Dukes prevail on soggy pitch

In the early 1920's, one of the most important sporting events in Malta was the United Service League. This competition enjoyed such popularity among the Maltese that sometimes it even eclipsed the Civilian Football League.

It was the custom in those early days of Maltese football for the people of Cottonera to support Navy teams and for those on the other side of the harbour to favour the Army.

In 1921-22, HMS Iron Duke were the reigning Services' champions. Boasting a formidable team, they were considered as firm favourites to retain the title, much to the delight of their supporters from the three cities of Cottonera.

Their main rivals that season were the Royal Garrison Artillery and the Gordon Highlanders. The Scottish Regiment had just arrived in Malta and, conscious of the pique and enthusiasm which the Services Soccer League generated in Malta, they brought with them a very strong and well-prepared football team.

The Navy and Army favourites fought neck-and-neck for supremacy. In their first meeting they drew 1-1, a result which continued to increase the rivalry between their supporters. Therefore, by the time they were due to meet again in the second round encounter, the pot had reached boiling point.

The all-important match was held some time in March 1922 (the exact date is not known) on a dark and stormy Saturday afternoon.

Despite the heavy rain, hundreds of horse-drawn vehicles of all kind cluttered their way along the road leading to St Andrew's, picking their way through the heavy throng of pedestrians.

Throughout the day there were serious doubts if the game would be played at all. The rain had made a mess of the pitch which resembled more a pigsty than a football ground.

The conditions were so bad that only the brave and fool-hardy would risk breaking a limb on a pitch made treacherous by the mud and slime. However, a few minutes before the match was due to start, the referee inspected the pitch and declared that the game would be played as scheduled.

Then, after detailing a soldier to replace the ball when it became too heavily clogged with mud, he blew his whistle.

The Gordons, however, found out to their cost that the heavy and slippery surface presented a huge handicap to their slick, short-passing game. For most of the first half, they were swamped by the strong play and power of the sailors. However, Fyffe, the Gordons' goalkeeper, kept the sailors at bay.

Despite the constant rain, the game was played in the best of sporting spirit and it fully repaid the crowd for the sacrifices it made to travel so far and in such difficult conditions.

In the second half, the Scots abandoned their usual tip-tapping style and played more direct football. They dominated proceedings but much against the run of play, it was the Navy team which opened the score. Davidson courageously dived in the mud to force the ball over the fatal line.

The Scots increased their efforts but encouraged by a grand defensive display by centre-half Macgregor, the sailors held out to win the game by the narrowest of margins.

It was a game that lingered long in the memory of those who saw it.

This hard-earned victory gave the Dukes a second United Service League title. The Gordons made up somewhat for their disappointment in the league by beating HMS Centurion 1-0 in the United Service Cup final.

However, they did not gain the satisfaction of beating the Dukes on their way to the final because by then, the flagship had already left Malta to take up duty in the Atlantic.