Scotsman’s views on Maltese game

From time to time, I like to reproduce old articles written by foreigners which shed light on the way we used to play football.

This week, I have an extract from an article which was published in the Times of Malta of Wednesday, April 20, 1950. It was written by Ian Black who was stationed in Malta during the war.

Born on March 27, 1924 in Aberdeen, Black served his time in the REME playing with his unit in Malta.

Leaving Malta in 1947, he joined Southampton and became their regular goalkeeper.

In 1948, he was chosen to play for Scotland against England in an international match at Hampden Park which England won by two goals to nil.

Black’s article read:

Definite opinions

I enjoyed my stay on the G.C. Island although regulations prevented me playing much serious football. But I watched and I formed some very definite conclusions. Here they are, for what they are worth.

There is great talent in Maltese football.

There’s speed, forthrightness and fighting qualities and every game has cup-tie ‘itis’ but the keenness of the Saturday game has disappeared with the bruises by Monday.

Players are content to rest on hard-won laurels until time and providence sends around another Saturday.

Swop the glamour of the stadium’s crowd for a little quiet training and serious practice and the majority are not interested. They have started to run and they intend never again to walk.

I was privileged only once to see Tony Nicholl play, and that was after his accident but I saw some splendid up and coming players who needed only experience and practice to make them outstanding.

The little Ajax

The little Ajax were really fine and were always eager to listen and learn but how can any player improve his game when he is constantly playing against chaps whose every move and trick he has seen and studied for years?

Selection committees should come off their high horses and bring more youngsters into the senior teams. They must not persist in this ‘seasoned players only’ attitude. Such reasoning is dangerous to football.

Outstanding players

It is not easy to single out any particular player I liked best because I liked them all for their enthusiasm and honest to goodness whole-heartedness.

But I must mention that Salvinu Schembri impressed me before he met with his injury and Bennetti and Leli Cauchi were splendid ball players.

I saw Frankie Tabone play once in a friendly game and it was easy to see that he had been a grand back whose head had always saved his legs. It would be difficult to imagine him going into a penalty tackle.

He is ideally suited by temperament, character and ability to teach the game to his fellow countrymen.

I was naturally most interested in goalkeepers and Malta seems to breed them. I saw some very good and some very bad keeping. I liked Gabaretta, but thought the best talent was promised by young Frankie Busuttil, of Floriana.

He was only 17 but was already showing the coolness of a veteran. His handling and keen anticipation, coupled with a quick eye and an obvious distaste for showiness, made me remember him as a name of the future. His only fault was his attitude.

It was lackadaisical it lacked ‘go’.

Busuttil was the antithesis of the general run of Maltese goalkeepers. He preferred to catch the ball rather than to perform unnecessary acrobatics and finish up with a punch over the bar. He was efficient rather than spectacular.

The Malta referee

Lastly, a word for the men who make or mar the best of games, that much maligned and patient lover of football... the referee.

Standards in Malta are mainly good and I never saw a sign of bias.

Billy Mock is as good as any referee and his influence seems to have had a marked effect on other officials and on the game in general. But his was an uphill fight and from what I heard in the stand from spectators and saw on the field from argumentative and unruly players on more than one occasion, it seems that the true worth of this fine referee is not fully appreciated.

The standard of refereeing in England is, I understand, depreciating and we could do with more men of Mr Mock’s calibre.

So use him well, Malta!