Born in Gżira on December 17, 1933, Freddie Vella James had his football baptism with the locality's school team.

Showing an uncommon talent, he was snapped up by the committee of Floriana Colts. Vella James soon settled down in his new surroundings and by 1954 he was one of many promising youngsters in the second and third teams of Floriana.

Still only 16, Freddie was introduced into the minors team as left-half. In those days the youth teams of Sliema and Floriana were composed of the best footballers on the island. So, it was an honour for someone to play for either one or the other.

Vella James soon established himself in the team and he was only replaced when he attained the age limit.

After serving apprenticeship in the junior strings, he was finally given his big chance in 1956-57 as an emergency replacement for the great Tony Vella who had just left for Australia.

Vella was a legend in his own lifetime and it was very difficult for a raw youngster to step into his boots. Vella James, however, never shirked a challenge as many of his opponents can vouch.

He was made of sterner stuff and although he did not have the skills and finer qualities of his predecessor, he more than made up for this with his enthusiasm, hard running and first-time tackling.

Vella James was also a fine dribbler but it was not for such skills that he is best remembered.

In fact, instead of playing for the gallery, as many star players tend to do, he focused primarily on the good of the team.

In 1956-57, Vella James played 11 league games for Floriana and although he did not set any houses on fire he did enough to establish himself in the team and as one of the most promising half-backs around.

In those days, Freddie scored quite regularly from a deep lying position and he was also an excellent penalty-taker. In fact, as far as I could ascertain, he never missed one from the spot.

As his career progressed, however, he concentrated more and more on defence but towards the end of his career, he seemed to have rediscovered his goal-scoring touch. In 1969-70 he even turned out in the centre-forward position for Żurrieq in the Third Division.

Vella James featured prominently in Floriana's successful teams of the late 1950s and early 1960s. He stayed with the Greens for 12 years, winning nine major honours for the club.

In1958-59, his best season, he became only the second Floriana player to win the Footballer of the Year award. His choice was a popular one because he was the only shining light in an otherwise dark season for the Greens.

Vella James's fighting qualities, together with his never-say-die spirit, were ultimately rewarded by the biggest individual award in Maltese football.

His efficiency on the field of play was also recognised by the Malta selectors when he was called to play against Czech team Banik Ostrava in the 1959 Christmas Tourney although he failed to win a place in the final selection.

However, he made up for that upset when he was included in the full Malta team which played its first away international in Tunis.

In 1965-66 he missed nearly the whole season through injuries and the next year he made only eight first-team starts. It was obvious that his best days were over but instead of retiring, as most others would have done, he joined Żurrieq with whom he played for four years.

Schreiber Ground football seemed to suit his tough and boisterous style but time catches up with everybody and at the end of the 1971-72 season, after a year with Lija Athletic, he retired to take up coaching.