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The Beginning (1833-1930)
Our Club was founded in 1936, however,
our story starts well before that. In
1833, Fort Chambray was converted into a
Rest Camp for British Army units. That
year the Connought Regiment were the
first of a long line which marched
through Chambray’s gates bringing with
them a new vitality to Għajnsielem life
and, what is more important to our
subject, their customs and pastimes as
well. Other regiments included the
Essex Regiment, the Durham Regiment, the
Cornwall Light Infantry, the 1st
Dorset Regiment, the ‘H’ Coy Pompadours
and many others.
Chambray’s population increased rapidly
during the First World War (1914-1918).
Many soldiers wounded at the front found
themselves convalescing here. One can
imagine that time stood still for those
waiting to be medically cleared, until
some football-mad soldier procured a
ball and all of a sudden the ditches
around Chambray echoed to the lusty
shouts of “goal!” and the angry roars of
protests.
For the Għajnsielem population, Chambray
offered a diversion from the boredom of
everyday life, such as it was during the
first part of the century. They liked
the fresh faces, and befriending the
wounded heroes from the Great War.
Another attraction was now added. Every
evening the Għajnsielem youths began
abandoning their bars (whose names still
re-evoke the Colonial era: the “Glory of
England”, “The English Rose”, the “Duke
of Edinburgh”, the “Blue Anchor”, the
“City of London”, etc.) and tracked from
Ta’ Passi to the ditch at Chambray to
watch the strange Englishmen chasing
each other after a leather ball.
It wasn’t long before the locals
themselves understood the game, began
taking sides and perhaps started kicking
something in imitation of their foreign
heroes.
The war was over in 1918 and by the 20’s
Chambray’s gates were closed behind the
last British soldier and the fort
relapsed into its silent, peaceful
existence. However, the Englishmen
didn’t take everything with them; they
left behind some footballs and big heavy
boots, and soon Gozitan shouts and
exclamations began echoing against the
ramparts of Chambray’s ditch.
The Founders (1930-1936)
And so we reach the 30’s, a notable age
for sport in Gozo. But before moving on
with the story of football we have to
turn to another important “British”
institution—the Scouts—and the arrival
in Għajnsielem of a man still remembered
by many.
One day in the early 30’s, a Franciscan
friar landed at Mgarr, and being a young
man in his twenties, he quickly walked
up the hill towards St. Anthony’s
Convent. Father Bernard Hersey was born
in Tigne, Malta, the son of William
Henry Hersey and Margaret nee Buttigieg,
on October 3rd, 1906. He was
baptized at St. Julian’s parish church
and entered the Franciscan Minor Order
on March 26th, 1922. He
became a friar on October 24th
1927 and said his first Mass on July 6th,
1930. Soon after he was transferred to
the convent at Għajnsielem and the
village soon felt his impact. He was an
energetic man who loved sports, the
out-door life and people. He must have
been disappointed with the lack of clubs
or places where young people could meet
and use the time profitably. Soon he was
at work and in no time at all gave birth
to the Għajnsielem Sea Scouts, the only
scouts of their kind in Gozo (only
Sliema had them in Malta). He opened a
Club for them at No. 10 Fawwara Street,
and this place is important in our
Club’s history, because it was there
that Għajnsielem F.C. was formed later
on.
The Sea Scouts soon proved tremendously
popular with the Għajnsielem people. At
one time the troop reached the number of
75 members under leader Turu Spiteri and
frequently made a name for the village
during parades in Victoria. It was
natural for Father Hersey to opt for the
Sea Scouts rather than the Boys Scouts
as in other villages, considering the
link Għajnsielem always had with the
sea. The members were taught all aspects
of life saving and soon many of the
village’s youths and children were the
proud owners of the all-blue uniform.
One thing Father Hersey was happily
surprised to discover was a rudimentary
kind of football being played by
Għajnsielem’s youths. Soon the idea was
conceived…a football club for
Għajnsielem, and not only for
Għajnsielem but for other places in Gozo
as well. At the same time the game in
Malta was living through a great boom
and a number of Gozitans used to cross
over for the great Sliema-Floriana
encounters. In Gozo however no attempt
had ever been made to organize one
single club, let alone an association.
So now the ditch at Chambray began
drawing “Il-Patri” as well and here the
two people rightly described as the
Fathers of Għajnsielem F.C. met.
Mr. Carmelo Mallia was born in Sliema in
1898. He married Helen nee Vella from
Birkirkara and came to Gozo in 1934 to
work as Chief Nurse at Fort Chambray
which in the meantime had been converted
into a hospital for the mentally ill.
When he came to Gozo he was already a
lover of the game and was instantly
interested in ‘footballers’ in the
ditch. He tried manfully hard to instil
some sense into their play with little
success at times.
As soon as Fr. Hersey and Mr. Mallia
made each other’s acquaintances they
discovered a mutual love for football
and interest in the footballing youths
of Chambray. From there things moved
fast and with Father Hersey organizing
things and Mr. Mallia coaching the
youths the Club started taking shape.
Being involved in the Scout movement,
Father Hersey had a hand in the
introduction of the game in Victoria as
well and the Victoria Scouts Group
formed a team themselves. Together with
others he pushed for the realization of
a long-harboured dream—a ground fit for
competitive play. Around 1934 and 1935
friendly games of a sort were being
played in one of Chambray’s ditches, but
the site was obviously inadequate for
competitions under recognized rules. At
last in 1935, the ground at Xewkija was
completed and named the Silver Jubilee
Ground to mark the festivities then
being held to commemorate the 25th
anniversary of the accession of King
George V to the throne.
The Launching (1936-1945)
And so we come to 1936, the year
Għajnsielem Football Club was born.
Hersey and Mallia were determined to
launch the Club officially that year,
but competition was a problem. What was
the use of forming a club when no other
clubs existed? Groups of youths from
different places were banding together
to play friendly matches, some of them
at Chambray, but no organized teams were
yet in evidence. Meanwhile, football was
catching on in Victoria through the
Scouts, with whom Fr. Hersey had a lot
of contact and it was thus that the idea
of the first competitive match in Gozo
emerged. The Victoria Scouts and the
Għajnsielem team agreed to play a game
at the Silver Jubilee Ground for
a challenge
cup sometime in May of 1936. A
Silver cup was soon procured, sponsored
by the Prince of Wales Engineering
Workshop owned by Mr. Bernard Zammit of
Marsa.
Interest in the team spread like wild
fire among the youths of the village.
Mr. Mariano Xuereb and Mr. Joseph Cauchi
crossed over to Malta to buy the first
set of jerseys to be used in the
inaugural match. In those days a lot of
villagers and especially the Cauchi
family who were related to the famous
Maltese player ‘Kaneni’ Cauchi, were
strong supporters of Floriana F.C. It
was only natural that when a discussion
about the colours of the Club arose, the
famous green and white stripes won the
day. Unfortunately no such strip could
be found in Malta and the two gentlemen
had to come back with a green and yellow
striped set of jerseys…it was
disappointing, but at least there was
some green.
The Victoria Scouts Group were the
favourites to lift the Cup. They had the
better side with more talented players.
Most of their team studied in colleges
and private schools in Malta and had a
far better knowledge of the game than
the band of Għajnsielem 'workers' who
laboured at tough jobs all day long and
simply had no inclination to pursue the
finer points of the game. One thing our
players dominated in was strength...and
they had a lot of it.
The final, held on May 21, drew a good
crowd most of whom knew next to nothing
about the game. Parochial fever ran high
however, especially on our side. Before
the match the cup was put on display on
a cloth covered table besides the
touch-line with Fr. Hersey and a few
other important-looking people sitting
behind.
The Victoria side soon raced to a 1-0
lead which they managed to keep untill
half-time. As expected they were the
more cunning side, frequently outwitting
our players. However strength was to win
the day. With the sun slowly setting
behind Victoria, Għajnsielem attacked
with relish through the second half
using strength and will to the utmost.
Their spirits rose when Joe Cassar
equalized soon after the re-start. Time
was rapidly running out when Elija
Debono, one of the talented players in
the side, beat a couple of players,
entered the penalty-area and shot hard
into the net. It was the goal of the
game and the Zammit Cup was ours.
After the match players and supporters
converged on the “Blue Anchor” Bar, just
off the old clubhouse in Apparition
Square and there the cup came into good
use as it passed from mouth to mouth as
drinks flowed in celebration.
The Zammit Cup is still preciously
guarded at the Club. Indeed it is the
most important trophy among the good
number we possess. Engraved on it are
the words: THE PRINCE OF WALES
ENGINEERING WORKS, BERNARD ZAMMIT MAIL
SERVICE, 1936.
It spent some years at the Għajnsielem
Primary School when the Club folded up
for some years but was brought back in
the late 60's.
Click Here to view a slideshow
photostory covering the years
from the founding of the club
to the end of the 1968/69
season. (1936-1969)
 
The Post-War Years (1945-1967)
Aside from the first official match of
Għajnsielem F.C. for the Zammit Cup,
very little is known about the Club’s
early days except that in the late
thirties the Club competed under the
name of Għajnsielem Rovers. The outbreak
of War in 1939 brought to a close the
first era of football in Gozo. After the
war, football resumed in Gozo, however,
it is fair to say that the organization
of football at the time left a lot to be
desired. It was characterized by
fighting on and off the field. In the
1948/49 season, competing as Għajnsielem
Rangers, the Club failed to show up for
a league match and subsequently had
several of its players suspended by the
G.F.A.
Għajnsielem could always field a
competitive team based on athletic
prowess, strength and speed, thus they
always represented an opponent tough to
overcome. In the 50’s, football in Gozo
was dominated by the Salesian Youths.
This team was in a class of its own and
often impressed with its technical
football. Għajnsielem was the team the
Salesians feared the most and the
matches between the two teams were
always hard fought, close encounters.
Most of the times the Victoria club
prevailed, and as a result Għajnsielem
ended up as runners-up to the Salesians
in numerous league and cup
competitions.
After a period of time during which
Għajnsielem played in a blue and white
outfit, towards the late 50’s the team
started playing in black shirts and
black shorts. The Club had been inactive
for some time, and when it was brought
back to life there was no team gear to
speak of. After much deliberation
Carmelo Rapa noted that all the players
must have a black shirt, as part of the
dress code for sombre occasions. So
black was adopted as the new team
colour. To this very day our team is
habitually referred to as the Blacks and
black and white have been our colours
ever since.
The long drought finally came to an end
in the 1958/59 season when a new cup
competition was introduced, the
Esso Cup.
In the final
Għajnsielem beat Xewkija 3-0 by
goals scored by Anthony Bajada and John
Debono (2) and so the second honour in
Club history was won. The team had
players such as Michael Bugeja, Patrick
Mercieca, Peter and Carmel Caruana,
Benigno Magro, the two scorers referred
to above, and others and there was hope
that these players would bring with them
a period of sustained success. Shortly
after, in the 1959/60 season, the Club
won its third
honour, the Cutajar Cup, when the
Blacks beat St. George’s 1-0 by a goal
scored by Benigno Magro.
Unfortunately the Club went through a
period of turmoil and by 1962, the Club
suffered the first relegation in its
history. In this period Carmelo Rapa was
the man responsible for keeping the Club
in existence. After two seasons in the
second division, the Club returned to
the top flight in the
1963/64
season as
second division champions. Young
players were being introduced into the
team at a fast rate. The steady supply
of promising players was all due to the
Għajnsielem’s Catholic Youth Center
under the leadership of Dun Karm Cassar.
The team was relegated again in 1964/65.
This time the Club made an immediate
return to the first division when the
Blacks won the
second division championship
unbeaten and untied. In that 1965/66
season, Għajnsielem won the
Independence
Cup, which was open to all G.F.A.
clubs. In the final
Għajnsielem
beat S.K. Calypsians 2-1. Loreto
Galea and, guest player, Carmel Xerri
scored the goals. Of even greater
significance for the future of the Club
was the success achieved in
the minor
league championship. This team
was made up of players such as Francis
Cauchi, Joe Rapa, Salvinu Xuereb, Loreto
Galea, Toni Cauchi, Vincent Galea,
Vincent Cutajar and Nikol Cutajar, all
of whom went on to bring unprecedented
success to the Club in the early
seventies.
The Club’s cup form spilled over to
1966/67, when it opened the season by
winning the
Galea’s Cup for the first time.
The Blacks beat Victoria Hotspurs 3-1 in
a replay, the goals were scored by
Loreto Galea, John Debono and Alfred
Galea. The two teams had featured in a
thrilling 2-2 draw in the first match
(Loreto Galea and Benigno Magro were the
scorers then).
Throughout these years the Club was
never satisfied with its clubhouse. In
the 50’s the Catholic Youth Centre (“ic-cirklu”)
in Perellos Street served as the
clubhouse. Shortly after it moved down
the street to Joe Mizzi’s premises. Then
in 1966, the Club moved to a bar owned
by Mr. Zarenu Scicluna, known as the
“English Rose”, at 77 Garden Street. A
year later it moved yet again to
Apparition Square, where it stayed until
1994 except for a brief period in the
early 70’s when it moved to the Catholic
Youth Centre while construction was
underway at the clubhouse.
 
The Golden Years (1967-1977)
In the late 60’s the Club first
consolidated its place in the first
division, then made two unsuccessful
bids for its first championship
finishing as league runners-up on both
occasions. In the
1967/68
season, the Club successfully defended
the Galea’s Cup, this time Nadur
Youngsters were the beaten finalists and
Carmel Cutajar was the scorer of both
goals. The Club’s reserves, made up
mostly of the championship winning minor
league team of a few years back also
secured its
first championship in the 1967/68
season. By this time players such as
Toni Cauchi, Vincent Cutajar, Vincent
Galea and George Mercieca had all made
their first team debut. The team had a
nice mixture of youth and experience.
Noe Zerafa, George Schembri, Carmel
Cutajar and Carmel Caruana, although
still relatively young already had
several seasons of first team action
under their belts. Peter Caruana, who
had just retired, took over from Mike
Bugeja as team coach in the 1968/69
season. He was destined to become the
most successful coach in Club history.
After a trophy-less season, Għajnsielem
finally made the breakthrough in the
1969/70
season when the Blacks captured the
first
championship in Club history.
This triumph was accomplished in
impressive fashion when the team
remained unbeaten all season long and
lost only one point along the way.
Għajnsielem won the Galea’s Cup by
beating
Victoria Hotspurs 1-0 (Raymond
Buttigieg), the British American
Insurance Cup again
defeating the
Victoria team 1-0 (Loreto Galea),
the Independence Cup over
Xewkija Tigers
4-1 (Vincent Galea, Loreto Galea,
and two from Vincent Cutajar) and
the Reserves
league championship. Loreto Galea
was awarded the G.F.A. footballer of the
year trophy and Vincent Cutajar finished
the season as league top scorer.
The following season the Blacks picked
up where they had left off in the
previous season. They opened the season
by letting the Galea’s Cup slip from
their grasp. However, it was a
relentless triumphant march after that.
The Blacks won nine matches out of ten
in the league (dropping only two points
in a rare loss to the Xewkija Tigers)
and were the
runaway champions for the second year
running. The Club secured the
Esso Cup with a
3-0 victory
over Xagħra United (Vincent
Cutajar, Carmel Cutajar and Toni Cauchi),
the British American Insurance Cup with
a 2-0 score
against S.K. Calypsians (Vincent
Cutajar 2) and the Independence Cup with
another triumph over
Xagħra United
2-1 (Toni Cauchi and Nikol
Cutajar). Vincent Cutajar finished as
league top scorer and was awarded the
G.F.A. footballer of the year trophy, to
emulate his team-mate Loreto Galea.
Around this time the Club published for
the first time the “Black & White”
magazine on the initiative of Club
secretary, Mr. Joe Rapa. This was the
first magazine that was ever issued on a
regular basis by a Gozitan club. This
magazine showed how well organized and
professional the Club was at an
administrative level. The then G.F.A.
President, Koli Apap, in an introduction
commented that he was truly proud that
finally a Gozitan club had taken a bold
step to undertake such a risky task, and
expressed his hope that other clubs
would follow suit. There were in all
nineteen issues of this magazine spread
over several years. Publication was
interrupted as the Club’s fortunes took
a downturn, only to reappear for a short
time in the mid-eighties and then again
in the mid-nineties.
In the mean time, 1971/72 was another
successful season for the Club.
The third
championship on the trot was won
more due to the inability of the Club’s
direct opponents to wrap up the title
than due to Blacks' dominance over the
course of the season. Indeed, the Blacks
won the championship by beating Victoria
Hotspurs with a late header from Loreto
Galea in the final match of the season.
Għajnsielem F.C. retained the Esso Cup
by beating S.K.
Calypsians 1-0. The deciding goal was
scored by young Paul Debono, who
was making his debut that day. The Club
also handily won the British American
Insurance Cup
4-0 over Oratory Youths (Vincent
Cutajar, Vincent Galea, Loreto Galea and
Raymond Buttigieg) and the Independence
Cup over
Xagħra United 3-0 (Vincent
Cutajar, Carmel Caruana and Nikol
Cutajar). For the third year running,
Vincent Cutajar was the league’s top
marksman. The Club also won its
second ever
minor league championship in that
season. The Club’s star was still
shining bright.
And it kept shining in the 1972/73
season. It is worth noting that
emigration continuously deprived the
team of some of its finest elements,
however, the minors and reserves kept
providing fresh talent. Having said that
the nucleus of the team which was made
up of Loreto Galea, Vincent Cutajar,
Nikol Cutajar, George Schembri, Carmel
Caruana and Toni Cauchi was still
intact. Carmel Cutajar, Vincent Galea
and Ray Buttigieg had gone abroad.
Salvinu Xuereb and Francis Cauchi had
been side-lined by serious injury. In
came players like John Zerafa, Carmel
Xuereb, Teddy Grech, Raymond Grech,
George Fenech, Leli Refalo, Paul Debono
and later Mario Camilleri, Frank Xuereb
and Frans Magro.
The fourth
consecutive title was won after a
harsh struggle with Nadur Youngsters who
finished two points behind Għajnsielem.
The Blacks had obtained sixteen points
from ten matches and for the second time
in four years finished the season
unbeaten in league play. In mid-season
the Club won an emotion-laden Galea’s
Cup final by
beating S.K. Calypsians on penalties,
after drawing 1-1 (Paul Debono). This
was the last edition of this famous
trophy, which has found its resting
place in our trophy room. The last
edition of the Esso Cup was also
contested in the 1972/73 season.
Memories of the unexpected 0-1 loss to
Xagħra United still evoke bitter
feelings among the Club’s supporters.
The Championship was won on the last
match of the season against Oratory
Youths by the score of 1-0 thanks to a
Nikol Cutajar special from outside the
box. How this player was over-looked in
the voting for the G.F.A. footballer of
the year remains a mystery to this day.
The Reserves also triumphed as champions
for the third
time in Club history.
The 1973/74
league championship was won and
lost on Saturday June 8, 1974. The
marvellous goal scored by Frans Magro
three minutes from the end in the league
decider between Għajnsielem and Victoria
Hotspurs, not only confirmed the Blacks’
supremacy for the fifth year running,
but also brought to a close the most
memorable season in Club history. In
this season Għajnsielem swept all three
main competitions that were organized by
the G.F.A., established a record for
consecutive championships, equalled the
record for most championships won
achieved earlier by the Salesian Youths
and Victoria Hotspurs, and was the first
club in Gozo which dared to challenge a
foreign team on the field of play. Above
all, this success was achieved after
eight players from the 1972/73
championship winning team were taken
away by emigration, misfortune and
intrigue inspired by other clubs.
Għajnsielem opened the season by winning
the G.F.A. Cup
for the first time in Club history. The
cup was won over
Sannat Lions
2-0, with both goals scored by
George Fenech. At the end of the first
round of league play the Blacks were
already on top of the table with eight
points from five matches enjoying a
comfortable lead over their nearest
rivals. The stage was set for yet
another runaway title triumph. This was
not to be. An unexpected 0-1 to the then
division doormats Victoria Hotspurs and
a subsequent goalless draw against
Oratory Youths threw the title race wide
open. Sandwiched between those two
unexpected slips was an impressive
5-0 victory
over Nadur Youngsters in the
N.S.B Cup (Vincent Cutajar 2, Leli
Refalo, Paul Debono and Toni Cauchi).
On the 14th of May, 1974
Għajnsielem also made history by taking
on Hereford United, a professional team
competing in the English third division.
A respectable 2-4 loss combined with a
highly competent performance raised the
profile of Gozitan football. For this
credit is due not only to the players
but to coach Peter Caruana, who can
claim not only to have kept together,
focused and motivated a group of young
players for such a long period of time
but to have imposed on the team a system
of play that not only proved
irresistible in Gozo but fared well in
the face of much stronger opposition
from Malta and abroad.
The incredible comeback of Victoria
Hotspurs in the league was complete when
the Blacks could only manage a draw
against Xewkija. Għajnsielem in fact had
to beat Nadur in their final match of
the season in order to force a decider.
They did this in heart-stopping fashion
by beating Nadur 2-1 on a brace by Leli
Refalo who ended as league top-scorer
for the season. Although Victoria
Hotspurs proved to be worthy opponents
in the league decider, the Blacks’
supremacy was evident from start to
finish. That the Blacks triumphed on a
dramatic last gasp flying header goal
from Frans Magro served only to heighten
the drama of a match that could only
have one winner, Għajnsielem.
So come to an end the glory years of our
Club. The 1974/75 season started with
the Blacks losing the G.F.A. Cup final
against Sannat Lions. A dismal start to
the league campaign meant that the
Blacks had dug too deep a hole from
which to climb back. In an expanded
first division consisting of all eleven
clubs then in existence, Għajnsielem
went on an impressive winning streak
that brought the Club one win away from
its sixth title. This time, however, the
Blacks came up short. In a virtual
decider with Xewkija, Għajnsielem lost
0-1 to concede the title to the Tigers
and eventually, even second place to
Sannat Lions. Toni Cauchi had a terrific
season and was awarded the G.F.A.
footballer of the year trophy.
To the Lions, Għajnsielem finished
runners-up in the league and in a number
of knockout competitions in the two
seasons that followed. There were enough
players coming up from the minors and
the reserves, at the time when Loreto
Galea, Vincent Cutajar, Nikol Cutajar
and others left the local football scene
due to emigration. However, Għajnsielem
had now become an ordinary team and the
Blacks were no longer the team to beat
as they were in the early 70’s. Some of
the Club's players still managed to
stand out, in particular the two young
stylish defenders Mario Camilleri and
Frank Xuereb, both of whom were awarded
footballer of the year trophies in the
1976/77 season, the former by the G.F.A.
and the latter by the daily newspaper,
“Il-Hajja”.
Click Here to view a slideshow
photostory covering the most
successful
period in Club history (1969-1974)
 
The Dark Years (1977-1993)
In the 1977/78 season the Club went
through a protracted period of internal
strife. Several players refused to play,
unhappy with the way the Club was being
run. There was a standoff, the Committee
refused to give in and fielded a team of
second stringers for several league
matches. Fortunately, common sense
prevailed and a compromise was reached
before it was too late. The rebellious
players returned to the fold, Peter
Caruana was brought back in charge of
the team and the Club avoided
relegation. The Club’s minor league
players provided the only joy in a
tumultuous season when they brought to
the Club its
third championship.
In the period between the 1977/78 and
the 1992/93 seasons, however,
Għajnsielem were relegated to the second
division three times. The Blacks never
finished higher than fourth in the
league and this modest placing was
achieved only once. The team won two
second division championships and
triumphed in a small number of challenge
cups: the N.A.T.O. Cup (5-0 against
Nadur Youngsters in 1979/80), the Jum
il-Helsien Cup for division two teams
(on penalties against Kerċem Ajax in
1981/82)
and the President’s Cup (4-0 against
Xewkija Tigers in
1982/83).
The Club also won the
G.F.A. Cup
in the 1986/87
season by beating Victoria Hotspurs 1-0
thanks to a goal scored by Richard
Attard. They followed this by claiming
the
Independence Cup in the
1987/88
season, the first year in which this
competition was held after an
interruption of sixteen years.
Għajnsielem prevailed over Sannat Lions
on penalties after the match had ended
in a 2-2 draw (Richard Attard and Marco
Fenech).
The Club’s reserves and youths continued
to achieve success periodically. This
managed only to intensify the
frustration in those who had great
expectations with respect to the senior
team. The talented players that have
come out of the Club’s reserves and
youth teams failed time and again to
reach their maximum potential at senior
level.
The reserves were champions in 1982/83
and again in the 1988/89 season. The
minors triumphed for the fourth time in
1987/88 when they completed a league and
cup double. The Club’s Under/14 side was
champion of its category in 1990/91. The
same players from this side went on to
claim minor league championships in the
following two seasons, also completing
the league and cup double in 1991/92.
Click Here to view a slideshow
photostory covering the most difficult
phase
in
the history of Għajnsielem F.C.
(1974-1993)
 
Return to Respectability (1993 to now)
After the Blacks gained promotion from
division two as league runners-up, in
the 1993/94 season they consolidated
their division one status. It was around
this time that the construction of the
new club premises right next to the
Club’s training ground got under way.
This impressive structure was built and
equipped thanks to the efforts of all
the people of Għajnsielem living here
and abroad. The new clubhouse was
officially inaugurated on Saturday,
August 20, 1994.
With the exception of the three seasons
during which the G.F.A. unsuccessfully
experimented with a league format based
on three five-team divisions, the Blacks
have challenged for the league title
every year commencing with the 1994/95
season. Until 04/05, they came up short
every time. Nevertheless, this was a
much improved situation for the Club
from what it had experienced since the
late seventies when the first team was
caught in a cycle involving narrow
escapes from relegation followed by
relegation, promotion, narrow escape
from relegation, relegation and so on.
The Club could now field a competitive
team year in year out.
The Club’s players too have
distinguished themselves. Jude Madu
(1999/2000), Stefan Farrugia (2000/01)
and Alloysius Ihebulu (2002/03) finished
as league top-scorers, Loreto Scicluna
(1994/95), Brian Meilak (2003/04) and
Daniel Bogdanovic (2004/05) were awarded
the G.F.A. footballer of the year award.
Brian Meilak was awarded the inaugural
Gozo Player of the Year at the Westin
Malta Football Awards. Jude Madu
(1997/98), N'dayi Kalenga (2003/04) and
Dominique Mbueko (2004/05) all were
voted as the G.F.A.'s best foreign
player. Brian Meilak was awarded the
player of the year trophy for the first
division (premier format) (1998/99), and
Errol Grima (1994/95), Brian Meilak
(1996/97) and Joseph Buttigieg (2001/02)
have all been awarded the G.F.A. most
promising player award. Herman Mifsud
(1996/97) and Brian Meilak (2002/03,
2008/09) have been recognized by being
awarded footballer of the year awards
while on duty with the Gozo F.C. side.
The Club has had its share of bad luck
as well, ending up on the losing end in
five consecutive cup finals, and in
eleven over the span of eleven seasons.
This disappointment has been compensated
with triumphs in various cup
competitions. In the
1998/99
season the Club won the
Super Cup
for the first time in its history by
beating Xagħra United 6-2 in the final
(Errol Grima 2, Brian Meilak 2, Joseph
Attard II and Jude Madu). In
that season
the Blacks completely dominated the
first division (premier format) and were
promoted to the top flight as champions.
The Club completed a unique treble of
honours in the 2000/01 season made up of
the Jum
il-Helsien Cup (8-0
against Nadur Youngsters—goals by
Frank Buttigieg 2, Stefan Farrugia,
Alloysius Ihebulu, Matthew Portelli,
Daniel Cosaitis, Joseph Buttigieg and
Jeremy Camilleri), the
G.F.A. Cup
(on penalties
against Kerċem Ajax) and the
Super Cup
(2-1 in sudden
death against Żebbuġ Rovers,
goals by Alloysius Ihebulu and Stefan
Farrugia).
The Blacks registered yet another
Super Cup
triumph in the
2001/02 season 2-0 against Żebbuġ
Rovers (Alloysius Ihebulu and Jules
Ngangue). The Club opened
the 2002/03 season in style by claiming
the
Independence Cup,
beating
Xewkija Tigers 1-0 with the
winning goal coming two minutes from
time in sudden death extra-time (Joseph
Attard II). The Blacks closed the season
on a good note too by reclaiming the
G.F.A. Cup, beating Nadur Youngsters 3-2
(Tarek Belhadj, Dione Lautier, Alloysius
Ihebulu). Għajnsielem crowned the
2003/04 season one of transition and
renewal with another Super Cup victory
over Victoria Hotspurs 5-1 (Jeremy
Camilleri, Frank Buttigieg, Matthew
Portelli, N'dayi Kalenga 2).
But none of these cup triumphs compare
with the thrilling way in which the
Blacks won the 6th league championship
in Club history in 2004/05. Għajnsielem
put together a star-studded team to win
the title breaking numerous records
along the way.
Għajnsielem followed this championship
with cup triumphs in each of the
following two seasons: Jum il-Ħelsien
Cup in 2005/06 over Xewkija Tigers 2-2,
4-1 (Errol Grima, Joseph Attard II)
after penalties and the G.F.A. Cup in
2006/07 over Victoria Hotspurs (Marian
Bucur 2). Għajnsielem came close to
winning the league title once again in
2008/09 but had to settle for second
place.
The Club’s youth program has also
enjoyed a great deal of success in
recent years. The modern version of the
reserves, the Under/21 Blacks, won their
championship in the 1997/98 and 1998/99
seasons and ended as runners-up in the
years on either side of those triumphant
seasons. The Under/18 Blacks were
champions of their category in 1995/96.
The minors (Under/16 team) completed
their third double in Club history in
the 1998/99 season. The Under/16 side
also won the Joseph Portelli Cup in the
2002/03 beating Nadur Y. 3-2 in a
cup-final full of drama. The Under/14
Blacks won their second championship in
1998/99 and their third in the 2001/02
seasons. Even the Under/12 players
registered their first triumph in the
2001/02 season. They followed this up by
imperiously sweeping to the championship
for the second time in 2004/05. Numerous
players from the youth teams have been
honoured by the G.F.A. for individual
achievement.
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