Dingli Swallows F.C.

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Dingli Swallows
Full name Dingli Swallows Football Club
Nickname(s) The Swallows
Founded 1948
Ground Tartarni ground
Ground Capacity 0 (future cap. 400)
Chairman Malta Prof. Carmelo Agius
Head Coach England Roland Sollars
League Maltese Second Division
2012-13 Maltese First Division, 11th Relegated, --__--
Home colours
[[2013–14 Maltese 2nd Division|Current season]]

Dingli Swallows Football Club is a Maltese football club from the small village of Dingli, which currently plays in the Maltese Second Division. The club was founded in 1948.

History

The club was founded soon after the end of World War II, thus being one of the first Maltese football clubs. The "Swallows" competed mostly in the lower divisions till the beginning of the 90s, when under the guidance of Dingli born coach John Mary aka Jimmy Farrugia, they were promoted to the Maltese second division after a memorable season. The following season they were promoted to the First Division after winning 5-3 a decider against Siggiewi to fill in the place vacated after that Luxol St. Andrew,s and B'Kara FC merged. They survived in the First Division for five seasons, until they were relegated back to Division Two. After a few years struggling in Division Two, they were promoted to the First Division again as Division Champions at the end of season 2006-07 under coach Jesmond Zammit. During the successive season they managed to win the First Division Cup for the first time in their history.

From there they never looked back and on May 19, 2009, Dingli Swallows were promoted to the Maltese Premier League as champions of the Maltese First Division for the first time in their history. The club beat Vittoriosa Stars 2-1 at the Corradino Stadium in the championship decider match. The major hero of this achievement was Coach Jesmond Zammit, a former player and Committee member of the same club. The club established itself as the major club hailing from the western part of the island, thus shadowing eternal rivals Rabat Ajax who have been trailing for some years hip-hoping between the second and third divisions.

Their first season in the Maltese premier League was a very difficult one and the Swallows under coach Jesmond Zammit managed only two victories - against Floriana 2-1 and against Msida SJ 5-2. They were relegated back to the First Division finishing at the 9th place just in front of Msida SJ. Back to Division 1, they closed their season on a very high note, beating First Division Champions Balzan Youths 3-2, after that they were trailing by 2 goals, to win the First Division Cup for the second time in their history. At the end of the season 2011/12 Dingli Swallows only just managed to retain their First Division status finishing just one position above the relegation zone. This year, after 3 seasons competing in the First Division, the Swallows got relegated to the Second Division. This happened mainly due to the fact that the team was dismantled during the last Christmas transfer window. The funds gained from transfers of the players, were used mainly to fund the project of renovation of the club's facilities.

Currently Professor Carmelo Agius ( former president of Xghajra Tornadoes) is chairman of the club and Mr Carmelo Muscat is the club's Secretary. A position which he has held for decades. Mr Roland Sollars is currently the head coach and Marco Buttigieg is his assistant. He took over the position from Jason Cachia, who was appointed as the club's Technical Director.

Training ground

Tartarni Ground, the training ground of Dingli Swallows FC, was built by a group of Dingli enthusiasts with the help of a certain Brother Cuthman, the Malta Playing Fields Association and Baron Inguanez who donated the land. It was inaugurated by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburugh. In the 1980s it was refurbished and enlarged and several youth and reserve leagues matches were held there for the following years. Currently an extensive refurbishment of this ground is taking place to transform it in a small-sized stadium which can host matches from the youth and the MFA lower divisions. With the help of the UEFA grassroots programme, the MFA and the Government of Malta through the Good Causes Fund, a brand new full-size, synthetic turf pitch was laid. New dressing rooms and a gym were constructed under the pitch. A new floodlighting system was erected. There will be also a small stand for spectators. It is planned that in the near future matches from the lower divisions of the Malta Football Association will be staged here. Currently the project is in a very advanced stage and the pitch is already being used by the club for the training sessions of the major team and also for the training sessions of the nursery teams. It is also being hired to other clubs and teams for their training sessions. As things are planned, the whole project will be ready in the immediate future. During the months of April and May 2014, one of the teams participating in the UEFA Under 17 Championships will be using Tartarni Ground as their training base.

Dingli Swallows youth nursery

The Dingli Swallows FC Youth Nursery was officially founded in July 1996 with the first president being the current Malta Youth Football Association General Secretary Mr Joseph Micallef. Mr Micallef together with Mr Joseph Cuschieri and others worked hard to structure the nursery. Since then the nursery worked hard not only to instruct children and prepare them to be able to play the sports of football, but also to furnish them with skills necessary for everyday's life. The nursery consists of various age-groups namely: the Under 17s, 15s, 13s, 11s, 9s and Under 7s sections. The Under 17 and Under 15 teams participate in the Malta Youth Football Associations Leagues. The other age-groups participate in several festivals organized by the Dingli Swallows YN itself, the Youth FA and other football nurseries. Head coach of the nursery is Mr Kevin Asciak, a former Dingli Swallows player who holds an A Licence in coaching. Mr Asciak used to play for Dingli Swallows during their first promotion from the third division in the early 1990s.

The nursery is very proud that apart from some promotions, it won also for quite a few times the Fair-Play Trophy for various categories. It is to be said also that some players made it to the Dingli Swallows first team especially when the team was competing in the Second and First Divisions. Amongst others one can mention Edwin Casha (who was the first team's captain for some seasons), Mark Abela, Mark Bugeja, Conrad Zammit, Jonathan Sapiano, Edison Scicluna, Mauro Vassallo, Roderick Sapiano and Julian Camilleri.

Current squad

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
Malta GK Dunstan Zarb
Malta GK Roderick Sciberras
Malta GK Noel Micallef (Club prod.)
Malta DF Alex Portelli
Malta DF Paolo Ciantar
Malta DF Christian Muscat
Malta DF Matthew Pace (Club prod.)
Malta DF Mark Vassallo
Malta DF Kurt Pace
Malta DF Richard Deschrijver (Club prod.)
Malta DF Etienne Farrugia (Club Captain)
Malta MF Jonathan Pace (Club prod.)
Malta MF Robert Ciantar (Club prod.)
Malta MF Luke Borg (Club prod.)
Malta MF Dylan Zarb
Malta MF Lyden Micallef
Malta MF Neil Farrugia
Malta MF Jonathan Sapiano (Club prod.)
Malta FW Kaine Said
Albania FW Leontiev Konda
Malta FW Dylan Mercieca
Malta FW Daniel Cilia (Club prod.)
Malta FW Eric Galea (Club prod.)
Malta FW Luke Galea (Club prod.)

Club officials and coaching staff

Club officials

  • President: Prof Carmelo Agius
  • Honorary President: Dr. Saviour Agius
  • Vice President: Darren Micallef
  • Secretary: Carmelo Muscat
  • Treasurer: Rigovert Casha
  • Ground Manager: Charles Abela
  • Executive Committee Members: Joseph Cuschieri, Sandro Azzopardi, Karl Anthony Agius and Shawn Tanti

Coaching staff

  • Head Coach: Roland Sollars
  • Assistant Coach: Marco Buttigieg
  • Technical Director: Jason Cachia

Achievements

Maltese First Division Champions - 2008/09 (after beating Vittoriosa Stars 2-1 -goals by Ryan Mintoff and Uchanna Anywanna at the Corradino Stadium on the 20th May 2009).

Maltese First Division Knockout Winners - 2007/08 & 2010/11

Maltese Second Division Champions - 2006/07

Maltese Second Division Runner Up - 1993/4 (Promoted after winning 5-3 after extra time, a decider against Siggiewi)

Maltese Third Division Champions 1992/3 (After beating Kirkop United 6-1 in the Championship decider)

Maltese Second & Third Division Knockout Winners - 2001/02 & 2005/06

External links

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