The Tigers of Floriana were the best amateur team in Malta during the 1920s when amateur football was at its peak.
There came a time, however, when the Tigers aimed for higher targets. The answer was to enter a team in the professional league while keeping their amateur status. They tried their luck in 1931 but the Malta FA turned down their application on the grounds that Floriana was already represented in the league.
The Tigers committee took this refusal badly and, as if to spite the association, the club was disbanded. It was an unwise decision which, fortunately, did not last long because in 1934-35, after a lapse of four seasons, Tigers FC made their comeback in the Maltese football sphere.
In the summer of 1934, the Malta FA finally gave permission to clubs from the same locality to compete in the league and the famous amateur club could at last take part in the Second Division.
The Tigers' last match before their temporary retirement had been in 1930 when they beat the Constitutionals, of Paola, in the Amateur Cup final.
The Tigers made their re-appearance against Tarxien Rainbows in the Second Division league. They scored first but the Rainbows equalised and then went ahead before half-time. The Greens were stunned.
The Tigers, not used to falling behind to any team, staged a typically ferocious reaction.
Desperate efforts were made by the Tigers in the second half to save the match and although the Blues defended gamely, the Greens just managed to turn the result 3-2 in their favour.
In their second match, the Tigers beat cigarette factory team, Bramtoco, 2-0 in an exciting duel that was only decided in the closing stages of the game. Then, on Christmas day, the Tigers met fellow league leaders, Senglea United.
The team from Senglea, led by centre-half Salvu Cuschieri, were a hard nut to crack. Cuschieri would later make a name for himself as one of the best coaches of his era. The Tigers, however, were in that kind of devastating mood which made them so popular. In the first half, with the wind in their favour, the Greens scored four times without reply.
In their next two matches, the Tigers beat Sliema Amateurs 4-0 and Valletta City 2-1 to preserve their 100 per cent record.
One of the largest crowds of the season turned up at the Mile End when the Tigers met Little St George's in the league decider.
The Tigers won 5-1 after being a goal down at half-time. The Cospicuans held on till the final stages of the game but, after conceding the second goal, they lost their heads and some of their supporters jumped the fence and attacked the referee.
The Tigers won the championship and, at last, a place in the First Division, a target that had eluded them since 1930.
Amateur Cup
The Amateur Cup was very popular in those days. For amateur teams, this was the most prestigious honour of the season.
The Tigers, fresh from their league success, were eager to add the cup to their collection.
They went through their first round ties without a hitch. In the semi-finals they were drawn to meet Senglea United.
The score stood 2-1 for the Tigers when Fiteni equalised for Senglea.
Scenting victory, Senglea moved forward, pegging their opponents back in their area but in a counter-attack Vella scored the winner for the Tigers.
The final was a repetition of the league decider.
Little St George's made all the early running but the Tigers' defence withstood the pressure and after goalkeeper Holland, of Little St George's, saved a penalty, they struck two quick blows which left the Saints gasping.
This victory gave the Tigers the double, a feat last achieved by the club in 1926-27 and 1929-30 in the old Amateur League.