The 1944-45 football season heralded the start of a new era in the history of Association Football. During the close season, the Malta FA made careful preparations to launch the District Representation.

However, despite all the planning, things did not progress as smoothly as expected. During the war, the game in Malta was kept going thanks to the initiative of Meme Scicluna of the Stadium. Therefore, when the Malta FA tried to regain full control of the game, it led to a conflict with the Stadium Management.

It took the MFA up to December of 1944 to resolve its ground problems. In the meantime, Mr Scicluna kept the interest in the game alive by organising a very attractive competition for youths.

The Anglo-Maltese Minor League drew big crowds to the stadium thanks mostly to the presence in the competition of the legendary Ajax FT of Floriana.

The famous 'miniatures', as they were known in football circles, were founded in 1944 by a certain Sgt. Lippu and the Floriana and Malta full-back Frankie Tabone.

The Ajax were entered for the Anglo-Maltese Minor League, winning their section with ease before cruising into the final with a classy 3-0 victory over Sliema Swifts.

The Ajax's opponents in the final were a new and virtually unknown team from Msida. Msida Wolves were formed by a certain Twanny Mifsud whose father, is-Sur Salv, was also responsible for the founding of St Joseph's FC in the 1930s.

Mifsud sought the help of his friend Frank Fenech and that of the popular St Joseph's United and Floriana goalkeeper Karmenu Psaila to help him organise the team.

Fenech, then still a teenager, urged his friends at Flores College to join the team and Psaila took charge of the training.

The club's first premises were at Msida Wharf and their ground was in a field behind the wharf. The Wolves made their first appearance in March 1945 when they beat Sliema Athletics 5-1 in a friendly.

It was obvious from the start that the Wolves had the nucleus of a very strong team, good enough as it turned out to compete successfully in the Anglo-Maltese Minor League.

In their first match, they beat the much-fancied Birkirkara Celtic 3-0. Msida won their section and then went on to reach the final after beating Zejtun Albatross 4-1 in the semis.

Ajax met the Wolves amid great expectations on July 1, 1945. It was a great encounter between two fine teams and played in an electric atmosphere.

Galea scored for Msida and Lolly Borg replied for Ajax from a penalty. Then the crowd ran riot. Trouble erupted on the terraces between rival fans and Mr Givillian, the referee, had to abandon the game.

It was a great pity that the game had to end in that way but the replay made up for the disappointment with a fine display of football from both teams and a good show of sportsmanship.

Before the start, the Wolves presented Ajax with a club banner and a bouquet of flowers and Ajax reciprocated by offering their opponents a photo of their team.

Ajax were first in action but Msida Wolves got a goal from practically their first attack. Lolly Debattista tried to head clear but the ball fell to E. Azzopardi who had plenty of space to shoot in off the upright.

The Ajax were shocked. They pressed hard but the nearest they got to goal was when Dalli shot just over the upright.

Wolves led 1-0 at half-time. Ajax once again came out fighting but Msida defended well. In a breakaway, the Wolves hit the crossbar but Ajax seemed to have salvaged the game when they were awarded a penalty. Debattista took the kick but his shot sailed well over the bar.

Msida were delighted with this let-off. Playing classic cup-tie football, they surged forward whenever the occasion permitted and it was from one of these rare attacks that Azzopardi scrambled the ball past Tabone for what proved to be the winning goal.

At the end, everyone was convinced that Ajax were the more skillful team but the Wolves fully deserved their victory.

Full-backs Galea and Alex Gollcher, and centre-half Fenech were the Wolves' outstanding players but all the others played their part in what was a classic victory against the mighty Ajax.

After the game, the crowd applauded for several minutes as the Ajax lined up in the middle of the field to cheer the team that had just beaten them.

The teams lined-up as follows:

Msida Wolves: R. Montaldo, J. Galea, A. Gollcher, C. Brincat, F. Fenech, C. Ancilleri, S. Manara, E.G. Azzopardi, E. Azzopardi, A. Pirotta, G. Camilleri.

Ajax: Tabone, L. Debattista, Roll, Dalli, Grech, Micallef, Nicholl, B. Camilleri, C. Azzopardi L. Borg, P. Demanuele.