Sliema Amateurs were the product of the Salesians Oratory.
The Salesians Boys Brigade came to Malta in 1903, taking residence in St Patrick's home in Sliema. Then, in 1908, the Oratory known to the people of Sliema as the Salesjani, was founded.
The Oratory also incorporated the Salesians Football Ground. The first time we hear of this ground, which was also known as St Patrick's FG, was in October 10, 1908 when a friendly was played between Hastings FC, of Valletta, and St Francis Xavier's FT. The former won a very keen game 1-0.
From that moment on, the Salesians ground became a haven for the many football teams which were formed during that period in the Sliema, St Julian's and Gżira districts.
The Salesians football team was also very popular in the period before the First World War. The first time we meet in the records with this team was on February 2, 1910 when the boys played against St Pio's United at their own ground losing a very keen encounter 2-1.
The photo which accompanies this article, however, goes back to 1935.
Europe was in turmoil with Adolf Hitler and his henchmen beginning to show their greed and ambitions for world domination.
Despite the bad political situation, however, football in Malta was going through one of its best periods in history. The game was undoubtedly the most popular pastime of the Maltese and at every level of the sport the interest was sky high.
Salesians had a very good team in the early 1930s. Managed by Fr Degiorgio, the team played many friendly matches at St Patrick's and other grounds in the district.
Then, in 1933, Charles Izzo came up with the idea of forming a team from the boys residing at St Patrick's and those who frequented the Oratory. Thus, the famous Sliema Amateurs football team was born.
The idea behind Izzo's initiative was to keep the boys together and away from the temptations which the world, even in the 1930s, could offer.
His idea worked admirably because under his guidance, Sliema Amateurs developed into one of the best teams of their era. They applied to be included in the MFA League and were placed in the Second Division which in those days was made up of mostly amateur teams.
From 1933 to 1939 the club managed to keep its place in the Second Division but when in 1939 the war finally reached our shores the team was disbanded.
The lads were now of age and they were required to give service to the country. Some were drafted into the army, others joined the navy and others gave sterling services at the Dockyard or other key places.
In 1944, when the sound of guns was becoming more and more distant, the team was re-united.
Between 1944 and 1946, they took part in the Second Division but at the end of the 1945-46 season they were relegated.
Interest waned and when the MFA introduced the 'District Representation Scheme' Sliema Amateurs suffered the same fate as many other amateur teams and were disbanded.
The interest in football at the Salesians' Oratory, however, never wavered and throughout the years there were many instances when teams from the Oratory took part in competitions designed for the youths of the island.