Mario Camilleri broke into the side less than a month past his sixteenth birthday. He was virtually ever present in the Blacks' lineup until his retirement in May of 1991, with the only interruptions coming during short periods when he was working abroad. It is the way that Mario grabbed the opportunity to play with both hands in autumn of 1973 that is most impressive. There he was surrounded by celebrities who had barely recovered from all the champagne after their record-breaking fourth consecutive league title. Mario had tasted success already as a minor and a reserve, winning titles at both levels, but he was hungry for success at the highest level. He was introduced as a hard-shooting right back with a propensity to go forward. Instead of being a liability with his lack of experience, his youth and vigor were an asset to a defence famous for being frugal. Mario reinforced this defence by his marking and tackling ability, willingness to go forward and powers of recovery. 

That 1973/74 season was the crowning glory to seasoned rearguard veterans like Salvinu Xuereb, Karmenu Caruana, George Schembri, and Nikol Cutajar. To young Mario it packed enough excitement to last a career. First he starred with the Club as the Blacks won the G.F.A. Cup for the first time in Club history. Then he played in the 5-0 demolition of Nadur Y. in winning the NSB Cup. He took part in the historic friendly against Hereford United. And he played in every minute of every match leading towards the Club's fifth title. It is hard to believe that the tall imposing figure standing third from the right in the post-decider photo is a sixteen year old who has just played a full part in the decider that won the Club its fifth title. The look on Mario's face was that of someone who had just got the job done with very little fuss.

Had he did not savoured all this, he would have lived to regret it because he had the misfortune of witnessing first hand the passage of the Club from the heights of greatness to the depths of despair. Yet he shone even in the darkness of those subsequent years. He was chosen the G.F.A. Footballer of the Year in the 1976/77 season. In the tumultuous 1977/78 season he was the Club's top scorer. In the 1978/79 season he was again singled out for his efforts, this time by the newspaper "Il-Hajja". He was also best of the class in the 1984/85 season, this time as Second Division Player of the Year. He was for long also Club captain filling various midfield and defensive roles. Mario was involved in the Club's few triumphant moments of the eighties, two second division titles and the conquests of the G.F.A. Cup and the Independence Cup. Mario made several appearances for the Gozo XI side and also played in the M.F.A. for a while.

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