Johnnie Alamango was born in Floriana on September 2, 1929 in one of the most famous Maltese sporting families.

The Alamango family, like the Friggieris, Schembris, Nicholls, Bennettis and the Theobalds, gave the Maltese game some of its greatest exponents.

Alamango started playing football on the Granaries with the legendary Ajax of Floriana. His skills were evident from the start and it was apparent that he was going to develop into a fine footballer.

Alamango was primarily a defender but he was also a great utility player.

He was a tireless worker and a great tackler. These two ingredients were great assets at a time when the game was much more physical than it is today.

Alamango served in the 1st Coast Regiment RMA with whom he played football and waterpolo.

He was also a first choice with the Pick Army XI at a time when the team was composed of some would-be British professional players who were serving in Malta.

In 1948, Alamango was promoted to Floriana’s first team, winning the FA Trophy in his first full season with the seniors. The next year, he was a regular in the team either at wing-half position or at full-back.

Alamango went through a very good campaign and at the end he collected a coveted championship medal.

Wanderers move

It seemed at the time that his career was established at Floriana but to everyone’s surprise he then decided to cross camps and join Old Firm rivals Sliema Wanderers.

Sliema could not believe their luck but the expectations of the supporters were dashed when Dame Luck dealt Alamango a cruel blow.

After only a couple of matches in the blue shirt, he suffered a serious injury which kept him out of the game for a whole season.

Sport medicine in those days was still rudimentary but fortunately the injury responded well to treatment and at the start of the 1951-52 season he was once again wearing the number two shirt of the Sliema Wanderers.

As was to be expected, it was some time before he accustomed himself to the style of play of his new colleagues. It was tough going at first but a player of Alamango’s ability did not take long to acclimatise to his new surroundings.

Alamango did not win any honours with the Wanderers but he did play four times for the MFA XI against visiting foreign clubs and he formed part of the Maltese U-20 XI which won the International Youth Tournament in 1950.

In 1953-54, Alamango left Sliema and joined Ħamrun Spartans but midway through the season, he migrated to the United Kingdom where he tried to continue his career.

At the start of the 1955-56 football season he was given a trial with Arsenal.

Unfortunately, however, Alamango was already well into his 20s and although Arsenal manager Alan Whittaker was impressed by his talent, he could not offer him a contract because it was the policy of the Gunners at the time only to sign players in their teens.

After that, Alamango still settled down in England and only visited Malta occasionally for his holidays.