The Hardest Years

In the first competitive season of 1970, Exiles finished at the bottom of the League Table with no points won out of the six matches played. The first goals were scored by Sandro Vukovic and Karol Farrugia in a heavy defeat against Ta’Xbiex (2-8) in a match played on Sunday the 19th July.

Ironically, the best performances were against the eventual winners Birzebbugia   when Exiles lost 1-2 and 1-3.

We had to wait for the next season to register the first points won in a competitive match. Exiles played Ta’Xbiex in the first round and finished 3-3 in a thrilling match. The other point was won when within a week from our partial success Exiles drew against Marsaxlokk 2-2 with goals coming from a solo effort from Frederick Mifsud Bonnici and an own goal by the opponents’ goalkeeper.

On the 4th August 1972, Exiles registered their first ever win in the competitions organized by the ASA when they beat Birzebbuga 2-1 to spoil the latter’s chances of challenging for the championship. Another draw against the same team in the first round helped Exiles to win three points which however were not enough to lift them from the last position. The team made amends in the Knock-Out competition by beating Birzebbuga 1-0 after extra time, Marsaxlokk  3-1 on the following day before losing in the Final against Ta’Xbiex 1-5 a week later.

Season 1973, saw a transformation in the team under the guidance of Captain Edward Xuereb who in my  opinion had instilled a more professional approach towards the game in general. The physical fitness came to the fore and it was only lack of experience which made Exiles miss the winning of its first honour by a whisker.

The decisive match was played in Valletta Pitch on Sunday the 12th August in the morning in front of a relatively large crowd of spectators half of which were Exiles supporters. The Committee had also decided to take the players to the British Hotel on the other side of the City to make them concentrate on the match and to making sure that none of the players had “late nights” on the eve of such an important match.

The match ended in a 2-2 draw after Exiles had managed a two-goal advantage. I have my own views on the outcome of this match. I remember I was the skipper of the team but I was not utilized throughout the match. I think that Exiles had missed a good chance earlier in the campaign when we drew two matches which should have been won. Having said that, Birzebbuga won three of the four points against Exiles and that says it all although they beat Exiles by just one point in the final tally.

In 1974, Exiles finished in the runner-up position behind the runaway leaders and winners Ta’Xbiex.

K. Farrugia

Did you know that Exiles have been on training camps abroad?

The first trip was in 1979 when we visited Rome where Exiles played in the Foro Italico Swimming Complex comprising an indoor and outdoor pool which hosted the aquatic events at the Olympic Games of 1960. Friendly matches were held against local teams and the Exiles squad also played in another sports complex called Acqua Cetosa.