Hardly the best supporters

In disbelief and amazement I read the letter in The Times about the Ħamrun Spartans (football) supporters by Joe C. Cordina (my namesake!) (July 1). The author was trying to explain to all that the Ħamrun supporters are the best on the island. My surprise was primarily because I, and many others, who regularly attend all the Maltese football matches witnessed the vast majority of the Ħamrun games last season, played in front of crowds not exceeding 25 (yes, you read right - 25) Ħamrun supporters! The photo that accompanied the letter showed the Ħamrun and Floriana sides when they were playing against each other in an important game last season.

The rare occasions when there were more than 25 Ħamrun supporters during a match, apart from the knockout (Trophy) final (which is only natural after all), were in matches played against Valletta (because of the old rivalry), when during one of the three games in which Ħamrun suffered four goals (4-1, 4-1 and 4-2) the Ħamrun supporters wrought havoc on around 100 (expensive for the club) seats.

My other surprise was the author's name (Joe Cordina), as I have a friend who lives in America with that name, and so I thought that it must have been him writing from America - as no one living on these islands, who frequents our football week in week out, could have written that letter! But no, it was not him. So I would like to ask the author of the letter in which part of the world (outside of Europe) he lives and writes his letters from. Because surely he does not regularly frequent the Ħamrun matches as otherwise he would have noticed the (only) 25 or so supporters who were present at most of the Ħamrun games last season.

The best, most numerous and vociferous, week in week out, rain or shine, and most colourful but most importantly loyal supporters, whatever the team position, have always belonged to one glorious club in Malta, which I do not need to mention by name, because everyone knows which one it is!

The best support award will never be won by this fine set of supporters, however, as long as it remains awarded by the number of SMSs sent by the supporters. They simply do not participate in competitions by SMS as it is deemed by the clan as ridiculous, because everyone knows whose the best support is. A bunch of kids from any club sending an endless number of messages (from the same mobile number) can win their club this ridiculous Best Support Award. That is not the support that the players need on the pitch.