This week's article is not about an episode or a famous player/team from the local game's rich history. Instead, I would like to share with you some personal recollections about this series.
I do this solely to satisfy the curiosity of many who have asked me how Shadows from the past originated as well as to introduce my latest publication, Great Moments in Football.
February 11, 1994 was a very special day for me. I remember opening The Times that Thursday morning and seeing the first article of this series published in the newspaper. The first story was about St George's and the Junior league competition they won in 1907-08. How time flies! Since then I have written well over 750 articles as part of this on-going series.
Shadows from the past was not the first series I published in The Times. It was preceded by Windows through History (1991-1993) and Maltese Footballers (1991-1994). These last-mentioned series gave me a lot of satisfaction but it was always my intention to assemble a number of articles that would cover every aspect of the history of Maltese football.
I wanted to revive memories of famous players, notable events, and the early years of our clubs, referees and officials. Indeed, I wanted to include all that makes football our national pastime, the ultimate aim being that my collection of articles would become an encyclopaedia of the game in Malta.
After many years of research, I was confident in 1994 that I had enough material to fulfil my ambition and offer an interesting read not only to football lovers but to anyone interested in the social history of our nation.
I approached Henry Brincat, then Sports Editor of The Times, with my idea and he decided to give it a go. To tell the truth, at first I had doubts if the series would last more than a 100 odd issues. However, the feedback of the readers has kept me going and going.
Over the past 14 years, I have made contact with hundreds of persons with connections to Maltese football.
I have received letters, photographs and ideas for stories and more importantly, the encouragement needed to narrate a different story every week without interruption for 14 years. I assure you that, at times, this has not been easy.
Then came the wonder of the internet. All of a sudden The Times became available to Maltese immigrants in the United Kingdom, the USA, Canada, Australia and even South Africa.
In the last few years, I have received hundreds of letters and emails form ex-Maltese footballers from the 1940's and1950's. Many of them have asked me to feature a particular player's career or an event in my weekly column and when possible, I obliged.
In all these years, there has been a recurring request. People have suggested that the articles in this series be compiled in book form. I was intrigued and after consulting with Allied Newspapers Limited in November 2004 I published Hundred of the Best, which is basically a collection of articles taken mostly from the Shadows of the past series about the best 100 Maltese footballers of all time.
This publication was received well by the public and this motivated me to write another one, this time highlighting the best 100 events in the history of Maltese football.
Thus Great Moments in Football, which was launched recently by ARCO.
I sincerely hope that you will enjoy reading this book as much as I have enjoyed writing it.
In the meantime, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed towards increasing the popularity of this series. My whole-hearted thanks go to those who have sent ideas, photographs and other material.
Special credit is due to those whose constant encouragement has kept me going for the last 14 years.