Melita F.C.

Did You Know?

• In the 2008–2009 season, Melita won four competitions in one season, a feat never before achieved by any MFA member club.
• Melita played their first Premier Division season in 2012–2013, winning 2–1 against reigning champions Valletta F.C. that year.
• Melita's 2023-24 season began with a friendly against Italian Serie B side Palermo FC at Palermo's home ground.

History

Melita Football Club was founded on 28 April 1933 at a general meeting where Sur Gian Bencini was elected the first president. The club's original statute set its base in St. Julian's, amateur status, red and white colours, and the motto "Play the Game for the Game's Sake" and "The Game First and Foremost"; these could only be changed by a unanimous vote at an Extraordinary General Meeting. The club has been affiliated with the Malta Football Association since 23 April 1944.

Anton Naudi served as president for 26 years from 1983, a period when Melita competed in the First Division. He stepped down in 2009 and was succeeded by Paul Zammit. Matthew Naudi became secretary, Alfred Zammit replaced Oliver Lautier as the club's representative on the MFA Council, and John Naudi, an ex-player, became vice-president; Joseph Borg remained treasurer. The club's greatest honour is a 4–0 victory over Sliema Wanderers in the FA Trophy Final in 1939.

The second biggest success came in the 2008–2009 season, when the club won runner-up in the Second Division (promotion to the First Division), the 11/111 Division K.O. Cup for the senior team, and for the youth U/19 team, champions of Youth Section "B" (promotion to Section "A") and K.O. Cup winners of Youth Sections "B", "C" and "D". This achievement had never been attained by the club before and had never been achieved by any MFA member club in one season.

The third biggest success was in the 2012–2013 season, when the club played Premier Division football for the first time.

New sports complex

In 2004 Melita F.C. inaugurated its first 5-a-side artificial pitches. In the summer of 2007 the club launched the Melita F.C Complex at its training facility in Pembroke, Malta. The complex includes changing rooms, gymnasiums, and a 105-metre full-sized 2-Star FIFA-recommended pitch certified for UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League matches, as well as a small stand with a maximum capacity of 70 (400 standing). The pitches were seen as one of the best training facilities in the area.

The club's sports complex is considered one of the best on the island, with development beginning in 2002 when administrators conceived the idea of constructing 5-a-side pitches with high-quality artificial turf. At that time no such pitches existed in Malta. After a feasibility study, the first two pitches (convertible to one 7-a-side pitch) opened on 23 May 2004, complete with fencing, floodlighting and other amenities. Later development included a 50-space car park, additional dressing rooms, and conversion of the full-size gravel pitch into a FIFA 2 Star artificial surface pitch with high-standard lighting and FIFA-approved steel surround, officially inaugurated on 27 April 2008 along with a restructured block housing a snack bar/restaurant, committee room, two terraces, a children's playground, kit room, and more dressing rooms.

The club also has the first Children's Gym in Malta and an adult gym, both underground with modern equipment. Although the club's registered place is St. Julian's, where committees meet regularly, the sports complex is in Pembroke because constructing such a complex in urban St. Julian's was not possible due to lack of space. The club accepts children, teenagers and adults from any locality in Malta.

Early years

The club was founded in 1933 by Gianni Bencini. After only six years in the Malta Football Association, Melita FC managed to go all the way to the final of the Maltese Cup. In the final Melita faced Sliema Wanderers, winning the game 4–0 – the first and so far the only major Cup trophy Melita have won. Melita made it to the final for the second consecutive year in 1940, again playing Sliema, but this time they lost the match 3–2.

Their league form was very promising having shot up the leagues to play their first season of top flight football in the 1939-40 Maltese Premier League, finishing runner-up, their highest ever league position. They kept their position among the elite of Maltese football until their relegation from the top flight in the 1947-48 Maltese Premier League. The club managed to return to the top tier for the 1953-54 Maltese Premier League, however their stay lasted only one season.

1963-1964: Return to Premier Division

Following an absence of 10 years, Melita F.C. sealed their return to the top level of Maltese Football for the 1963-64 Maltese Premier League season.

Late 1960s - early 2010s: Life in the lower leagues

The club survived for one solitary season before a period of 45 years playing lower league football in the first, second and third divisions, with varying levels of success. Many titles have been won in the third and second division, while Melita's youth nursery team have also had their share of success, as well as a reputation for bringing through quality players that have gone on to play at the highest level. This period also saw inauguration of the Gianni Bencini Ground in Pembroke.

2012–13: Golden Era – Premier League

Season 2012–13 promised to be a historical season as it meant that Melita would be playing in the Premier League for the first time in their history. Following near misses for promotion from the 2nd tier, they finally managed to gain promotion by winning the 1st Division title. Melita's Premier League adventure started slowly; however, as the season went by some historical wins and results were obtained, including a 2–1 victory over reigning champions Valletta F.C. as well as a 5–3 victory over Ħamrun Spartans the final day of the season. At the end of the first phase, Melita ended up finishing in 11th place and therefore qualifying for the relegation pool. At this point, the points would be halved and another two rounds of fixtures would be played. Melita did not fair very well in this phase, winning only their final game of the season and therefore confined to relegation.

2013 – 2018: Return to 1st Division

Following the clubs' relegation from the Premier division, Melita have once again cemented their place as a 1st Division team in spite of a number of players ending their playing time with the club. Melita have gone close to returning to the premier league in recent seasons, one time missing out on promotion after losing to Gzira United on penalties in a play-off decider, where the eventual winners ended up facing Mosta F.C. for a place in the 2015-16 Maltese Premier League. The club had maintained their status within the division for a number of years, although survival became the clubs ambition year after year. Unfortunately, the club's long spell in the division came to an end on 18 April 2018, following a crushing defeat to San Gwann F.C. which sealed the clubs fate.

2018 – 2020: Limited success in the 2nd Division

Melita F.C. competed in the third tier of Maltese football for the first time in 10 years following the club's most successful period. Led by newly appointed coach Edmond Lufi, the club will be looking to bounce back up to the 1st division at the first attempt with a mix of experience and youth, the majority of which are homegrown products. Following a disappointing mid-table finish during head coach Edmond Lufi's first season in charge, an inconsistent start to the 2019–20 season ultimately led to the termination of Edmond Lufi's contract at the club, with Youth team coach Saviour Debono Grech stepped up as interim coach, assisted by former player Emilio Cornago San Pedro, until the end of the season. Unfortunately due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was cut short and considered null and void, with Melita in 6th position after 19 games.

2020 – 2021: Covid-19, National Amateur League & Promotion

Due to the problems associated with the relegations and promotions following an unfinished season, the MFA decided to restructure the league, with three teams getting promoted from the Second Division, and none relegated from the First Division. Moreover, the Maltese Second Division and Thurd Division would be combined, with all teams divided into three sections of 7 or 8 teams, playing each other three times each, before the champions and promotion places are decided via the Playoffs.

Melita F.C. will be competing in group C, under the guidance of Coach Saviour Debono Grech, and assisted by Alessandro Ciantar and Simon Cassar. Melita breezed through the section unbeaten and with a 100% record, allowing them to compete for the 1st ever National Amateur League Trophy. Following a draw with Section A winners Mgarr United a loss to Section B winners Luqa St. Andrew's F.C. meant Melita would get promoted, yet were left empty handed.

Nevertheless, the season was a successful one in the clubs history and meant that they would be back in the second tier of Maltese football following an absence of three seasons.

2021 – 2024: Challenge League Years & Promotion

Saviour Debono Grech remained in charge as Melita returned to the second tier and were placed in Section A of the Maltese Challenge League, once again due to further restructuring of the Maltese leagues. A comfortable first season back saw The Amateurs finish comfortably in 5th position, just outside the promotion places yet with a solid foundation to build upon for the upcoming seasons. At the end of the 2022–23 season, Coach Saviour Debono Grech departed the club following a successful stint, ending his final season in 5th place once again, having qualified for the promotion group. Clive Mizzi was appointed as the new coach of Melita FC as from the 2023-24 Maltese Challenge League season.