Have a look at this week’s photograph. See the sweeping terraces full of spectators and you will understand why the 1920s were hailed by old timers as the good old days of Maltese football.
This photograph was taken on March 20, 1927 during the league championship deciding match between Sliema Wanderers and Floriana FC.
This was a big occasion but attendances like this were common in those days when the Maltese idea of a good time was an afternoon at the old Empire Sports Ground.
The Empire replaced the Mile End Sports Ground as the main venue of Maltese football in 1922. The ground was located on the same site where the Empire Stadium was built later on.
It was shaped like a roman amphitheatre and was surrounded by an eight-foot high wall which made it difficult for the supporters to invade the pitch at the least provocation as they used to do at the Mile End.
The ground had a full-size pitch with ample space behind the goalposts and at the sides. It also had four spacious dressing-rooms and a first-aid room which made it quite modern for the time.
The ground remained in operation up to the end of the 1933-34 season when it was pulled down to make way for the new Empire Stadium.
The 1926-27 championship was contested by only four clubs on a one-round basis which made every game a sort of decider.
Yet, despite the excitement and high expectations of the game’s followers, the competition started on a quiet note when, in the first two games, Floriana-Valletta and Sliema-St George’s ended goalless.
The third game, however, provided all the thrills and spills which, in those days, characterised matches between Floriana and St George’s.
The huge crowd that filled the Empire Sports Ground saw the two oldest protagonists of the local game clash like gladiators.
There was intense pressure from both teams but at the end of the 90 minutes, only one goal was scored. Half-an-hour had gone when centre-forward Tanti, of Floriana, rose over friend and foe to head in a perfect cross from Harry Samuel.
The game between Sliema and Valletta was another thriller with the Blues winning 2-0.
In the 66th minute Johnnie Perrin misjudged his sortie and Frankie Busuttil got his head to the ball and scored.
A few minutes later, there was a melee in the Valletta area and the ball finished into the path of Teddy Holland who promptly banged it into the net.
St George’s championship hopes came to an end following a 1-1 draw with Valletta on March 13.
This draw turned the last match of the championship, between Sliema and Floriana, into a title decider.
The first half was full of action.
Barely had the game started when Attard made a great goal-line clearance to deny Floriana.
Then, George Azzopardi delivered a perfect cross into the Sliema box. Alamango followed up and, in the ensuing tussle, Calleja handled on the goal-line.
George West made no mistake from the penalty spot to give Floriana the lead.
A few minutes later, however, Holland swung the ball across the Greens’ goal and Ġużi Pisani was in the right spot to fire home.
The second half was a carbon copy of the first.
On the half-hour, Frankie Busuttil just missed the upright by inches but Alamango won possession, raced upfield and centred the ball across the goalmouth.
Carmelo Cauchi was waiting for the ball. ‘Kaneni’ turned round a defender and cleverly scored with a back-heel.
This goal gave Floriana the championship.