History of Marsaxlokk F.C.
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This article covers the History of Marsaxlokk Football Club.
[edit] Early Years (1949-1954)
Marsaxlokk Football Club were formed on November 3, 1949 under the name of Marsaxlokk White Stars F.C., a name the kept for five years before they adopted their current name in 1954.
[edit] Entering the League (1955-1957)
The club applied for a place in the Malta Football Association competitions in 1955, the Malta Football Association organised a series of play-offs to fill a vacancy left by Naxxar Lions in the Maltese Third Division.
Marsaxlokk went on to win the play-offs and secure a place in the Maltese Third Division, but following a lack of interest in the club, they opted out of Malta Football Association after just two years.
[edit] Re-Entering the League (1965-1978)
In 1965, Marsaxlokk again applied to take part in the Malta Football Association competitions and their application was accepted. Marsaxlokk took part in the Maltese Third Division 1965/66, finishing in third place and reaching the final of the Knock-Out. The following season, the Southseasiders finished as runners-up in both the Maltese Third Division and again reached the knock-out.
They managed to win promotion to the Maltese Second Division for the first time in their histoty during the 1970/71 season, but were relegated the following season. The club again achieved promotion to Maltese Second Division in 1973/74, following an excellent league campaign where they held an unbeaten record, and only lost to Siggiewi in the championship decider.
Marsaxlokk retained their Maltese Second Division status until for five seasons, until 1977/78 when they returned to the Maltese Third Division following yet another relegation.
[edit] Stuck Between the Maltese Third Division and the Maltese Second Division (1978-1992)
The club remained in the Maltese Third Division for eight years, before winning Section B in 1985/86 and as a result gained promotion back to Maltese Second Division. The promotion didn't last long and the club were relegated back to the Maltese Third Division the following season.
Some six seasons later Marsaxlokk found themselves back in the Maltese Second Division after winning the Maltese Third Division Section A, and only failed to clinch the championship decider to Zejtun Corinthians on penalties.
[edit] Promotion to the Maltese First Division (1992-2000)
Marsaxlokk established themselves as a Maltese Second Division side for a near decade, until they finally won the Maltese Second Division for the first time in the history in 1999/00, and won promotion to the Maltese First Division.
[edit] Promotion to the Maltese Premier League (2000-2003)
With the club seemingly on the up, they spent just three seasons in the Maltese First Division.
Marsaxlokk won the Maltese First Division during the 2001/02 season, and were promoted as champions to the Maltese Premier League, where the club would appear for the first time in their history.
[edit] Entering Europe (2003-2005)
After two years in the Maltese Premier League, the Southseasiders managed to reach the final of the Maltese Cup in 2004, this was the first time the club had ever reached the final, and despite the club losing to champions Sliema Wanderers.
Despite the fact that Marsaxlokk had lost in the final of the Maltese Cup, they qualified for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Cup where they met NK Primorje of Slovenia, losing 1-0 at home in the first leg and 2-0 in Slovenia in the return leg.
It was reported on January 6, 2003 that the ambishous Maltese club had made an attempt to sign former England legend Paul Gascoigne, but the club failed in any attepmt, despite a reported salary of £12,500 a month, which would have been a record salary in Malta had Gascoigne agreed terms.[1]
Marsaxlokk were showing real promise by this stage and were looking ready to challange the like of Sliema Wanderers, Valletta and Birkirkara to major honours, and yet again signalled they were a side improving, however the side finished in 5th place for the 2004/05 season a place lower than their highest ever league finish of 4th the season prior.
[edit] (2005/2006) Season
In the 2005/06 season, Marsaxlokk made some very interesting signings, Brazil born striker Wendell Gomes and Portuguese ex-Boavista defender Nuno Gomes joined the club, along with Malta internationals, defender Carlo Mamo from Sliema Wanderers and Jamie Pace from Valletta.
The club also pulled off the biggest transfer in their history on August 6, 2005, when they acquired the services of former English Premier League and former Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest player Chris Bart-Williams.
Despite all the hype surrounding Bart-Williams' move to Malta, he did not live upto the billing and the signing resulted in one of the biggest flops the club had ever experienced. Bart-Williams was soon on his way back home only managing eight appearances before having his 3-year contact cancelled after only two months of signing it.
During the January transfer window the club strengthened the squad furthermore, with the signings of young Maltese midfield duo André Schembri from Hibernians and Cleaven Frendo from Pietà Hotspurs.
The club enjoyed a successful season and finished in the highest league position in their history, when the grabbed a 3rd place finish in the Maltese Premier League. The club also managed to qualify for the first round of the UEFA Intertoto Cup were they would meet Bosnia and Herzegovina side HŠK Zrinjski Mostar, sadly for Marsaxlokk their european adventure didn't last for long as they were knocked out 4-1 over the two legs.
[edit] (2006/2007) Season
The following season Marsaxlokk made some very impressive signings, equiring the services of Maltese internationals, goalkeeper Justin Haber, defender Luke Dimech, midfielder Peter Pullicino and striker Daniel Bogdanovic along with Nigerian midfielder Haruna Doda.
With the club finishing in 3rd position the following season, and with the list of impressive signings that had made by manager Brian Talbot, the Marsaxlokk fans had every reason to be in an optimistic mood.
With the club doing well in the league the January transfer window arrived. The club swapped André Rocha da Silva for Udo Nwoko with Hibernians, both on loan deals until the end of the season. Shaun Bajada also left the club on loan until the end of the season, joining Msida Saint-Joseph.
The team again impressed during the league season, and were confirmed as champions with one game remaining, they even underlined the fact that they were worthy winners with a 4-1 defeat of second-placed Sliema Wanderers with Cleaven Frendo, Jamie Pace, André Schembri and Daniel Bogdanovic all finding the net on the day.
Another award went back to Marsaxlokk with striker Daniel Bogdanovic finished as the leagues top goalscorer with an incredible 31 goals in 31 appearances, and ended the season one goal short of Danilo Doncic's Maltese record of 32 goals in a season, set while playing for Valletta during the 2001/02 season.
[edit] References
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Marsaxlokk Football Club
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