The start of February is bound to heighten enthusiasm among the legions of Manchester United fans in Malta and it's not difficult to see why. A 37-strong delegation from the Old Trafford giants, spearheaded by manager Sir Alex Ferguson, will be in Malta next week to participate in the 50th anniversary celebrations of the local supporters' club (MUSC).
Top officials of the MUSC yesterday gave a preview of the week-long events at a news conference during which James Bullock, the president of the MUSC, also revealed that they are still in talks with the powers-that-be at Old Trafford over the possibility of hosting Man. United for a friendly match in Malta next summer.
Bullock explained that Manchester United, particularly Ferguson, have been receptive to the idea of playing a friendly here but pointed out that such venture would have to fit into the team's already crammed schedule in the build-up to the 2009-10 season.
United's potential visit would lend added prestige to the MUSC's 50th year feast but the latter have clearly left no stone unturned in their efforts to ensure a fitting commemoration of this historic milestone.
Dubbed 'Malta Week' by MUTV, the MUSC 50th year party kicks off this Tuesday with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque in Bay Street by former United players David May and Andy Ritchie and former youth team coach Eric Harrison, and another by Jack Crompton, who was Manchester United's goalkeeper in the 1940s.
The climax of the celebrations will be reached on February 10 when Ferguson and three of the longest-serving players in the present United team, namely captain Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, will attend a Gala Celebration Dinner at the Mediterranean Conference Centre (MCC).
The 870 fans who have acquired tickets for the MCC activity will also enjoy the added bonus of having a close look at the Champions League and Premier League trophies.
The MUSC have also enquired about the possibility of having the FIFA Club World Cup flown over to Malta with the two other trophies but Bullock said "this is proving to be a difficult task".
Bullock and Joseph Tedesco, the MUSC vice-president, were joined by Johnny Calleja, founder of the MUSC, Crompton and Paul Anthony in addressing the media.
The 80-year-old Crompton, who was instrumental in helping the MUSC obtain official recognition from Manchester United 50 years ago, is confident that the current United team can remain at the pinnacle of English and European football for many years to come.
"Comparisons are odious," Crompton said. "When we won the treble in 1999, I had the feeling that United just couldn't be beaten. I feel the same about the present team."
MUTV's Anthony paid tribute to the MUSC for coming up with such an impressive programme to mark their 50th anniversary.
"MUTV has been on air for 10 years and 'Malta Week' is surely one of the biggest events we will cover outside the UK," Anthony said.
Calleja was visibly emotional as he reminisced on his initial attempts at setting up the MUSC.
"My first visit to Old Trafford was in 1957 and the welcome I got from the club spurred me to try and set up a Manchester United Supporters' Club in Malta," Calleja said.
"My foremost priority at the time was to keep the memory of the Munich tragedy alive and I think I've succeeded in doing that. I always received great co-operation from the club but our no.1 ally at Old Trafford for many years was Jack Crompton."
At the opening of yesterday's news conference, Bullock unveiled a framed certificate issued by United to confirm the MUSC's status as the oldest supporters' club in the world.
Also present for yesterday's briefing were Robert Muscat, from the MUSC's 50th anniversary sub-committee, and Daniel Mangani from Maltapost. The MUSC have teamed up with Maltapost to publish commemorative envelopes as well as a limited edition set of stamps.