Harry Ear (left) before the match between Hibs and Floriana on March 10, 1948. Ear, who moved to the US in the late forties, passed away recently.

Recently, the death was announced of Harry Ear.

He was a friend of mine and we met several times at the stadium where he followed the fortunes of his favourite club, Hibernians.

Ear was one of the most exciting players to emerge from the 1940s. An efficient half-back and centre-half of the old school, he was also a great sportsman and a perfect gentleman.

Born and bred in Paola, he started his career with Birkirkara Red Stars in 1942-43. The following season he joined Rabat in the Second Division where he got his first taste of first-team football.

The late 1940s was a time of change for Maltese football. The game was undergoing a revival after the ruins of the Second World War.

The interest in the game was sky-high because, at the time, the locals had no other form of entertainment except, perhaps, the cinema.

In these circumstances, a crop of exciting young footballers was introduced and they gave a new life to the game in Malta.

The 1940s were also the era of the famous Floriana Ajax. However, other clubs like Valletta, Sliema Wanderers, Ħamrun Spartans and Hibernians also had their share of fine footballers.

Salvinu Schembri, Lolly Borg, Pullu Demanuele, Victor and Louis Portelli, Sunny Borg Cardona and the Pearson and Buttigieg brothers were all big names during that period. Ear must surely be included in this list.

He made his league debut with Rabat in 1944 and played in all the league games. However, it was in the FA Trophy that he caught the eye of the big clubs with his polished performances on the right side of the pitch.

On April 29, 1945 while still at Rabat FC, he was picked to play for the MFA XI against the Navy XI. Ear’s impeccable performance continued to enhance his growing reputation.

The senior clubs battled it out for his signature. For a time he seemed about to join Sliema Wanderers after playing for them as guest player against the Pick Navy and the Pick Army.

However, in the end, he decided to move to his home club Hibernians.

Hibs had just been reinstated in the league after a number of years in the wilderness. Their ambitions were high. The club had the nucleus of a very fine team indeed and although still very young, Ear was made club captain.

In the three years he played for Hibernians, the club was among the foremost on the islands. The future seemed bright indeed not only for the club but also for Ear.

In 1948, however, he caught the immigration bug and together with other renowned players of his generation, Ear left for America.

It was a great loss for the local game, one which we could ill-afford.

On his arrival in Detroit, Ear joined the Hungarian American Club and after one season, he signed for the Maltese-run club of Detroit.

They won the championship in 1949-50 and 1950-51. The team also included former Ħamrun Spartans and Valletta full-back, Louis Portelli. Ear also played for All Star Michigan in other states.

He seemed to find the proverbial pot of gold in the US but he never forgot his home country.

After retiring, he spent most of his time in Malta. He still followed the game and up to a short while ago one could still see him at the National Stadium when his old club Hibernians were playing.