609. The Celtic, Lions and Unitas of Cospicua

In the 1930s Cospicua was engulfed by a huge wave of enthusiasm for the game of football. The ditches enclosed by the bastions of the historic old city were suddenly filled from dusk to dawn with hordes of youngsters playing football.

The city's senior team, St George's, were enjoying an excellent time in the top sphere of Maltese football and this brought about great interest and optimism to the youths of the City.

The 30s were good years for the Cospicuans and this helped in no small way to build up a general feeling of well-being and to sharpen the interests of the game followers.

During that particular era, three new teams were born in Cospicua.

Cospicua Celtic, Cospicua Lions and Cospicua Unitas were amateur teams but all three took part, more or less at the same time, in the lower divisions of the Malta FA league.

Cospicua Celtic started their league career in 1934-35 in the Third Division. They did very well in their first season, winning Section B of this category.

However, during a championship decider against Melita, their players lost their cool and attacked the referee. The MFA naturally held them responsible for their unsporting behaviour and suspended the club from the league.

Cospicua Lions were also formed in 1934, taking part in the Fourth Division in their first season.

In 1935-36 they won Section A and promotion to the Third Division. The Lions continued on the winning trail and in 1937-38 they became champions of the Third Division after beating neighbours Cospicua Unitas 2-0 in a decider.

That season, the Lions were regarded among the best amateur teams on the island. Their good form in the league was reflected in the Amateur Cup. This competition was very important in those days and it was considered to be the biggest honour that an amateur club could win.

The Lions showed their mettle in the Amateur Cup so much so that they reached the final. However, despite playing well they lost narrowly 2-1 against the more experienced Melita.

Like Celtic and Lions, Cospicua Unitas were also formed in 1934.

They also applied to take part in the MFA League and were allocated a place in the Fourth Division.

In their first season they finished in the runners-up spot in the final standings. Unitas won promotion to the Third Division where they stayed up to the end of the 1938-39 season.

That year, the league was re-organised and Unitas were given a place in the Second Division.

The war, unfortunately, interrupted the activities of this club which went into hibernation. But, after the war they were reformed. Another period of inactivity followed until the 1950s when the team, or rather another team bearing the same name, was formed.

By now, however, it was impossible for an amateur club to take part in the MFA League. In the 50s, however, the MFA quarrelled seriously with MAFA. The amateur association left the MFA and the mother body, in an attempt to undermine the importance of MAFA, organised its own amateur league.

Unitas were one of the many teams who took part.

The club from Cospicua won the Amateur League in 1959 and section honours in 1960.