There is one special ingredient missing nowadays from Maltese football – the participation of the British Services.

For many years, the local game depended on the service personnel stationed on the islands for its very existence. Many of them played for Maltese clubs.

The first referees were also British Servicemen and there were also many servicemen who supported Maltese clubs during their stay here. Most of them gave their backing to Sliema or Floriana but a few also supported Valletta and Hibernians.

The 1966-67 football season is one I remember very clearly as Hibernians not only won the championship but also played some marvellous football.

Yet, Hibs only just made it as it had to be a much-disputed protest that gave them their second championship.

In those days, I was serving in the RAF and was stationed at Ħal Far. From the very first day, I struck up a great friendship with a certain Corporal Fox who was a keen football fan. It did not take me long to persuade him to join me for a match and in a short while he even surpassed me in his fervour to support Hibernians.

At the start of the 1966-67 season, Sliema Wanderers, champions for the past three years, were firm favourites to retain the championship after nearest rivals Hibs dropped a precious point against Valletta.

On November 19, the two contenders played against each other. Although still early in the season, a victory for Sliema would have left them with no serious rivals in sight.

Hibs, however, had other ideas and won the match 3-2. Now, the Blues’ only hope of stopping the Paolites was to win their second-round encounter.

Finally, the day of reckoning arrived on January 22.

Because of the rivalry, the police moved the Hibs’ supporters from the enclosure to the Valletta side of the Gżira stadium and here lies our story.

I remember that match quite clearly. As usual, Corporal Fox asked me to meet him at the stadium. Since I did not know of the arrangements made by the authorities, I told him to meet at the Hibs’ side of the enclosure.

Fox went in as planned and found himself surrounded by a huge mass of Sliema fans.

Imagine his situation when, late in the second half, Victor Cassar scored an all-important equaliser for Hibs. Corporal Fox jumped into the air with joy but he barely made it out of the turnstiles as he ran for his life chased by a bunch of Sliema hotheads.

The 1-1 draw favoured Hibs. They only needed to beat Ħamrun to clinch the championship. Hibs were confident and who could blame them? After all, Ħamrun had only won once throughout the competition.

The Spartans had nothing to gain yet they played like a team possessed. They did their duty and, to the despair of the Hibs’ supporters, they denied the Paolites victory.

Despite the Spartans’ heroics, Hibs should still have won the match.

Keeper Jimmy Gatt effected a series of saves which bordered on the impossible.

Frans Xerri blazed high a penalty after only 16 minutes and then, when Johnnie Privitera finally beat Gatt, in popped Patistu Attard to do a goalkeeping act under the very nose of the referee who must have been unsighted because he saw nothing wrong in the action.

That was that, but it certainly was not the end of the story.

People were already talking about the decider when late that evening an anonymous phone call informed Hibernians that Ħamrun had fielded an ineligible player.

It seems that Wistin Magri had been reported by the referee in the MAFA league match between Ħamrun Leowe Opta and Valletta St Paul’s.

Magri had failed to appear before the MAFA Disciplinary Board and, according to the rules, was suspended pending his appearance.

Hibs protested and the MFA had no choice but to award the points to Hibernians who thus become champions.

Fox and I had a couple of cool beers at the mess when we learned that Hibs after all were the new champions. Unfortunately that summer Fox left the island and I did not hear from him again.