Pawlu Friggieri inspired Floriana to the league title in 1928-29.

In season 1928-29, only Floriana, Sliema Wanderers and Valletta United took part in the league.

Therefore, this competition compared unfavourably with those held in previous years. Only 1,800 spectators were present for the start of the league on March 31, 1929 when Sliema Wanderers met Valletta United. The match was a dull affair which ended in a 0-0 draw.

Sliema and Floriana faced each other on April 7, 1929 in front of 3,000 spectators.

Pisani scored an early goal for the Wanderers. This goal should have inspired the Blues but instead the Greens acted as if they had been stung by a bee.

Their left-wing tandem of Carmelo Cauchi and Ġużi Agius drew the Sliema defence to the left of the field and then transferred the ball quickly to the other side, catching their opponents on the wrong foot.

Joe Nicholl left his charge to close the angle but Salvu Grima headed over the goalkeeper leaving Fredu Cortis to administer the coup-de-grace.

This goal marked the start of a remarkable recovery by Floriana and the beginning of the end for Sliema.

Floriana drove forward at pace and it looked a matter of when not if that they would score a second goal. Three minutes before the interval Cauchi shot first-time into the far corner of the net.

That day Cauchi’s craft proved to be the undoing of the Wanderers. Fearne, especially, was unable to cope with his impish trickery. With three minutes left for the end of the game, Samuel put Cauchi through and once again the inside-forward beat Nicholl to earn his side a merited victory.

A single goal was all that separated Floriana and Valletta at the end of their league fixture.

A crowd of about 2,000 assisted quietly to one of the most colourless matches ever played in the league.

The solitary goal that gave Floriana the points was scored in the 43rd minute.

Samuel unexpectedly passed the ball to the unmarked Cauchi. Valletta appealed for offside but, as no check came from the referee, Cauchi closed in on the goalkeeper and scored. Perrin parried the shot but was helpless as the ball slid off his hands and into the net.

Valletta United only had themselves to blame for the 2-0 defeat against Sliema Wanderers in the first match of the second round.

Valletta chose to play with the wind behind them in the first half and tried to strike the vital blows before the half-time signal. Time after time the lively City quintet advanced towards Sliema’s penalty area but the Blues defenders held fast.

In this match, the Wanderers introduced inside-right Vassallo who celebrated the occasion by opening the scoring. The first half ended 1-0 for Sliema

After the change of ends, Sliema found the wind a decisive asset in their favour.

Valletta went all out for the equaliser, but it was Sliema who scored again through Teddy Holland.

Floriana, chasing their third consecutive league title, were confident of winning the return match against the Wanderers on May 5,1929. This game would assure the Greens of the championship.

However, the Wanderers were not prepared to surrender easily. Attacking with great determination, they scored two quick goals and for a time, seemed to be heading towards a certain victory.

Friggieri’s debut

Making his debut for Floriana in this game was Pawlu Friggieri, son of the famous Ruġġieru Friggieri.

He immediately made his presence felt when, on the stroke of half-time, he sprang out of a bunch of players to head home from a Grima corner.

Floriana seized the initiative after the interval and for the rest of the game, Sliema had to fight a defensive battle.

The equaliser came when Agius centred the ball towards goalkeeper Holland and Friggieri once again placed a perfect header in the corner of the net.

The Greens hammered away at Sliema but the Blues held firm. Holland even saved a penalty from Scicluna and a few minutes later the final whistle came with the two teams tied at 2-2, a result which secured the championship for Floriana.

They still had to meet Valletta in their last match and the Greens celebrated their title success with a 2-1 win over their rivals.

Once again, Friggieri was the star of the game, scoring his side’s two goals.