A fixture in the successful Hibs team of the sixties

I always find it hard to write an obituary especially when it is about a personal friend. Edgar Caruana, the ex-Hibs centre-half, was in fact more than a friend because we grew up together in Paola.

Edgar lived only around the corner from where I lived at Tal-Borg Street. We played football together in the streets of Paola and at the Paola Primary School under the critical eye of Karmenu Zerafa.

Edgar was a year older than me but we got on very well together and, for many years, we shared the same interests with our mutual friends from the Paola Youth Centre.

Quiet, serious and unassuming, Edgar seemed to me that he was more suited for a quiet family life than to the hustle and bustle of competitive football.

A gentler person I have never met but, he had a tough streak in him which only came out when he was playing football.

Edgar's career in football started rather slowly. He was no boy-wonder but at 17 years of age, he joined St Patrick's minor string. Apparently, he did very well because towards the end of the season, he was promoted to the senior team. He made his Second Division debut on April 4, 1964 against Zejtun and kept his place for the last game of the season against Marsa.

The Saints won both matches but that was not enough for them to avert relegation outright and they had to play a decider against Lija Athletics. Unfortunately, St Patrick lost 5-0 and were relegated to the Third Division.

Edgar showed a lot of promise in his few appearances for the first team. The club from Zabbar were eager to keep him but rather than play in the Third Division, he opted to join Little Rainbows for the 1964-65 season. Making his debut for his new team on November 7, 1964 against Marsa, he soon established himself at Tarxien as a sound and solid defender.

During his time with the Rainbows, Edgar came under the eagle eyes of Fr Hilary Tagliaferro. The old maestro did not take long to notice the new boy's potential and at the end of the season, Edgar was once again on the move. This time his destination was to his home town's club, Hibernians.

It was the era of 'Il-Father' at Hibernians, a time when the Paola club went through one of the greatest periods in its history. Who can ever forget Hibs' great encounters against Manchester United and Real Madrid, to mention but two of scores of great episodes in the history of the club?

Edgar fitted well in the Hibs' back-line, keeping his place in the team for seven glorious seasons in which he made a hundred odd first-team appearances. During his time with the Paolites, he won two championship and two FA Trophy medals together with a handful of other major honours.

Marking Charlton

Forming a solid partnership with 'iron-man' Salvu Gatt, Edgar showed his mettle with some first-class defensive performances which still stand out in the memory of Hibs' fans of the sixties. His greatest triumph, however, was in 1967 when he virtually blotted out of the game at the Stadium, the great Manchester United and England midfielder Bobby Charlton. It was really a game to remember.

There was also seasons 1966-67 and 1968-69 when Hibs won the league championship. Edgar was a fixture in the heart of the Hibs defence in those two glorious seasons.

By 1972, Caruana was at the top of his form. His future in football seemed secure but fate deemed otherwise. An unexpected but serious health problem forced him to give up the game he loved so much. It was a terrible blow for the player and the club but there was no answer for this cruel twist of fate.

A calm and sturdy defender, much in the mould of his contemporary, Alfred Debono 'Il-Paper' of Floriana and Malta, he would probably have gone on playing for many more seasons but for his unfortunate illness. Edgar retired from all active football but he was never forgotten by the Hibs faithful and his many friends from Paola.