Although the first team founded in Birkirkara was way back in 1916, the first side to play competitive football was Birkirkara Juventus in season 1933-34.
As far as we know, Birkirkara Juventus were only active for one year. Having finished last in Section B of the Third Division, they probably lost heart and were disbanded.
A couple of seasons later, Birkirkara St Helena played in Division Four.
This time the attempt to establish the game in the town was more successful. St Helena took part in the league from 1935 to 1940. In the process they won promotion to the Second Division but, unfortunately, their progress was halted by the start of the Second World War.
After the war it was the turn of Birkirkara Red Stars to try their luck in competitive football. In 1944-45, they took part in the Second Division but after finishing last they also fizzled away.
However, the history of the present Birkirkara FC team really started in 1945 when Birkirkara United were founded.
Adopting the name of the original 1916 club, they took part in the Second Division and in 1948-49 they won promotion for the first time to the First Division.
Their stay in the top sphere, however, lasted for only one year and at the end of the 1949-50 season they were relegated.
This time, however, the club was built on sturdier foundations than their predecessors.
Changing name to Birkirkara FC and adopting 1950 as their foundation date, they won the Second Division title in 1951-52.
At first, no one gave Birkirkara a chance. The Stripes, however, had other ideas. Coached by that shrewd judge of football, Frankie Tabone, they took the First Division by storm and proved to be the revelation team of 1952-53.
They made an auspicious start by holding Sliema Wanderers to a 2-2 draw. Lack of experience cost them their next match against Rabat but, on November 30, 1952, they made football history after a 1-0 win over the more quoted Floriana.
Birkirkara continued to confound the critics with another first-class performance against Hibernians. Eight minutes from time they were losing 0-1.
A game, however, is never lost until it is won and, with the Birkirkara supporters streaming out of the ground, Valenzia scored an unexpected equaliser.
The retreating Birkirkara fans stopped in their tracks, but that was not all. Seconds later, Bonnici scored a dramatic winner with a rising shot that whizzed home.
Ħamrun Spartans and Sliema were Birkirkara’s next victims. The Stripes won both games 1-0.
However, Birkirkara’s fine run came to an end against Valletta. The Lilywhites won thanks to a goal scored by Vassallo midway through the second period.
This result opened up the championship race and everything depended on the results of the matches between Floriana, Birkirkara and Valletta.
On March 29, Floriana jumped to the top of the championship table with a fine victory over Bir-kirkara but they were then held to a drab 1-1 draw by ‘Old Firm’ rivals Sliema.
Valletta drew 1-1 against lowly St George’s to throw away a glorious chance of regaining the top spot in the table.
Thrilling finale
The competition could not have had a more exciting finale.
On May 9, ‘Likku’ Saliba scored a great goal to give Birkirkara the points against the Spartans.
The win took Birkirkara to the top of the table, one point above Floriana and Valletta, who still had to meet each other.
A draw in the derby would have anticipated history by half-a-century and given Birkirkara a better chance to clinch their first-ever title. It was not to be, however.
Valletta took an early lead but things were different after the half-time break.
Brincat converted a penalty which knocked out all the fight out of Valletta. Floriana began to dictate matters and goals by Stan Williams and Bennetti gave the Greens their fourth championship in succession.
That season, however, will always be remembered for the way Birkirkara took the First Division by storm.