The photograph accompanying this article is a little gem.
It is not only very rare but, for those who could read it, is a bagful of information.
It shows the MFA League XI as they lined up against the United Service League XI on January 27, 1917.
As was the custom in those days, the players posed for the photo as they would have lined up on the pitch, that is in a 1-2-3-5 formation, typical of the time.
Standing in the back are goalkeeper Henry Hamilton, flanked by great full-backs Salvu Tabone (Tal-Luminata) and Ruġġieru Friggieri (Iż-Żibġa).
In the centre row are two other legendary players, Gejtu Psaila (Il-Ħaċċa) and Emmanuel Busuttil (Ballolu). The player in the left-half position is Joe Tabona who died in 1921 when still at the height of his career.
The players in the forward line position are Karmenu Tabone, Charlie Hedley, Salvu Troisi, Jack Herbert and Aitken.
A more illustrious gathering of great Maltese players of that era is impossible to find but, perhaps, the most interesting bit of information that could be derived from this photograph is the identity of the two officials seated in the centre row.
The one on the left is then MFA president A.E. Dunstan, who led the organisation between 1915 and 1919, and not in 1900 as has been erroneously claimed in some quarters. The other is E. Archer, MFA secretary between 1916 and 1918.
The 1916-17 football season was one of the best of the Mile End era.
Despite the terrible war which was raging in Europe, Malta saw no action.
This is not to say that life here was easy. Food was scarce and the anxiety over the events which were happening on the front were real enough. However, there was nothing to stop the Maltese from practising their favourite sport.
That season they were treated to a feast of football. The Civilian League was a huge success while the United Service League was the show place of the many British pro-fessionals who were stationed in Malta.
It was, therefore, something to be expected that a representative game would be arranged between the two associations.
This attractive fixture was played late in January 1917.
The Maltese welcomed this event and in their fertile imagination elevated it to the status of an international.
For our grandfathers it was not the MFA League XI playing against the United Services League but Malta vs England!
The game was given a lot of publicity and on the assigned date, the Mile End was packed to capacity hours before the start of the match. This was the first of seven matches played between the two selections between 1917 and 1920.
Within five minutes from the start, Troisi had already opened the scoring for the locals.
This goal, however, only served to shake the Services into action and a couple of minutes later, Boxely equalised from the penalty spot.
Encouraged by this quick reversal of fortunes, the Services grew bolder.
McMillan missed narrowly but almost immediately Churchill gave the Services the lead.
For a while, the Maltese looked a beaten lot but gradually they crept back into the game. Egged on by the partisan crowd, they increased their efforts and five minutes from half-time, Atkins shot on the run to equalise for the civilians.
Aitkins was part of a group of British employees of the Eastern Telegraph Company who, in their spare time, turned out for Sliema Wanderers in the Civilian League.
During the second period, the Maltese had the wind behind them.
They attacked without pause but failed to score. Then, when their energy levels dropped, Hiscock scored an opportunistic goal to give the Services a 3-2 victory.
This memorable game went a long way towards boosting the morale of Maltese football.
Their team failed to beat the English but, led by Friggieri, the Maltese showed a lot of commitment and pride in wearing the Malta shirt.