Up to the 1970s, Zurrieq were a small, unfashionable club languishing in the depths of the Third Division. Things began to change, however, in 1972-73 when the club won promotion to the Second Division. It was the start of a journey that eventually took the club to the Premier League.
During this period, Zurrieq had a very good team in the minors league. Future stars Mario Farrugia, Anthony Bonnici, Rokku Farrugia, Carmel Farrugia and Mario Schembri were all part of that side.
Schembri, affectionately known by his team-mates as 'Bufon' is the subject of this week's story. Unfortunately, he passed away quite recently when still in the prime of life. His demise, at 51, shocked the football fraternity in Malta. It was a devastating loss not only for his family but also for those who, like me, remember this fine footballer.
Schembri joined Zurrieq in 1970 showing from the start that he was destined for a good career in football.
With his promising talent he quickly served his apprenticeship in Zurrieq's youth team and by 1974 he was ready to make his first-team debut in the Second Division.
A fast and clever winger, he caught the eye of the football enthusiasts who frequented the old Gzira stadium on Sunday mornings. With his mazy dribbles and uncanny eye for goal, it was not long before he started to be noticed by the big clubs.
Zurrieq received many requests for his transfer but somehow, despite their low position in the league, they fended off all attempts to lure him away from their fold.
Zurrieq spent eight long years in the Second Division. This section in those days was equivalent to the present-day First Division.
For most of that time, they were positioned in mid-table but after 1978-79, the fortunes of the club changed dramatically. Zurrieq introduced another crop of youngsters and they made all the difference to the fortunes of the club.
Alfons Camilleri, Tarcisju Falzon, Joe Falzon, Charles Camilleri, Louis Cutajar, Raymond Zahra and Pawlu Camilleri joined Farrugia and Schembri and, under the guidance of Pawlu Farrugia, led the club to the Second Division title in 1979-80 and promotion to the top flight.
Few gave Zurrieq a chance of holding their own in the top echelon of Maltese football. Their critics, however, were forced to eat their words when the Reds achieved the unthinkable.
Holding on grimly to their hard-earned status, they first condemned Sliema Wanderers, and then Floriana, to the Second Division. The superstars of that fine team were undoubtedly the two Marios, Farrugia and Schembri.
I did not know Schembri personally but I clearly remember him as one of the finest attacking wingers to emerge from that era. He played a prominent role in a team which could boast such stars as Bulgarian Georgi Deanov and Italians Carlo Ponti and Adelmo Paris.
In 1985, Schembri was released from the Water Works Department to join the MFA Professional Sponsorship Scheme. In the meantime, Enemalta accepted the MFA request to sponsor Schembri.
During his time with the national team, he wore the Malta jersey three times. He was, in fact, one of only a handful of Zurrieq players to be capped by Malta. Schembri also played five times and scored two goals for the Malta youths team.
A schoolboy international, in 1986 he represented Malta XI in the Rothmans Tournament.
Between 1983 and 1986, Zurrieq reached the FA Trophy final three times. In 1983, they lost 0-1 to Hamrun Spartans but the next season they went one better, beating Valletta by the same score in the final.
In 1986, Zurrieq once again reached the final but this time they had to relinquish the trophy to Rabat Ajax.
This was, undoubtedly, the peak of Schembri's career as a footballer. In 1987, he was transferred to Valletta but a series of injuries dogged his short stay with the Citizens and after a couple of seasons he was forced to retire. Renowned for his fighting spirit, Schembri never gave up sport.
Competing as a triathlete in the veteran class, he took part in the swim between Malta and Gozo and recently also ran the Malta half-marathon.
Schembri died suddenly on March 7. He is missed but surely never forgotten by his wife Niki, his son Jake and his daughter Hannah. He also left behind him a huge football legacy in his native village Zurrieq and many fond memories of the time when the Reds competed with the best of the land.
Schembri will surely never be forgotten by all those who appreciate fine sportsmanship and good football.