1909–10 Maltese Premier League

The 1909–10 Maltese First Division was the first edition of the Maltese First Division, the precursor of today's Premier League.

Maltese First Division
Season1909–10
ChampionsFloriana (1st title)
Matches played8
Goals scored22 (2.75 per match)
Top goalscorerSalvu Samuele (4 goals)[1]

Overview edit

Following numerous attempts to organise a local football competition and the ever-increasing interest in the game, on 26 October 1907 the Lyceum Football ground was inaugurated in Marsa.[2][3] This was to host the first football league campaign contested by Maltese teams and selections from the military service; the Royal Malta Artillery selection won the competition. This led to the set up of the first league season with all games to be played at the Lyceum Ground.[2]

A total of five teams joined the league and the stipulation was that each team had to provide their own goalposts and nets.[4] The league ended with a two-way tussle between Floriana and Sliema Wanderers, after the latter were awarded a 2–1 win over St. Joseph's United following crowd trouble. In the decider game played on 24 April 1910, Floriana triumphed with a single goal from top scorer Salvu Samuele thereby winning the first edition and being awarded the Daily Malta Chronicle Cup, a cup specifically designed for the occasion.[4]

 
 
St. Joseph's U.
 
Valletta teams
Boys Empire League
Malta University
Locations of the 1909–10 Maltese First Division teams

League table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Floriana (C) 4 4 0 0 6 0 +6 8
2 Sliema Wanderers 4 2 1 1 5 2 +3 5
3 St. Joseph's United 4 2 0 2 4 4 0 4
4 Boys Empire League 4 1 1 2 7 4 +3 3
5 Malta University 4 0 0 4 0 12 −12 0
Source: RSSSF
Rules for classification: 1) points;
(C) Champions

Results edit

Home \ Away FRN SLM SJU BEL MUN
Floriana 1–0 w/o 1–0 4–0
Sliema Wanderers 2–1[a] 0–0 3–0
St. Joseph's United 3–2 w/o
Boys Empire League 5–0
Malta University
Source: RSSSF
Notes:
  1. ^ Match was abandoned at 2–1 after crowd invasion and result was kept at this score.

References edit

  1. ^ "Malta - List of Topscorers". RSSSF. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  2. ^ a b Baldacchino, Carmel (6 August 2015). "The ground-breaking season of 1907-08". Times of Malta. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Shadows from the Past". Times of Malta. 4 August 2005. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b Baldacchino, Carmel (11 October 2007). "Daily Malta Chronicle Cup". Times of Malta. Retrieved 15 October 2018.

See also edit