Deserved praise for the Ajax

In the fifties, the Services' presence in Malta was still very strong.

The British love football and here they found numerous ways of satisfying their passion for their national past-time.

Many supported Maltese clubs with the same verve and enthusiasm with which they supported their clubs back home.

The famous Ajax team probably reached its peak in 1957-58 when Floriana won the League Championship, the FA Trophy and Cassar Cup treble, thus completing a hat-trick of Triple Crowns.

Floriana had a great team in those days as can be seen from the following letter entitled 'Floriana FC seen through a UK resident's eye' sent to the Times of Malta by Paddy Osborne, an Englishman who at the time was serving in Malta.

Osborne, like hundreds of other Servicemen stationed on the island, followed Maltese football with keen interest and being a neutral, his views carry that much more weight.

This is what he had to say:

"Before I leave your lovely island, I would like to write something about the team that has captured me and my colleagues since I have been on the island in the past 18 months. I mean Floriana FC.

"I have been going to the stadium regularly and have not missed one single match and now that the season is over I would like to begin by congratulating Floriana for their magnificent acquisition of the league, Cassar Cup and the FA Trophy.

"I must admit that seeing them play last year when they won the FA Trophy, I predicted to my colleagues more glories in the future. This was confirmed when Floriana won the Cassar Cup in such dazzling and carpet football against Sliema Wanderers, beating them by three clear goals. I saw them go down against this team in the Scicluna Cup by two goals to one but here, again seeing the tremendous shooting power and the devastating form of the Floriana forwards, I was so sure that this team would win more honours.

"Speaking of these forwards, I say that Demanuele is a ball juggler and no defender can stop him whether he is Maltese or foreigner. I heard about him at home when he played for Fulham FC and now I can say he is the second Stanley Matthews.

"Here I would like to say this year the MFA should honour this famous local player by proclaiming him Footballer of the Year. His team-mate, Lolly Borg, is another perfect player. He can shoot hard and give the perfect passes for his mates to score goals. The elusive Tony Cauchi is a well-built centre-forward, fearless and courageous. He can spell danger to any opposition and has a tremendous shot and can use his head well. I believe he is Malta's top-scorer. He holds his future career in his hands and nobody can replace him in the national side.

"Young Dalli, too, has a future and is a fine ball player with his bursts of speed. Alamango is grand with his perfect passes. If only he can pass the ball a little quicker to his colleagues, Floriana would have had a better scoring average. The half-backs are very good. The young diminutive Vella James is a first-class stopper and is very difficult for an opponent to beat. His tackles are excellent.

"Charles Brincat is the mainstay of the team, dominating and a tower of strength where no forward can beat him. He is cool and intelligent, his clearances are simply perfect - a grand centre half.

"Bonnet is good too, and with more coolness he can become a second Blanchflower.

"Of the backs Mousu is a good defender. Pity he is not a bit taller, but he defends grimly while Lolly Debattista, the veteran of the team and skipper, is a fine ball player and very cool indeed.

"I cannot understand why the MFA dropped this defender from the national side. Mizzi in goal is gradually settling down business and with more practice he has a future in front of him.

"Soon I hope to read in the papers that he has found a place in the national side.

"All in all the Floriana team possess a grand bunch of players who, I understand, have been trained by ex-Floriana player H. Herbert for the past three or four seasons and he has done a jolly good job of it, while their newly-acquired masseur 'Taffy' had done wonders to his injured players. Well done to you all and the never tiring and hard working committee men.

"Yes, I will be leaving Malta in a few days time, but I shall take with me many happy memories of you, Floriana and the Stadium matches. Who knows perhaps one day this team will once again re-visit England and I may see them there.

"Good luck to you and keep it up Floriana."

I sincerely hope that Osborne's wish has come true.