Qormi F.C.

Qormi
Full name Qormi Football Club
Nickname(s) Sofor u Suwed (Yellow-Blacks)
Tat-Tażmanja (Tasmanian Devils)
Tal-Ħobż (The Bakers)
Founded 1961
Ground Ta' Qali Stadium,
Ta' Qali,
Malta
(Capacity: 17,000)
Chairman Redino Apap
Manager Stephen Azzopardi
League Maltese Premier League
2010/11 Maltese Premier League, 8th
Home colours

Qormi Football Club are a Maltese football club from the city of Qormi, which currently plays in the Maltese Premier League.

Contents

History

Qormi Football Club was founded in 1961 after the amalgamation of Qormi Youngsters and Qormi United, which is from where the club acquired its motto Fl-Għaqda s-Saħħa, (English: Strength in Unity). The club thus celebrated the 40th anniversary in 2001.

Qormi Football Club is affiliated with the Malta Football Association (MFA) which is the main football body in Malta. The Qormi F.C. Youth Nursery is a sub-committee of Qormi F.C. and almost 200 youngsters are affiliated with the nursery.

Qormi Football Grounds (Thomaso Grounds) are situated in Valletta Road, Qormi and the amenities includes pitches, a conference hall, fitness centre, bar and the Qormi F.C. Youth Nursery Head Quarters.

The Qormi official colours are Yellow and Black. Qormi's biggest arch rivals are Zebbug Rangers from neighbouring town of Zebbug, Malta, although they don't play each other often with Zebbug Rangers currently playing in the Maltese Second Division.

The club has spent some of its seasons yo-yo-ing from one division to another, but has recently started to build a more solid pace, progressing slowly but steadily to the upper divisions. Season 2007/08 was the best ever season in the club's recent history. Qormi clinched a second position finish in the Maltese First Division, following a hardly fought play-off penalty win against Mosta F.C., which acquired the club's accession to the Maltese Premier League. Season 2008/09 will be the first season that Qormi will spend in the highest echelons of Maltese football since the old First Division was renamed the Premier League. To prepare for their first Maltese Premier League campaign, Qormi brought in ten new signings and gave a new look to the club's image. The team performed well in pre-season friendlies, which could augur well for the future. Qormi could still have to struggle against relegation like most newly promoted teams in the Premier League. In a press release, the club's committee expressed its aim to stay in top flight and possibly even making it to the Championship Pool.

Season 2009/10 saw Qormi achieving a historical stint in the Maltese top-flight, as well as in the FA Trophy. The success was especially aided with arguably the best signing in the club's history, Camilo. Camilo finished top scorer in the league with 24 goals in 22 appearances where Qormi finished in the third place. Qormi then had to play a decider match to determine the taker of the Europa League spot for the next season, a match which Qormi lost to Sliema 0-2. Qormi also could have achieved a spot through the cup, however, albeit making it to the final, Qormi lost to Valletta 1-2.

After the departure of Camilo and other players, as well as coaches Jesmond Zerafa and Vincent Carbonaro, Qormi faced a difficult season the year after. Season 2010/11 saw Qormi retaining Stefan Giglio and Matthew Bartolo, and acquiring the services of George Mallia, Belgian Jason Vandelannoite, Nigerian Abubakar Bello-Osagie, South Korean Kang Ho-Jung in the first half of the season, and Brazilian Josue, Greek Christos Karamanolis, Guinea-Bissau Ibraima Sumaila Vaz Sani, and most notably, the Maltese national football team captain Michael Mifsud, in the second half of the season. Also notable was the change in technical staff at the beginning of the season, with Stephen Azzopardi heading the team. During the season, Azzopardi utilised various youth players coming up from the Youth Nursery. Qormi managed to finish eighth (only one team was relegated in Season 2010/11 however).

Kit Evolution

2005–06 home
2005–06 away
2008–09 home
2008–09 away
2008–09 third
2009–10 home
2009–10 away
2010–11 home
2010–11 away
2011–12 home

Current squad

Players

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 GK Matthew Farrugia
2 GK Gian Tonna
3 DF Jeffrey Chetcuti
5 DF Roderick Sammut
7 MF Matthew Bartolo
8 MF George Chircop
10 MF Joseph Chetcuti
11 MF Joseph Farrugia (Captain)
13 GK Steve Sultana
14 FW Luke Sciberras
15 DF Federico Mirarchi
16 MF Carmelo Farrugia
No. Position Player
17 DF Kenneth Scicluna (on loan from Valletta F.C.)
18 MF Dino Cachia
19 FW Michael Borg Olivier
22 DF Jonathan Bondin
23 FW Jorginho
31 DF Stephen Wellman
88 FW Abubakar Bello-Osagie
91 FW Jurgen Gerada
93 MF Steve Agius
95 MF Charlon Sammut
96 MF Stuart Duff
99 FW Daniel Nwoke

Notable players

See Qormi F.C. Players

Stuart Duff was the club's record signing and upon agreeing the deal Qormi F.C. Chairman Mahatma Ghandi expressed his astonishment at securing Duff's services. "After his performances in Scotland, where he scored literally thousands of goals, it is surprising that he chose to play for a club of our small stature. That is the sign of a true gentleman." The £48million signing on fee is a Maltese record to this day.

Club Officials and Coaching Staff

Club Officials

Coaching staff

Notable Fans

Achievements

Maltese First Division Runners-Up:
2007/08

Maltese Second Division Champions:
1968/69, 1972/73, 2005/06

Maltese Second Division Section Winners:
1988/89

Maltese Second Division Runners-Up:
1977/78

Maltese Second Division Knock-Out Finalists:
1966/67, 1972/73

Maltese Second Division Sons of Malta Cup Champions:
1969/70, 1973/74

Maltese Third Division Section Winners:
1962/63, 1963/64, 1982/83, 1988/89

Maltese Third Division Play-Offs Winners:
2003/04

Maltese Third Division Knock-Out Winners:
1962/63

Hibernians Tournament Fair-Play Winners:
2009, 2011

External links