple of days after Valletta repeated their feat to land the Super Cup. Birkirkara had lost and ended what appeared to be a promising season on a bad note.
Season 1999-2000 brought us better luck. During this year, the club was celebrating its 50 years anniversary from its foundation. In a new league format Birkirkara started off strongly and were way in front of the chasing pack. Due to the new format, the points were halved and the gap suddenly grew closer. Two defeats against Hibernians and Pieta H. send out panic signals. The jinx had struck again. The team however, managed to control the situation and finally delivered. Amongst a carnival atmosphere never witnessed before, Birkirkara thumped their arch rivals Valletta to the tune of 5-1! The joy was dented by two poor results against the improving Sliema Wanderers who raced away with both the F.A. trophy and the Super Cup.
Season 2000-2001 remains a historic one for Birkirkara not in terms of silverware, but the Stripes managed to obtain their first qualification to another round in a European competition. Under the guidance of Alfred Cardona, Birkirkara F.C. drew 1-1 against Lokomotiv Tbilisi in Georgia. A goalless draw at Ta' Qali saw the Stripes qualifying for the next round. Birkirkara faced Dynamo Moscow in the first round of the UEFA Cup and suffered a 1-0 defeat in Russia and a goalless draw in the return match.
It was two years later, in season 2001-2002, that the Stripes managed to notch the elusive F.A. Trophy and Super Cup. Birkirkara plagued with several injuries beat Naxxar, then Hibernians in the semi-final. In the final against Sliema, a goal winner by Matthew Calascione gave the cup to Birkirkara for the first time. A few days later in the Super Cup final, Birkirkara beat Hibernians 1-0 to win all the major honours, that the Maltese championship can offer.
In season 2002-2003, Birkirkara F.C. have reached another first, by notching three cups in a row, the Super Five Cup, and for the second consecutive time the F.A. Trophy and Super Cup. Thus, Birkirkara F.C. made up for the disappointment at failing to secure the Championship despite showing a great potential. A historic 7-2 win over rivals Valletta remain imprinted in the Clubs' History for many years to come.
Season 2003-2004 started with Birkirkara winning the Löwenbräu Cup for the second time, by beating Hibernians 5-4, and then winning over Valletta by the score of 5-1. This meant, that for the first time, Birkirkara were the holders of four cups. For the third consecutive time Birkirkara F.C. notched the Super Cup after beating Sliema Wanderers 3-1.
Season 2005-2006 ended in yet another Premier League title acquistion for 'The Stripes' who managed to win their second ever league title, with Michael Galea finishing as a top scorer of both the club and the Premier League itself. Birkirkara finished the league with 48 points but then failing to qualfy for the MFA Trophy final. Birkirkara played against Faroe Islands, Torshavn in the 1st round of the UEFA Champions League. However they were eliminated.
[edit] Current Squad
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