Linesman Anthony Willoughby.

As a game of football, the league match between Valletta and Ħamrun Spartans, played on January 9, 1977, left a lot to be desired.

Heavy rain on matchday turned the Gzira ground into a slippery and dangerous skating rink.

These difficult conditions made the tackles rough and reckless, creating uneasiness on the pitch and among the rival supporters.

Rivalry is the best tonic for football. Without it, the game would be stale and unattractive.

Old timers, like me, still remember the keen and feverish rivalry which spectators indulged in at the Empire Stadium. The atmosphere in those days made one’s blood boil with excitement.

However, when rival fans resort to violence and vandalism, then the game as a whole suffers. That is what happened on that cold and wet winter afternoon.

Although very little good football was played the game was keen and interesting.

The first thrill came early on when Carlo Seychell tested the Spartans’ goalkeeper with a well-aimed header. However, in their very first attack the Spartans opened the score.

Ronnie Cocks floated a perfect cross into the penalty area which Vella headed against the upright. The rebound fell back to Vella who steered the ball past goalkeeper Frankie Grima.

Valletta reacted immediately and on 24 minutes they scored. However, linesman Anthony Willoughby signalled for an offside infringement.

It was here that the trouble started. A handful of young hotheads from the Valletta side demolished the concrete seats to pieces and started to pelt the linesman with their missiles.

Willoughby became a moving target for the irate City fans. It took a brave man to serve as linesman beneath the Valletta side in those days and an even braver one to annul a City goal.

Willoughby was a hero that day as he continued with his duty to the end despite the shower of stones and concrete which kept falling around him.

Seven minutes from half-time Valletta missed a golden opportunity to draw level when Borg failed to connect with the ball with the goal in his mercy.

In the second period, the Citizens in-creased their pressure on the Spartans’ fort. On and on they came and a Vincent ‘Maxi’ Magro drive from the distance was turned away for a corner with great difficulty by the Spartans goalkeeper.

Valletta persisted and two minutes later full-back Constantino Consiglio risked scoring an own-goal with a reckless clearance. However, from the ensuing corner City equalised.

Magro’s inswinger was deflected by Borg over Darmanin’s head and into the net. The Valletta end erupted with joy while, on the other side, the Ħamrun fans went mute.

Backed by their vociferous supporters, Valletta went all out for the kill and with just four minutes to go Norman Darmanin Demajo scored the winner.

Once again, the City fans were over the moon as the Spartans’ players milled around referee Edgar Azzopardi demanding an offside decision. This time, however, the referee was not obliging and now it was the Spartans’ turn to go on the rampage.

Their target was not the linesman but the VIP box. Stones were thrown at the MFA officials. Broken glass and chairs were hurled at the policemen who tried to defend the innocent from the fans’ unjustified fury.

Oh well! Those were the good old days of Maltese football when a visit to the stadium could result in an enjoyable football outing or a deep gash on the head.