Empire Stadium (Gżira)

U l-Kotra qamet f’daqqa – u għajtet: “Jien Maltija!
Miskin min ikasbarni, - miskin min jidħak bija!”
U l-Kotra għanniet f’daqqa – u semmgħet ma’ l-irjieħ
L-Innu ta’ Malta tagħna, – u l-leħen kien rebbieħ,
Fuq ngħas l-imgħoddi ġwejjef, – in-ngħas ta’ l-Apatija
Xħin ruħna kienet rieqda – ġo sodda barranija;
U l-ombra ta’ Vassalli – qamet minn qiegħ il-qabar,
U għajtet: “Issa fl-aħħar – jiena se nsib is-sabar.”

- 80 years have passed from the match between Malta XI and HNK Hajduk Split. This match led to the below poem written by Rużar Briffa, Jum ir-Rebħ 💪⚽

U l-Kotra qamet f’daqqa – u għajtet: “Jien Maltija!
Miskin min ikasbarni, - miskin min jidħak bija!”
U l-Kotra għanniet f’daqqa – u semmgħet ma’ l-irjieħ
L-Innu ta’ Malta tagħna, – u l-leħen kien rebbieħ,
Fuq ngħas l-imgħoddi ġwejjef, – in-ngħas ta’ l-Apatija
Xħin ruħna kienet rieqda – ġo sodda barranija;
U l-ombra ta’ Vassalli – qamet minn qiegħ il-qabar,
U għajtet: “Issa fl-aħħar – jiena se nsib is-sabar.”

FA Trophy Quarterfinal 1968
Birkirkara v Valletta 2-2

A fine save by Birkirkara’s goalkeeper Bonello in a match played in pouring rain on Sunday 2nd June 1968.

For the record, Micallef scored a brace for The Stripes whilst Valletta’s goals were scored by Attard & Falzon.

Malta News - 15th April 1974

25 February 1979.
Malta - West Germany.

Una foto pregna di Romanticismo.
Campo in terra battuta.
Tribune in legno.

Era il 25 Febbraio 1979.
Malta-Germania Ovest.
Qualificazioni europee.

Another historic Football pitch will make way to progress 😔

From football pitch to parking lot: the story of Paola’s Pace Grasso A look at the ground’s history and the new government’s plans to turn it into a 200-spot car park

Il-Milied it-tajjeb!
Merry Christmas!

🎅🏻🎄🏟️

Rabat FC when they faced Valletta FC on the 5th October 1952.

The Magpies finished 6th in Division 1 and were eliminated by Floriana FC (2-3 aet) in the FA Trophy. A combination of Rabat and Hibernians players played against Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland) during the Christmas Tournament.

Standing - W. Powell, G. Dalli, J. Pearson, P. Micallef, A. Pearson, R. Spiteri
Squatting - C. Zahra, E. Chappell, E Sammut, R. Bencini (mascot), C. Theuma, H. Herbert

Considering that the sun is shining on the benches of the Enclosure stand, this must have been a match played during the morning. Can you recognize the teams? Do you recall a football match played during the morning at the Empire Stadium? Share your memories in the comments

⚽️ 📸 🏟️ 🥅

Poppy Day Charity Match 1st November 1945
MFA League XI v Combined Services 7-3

The 1️⃣5️⃣th Annual Athletic Sports organized by the Royal University of Malta on Friday 9th May 1952 at the Empire Stadium, Gzira 🏃🏟 - Who remembers sports days being held at the Empire? Can you recognize some of the names? 🧐🔎