Sqaud Season 07/08

Honours

League Championship 1999/2000, 2005/06
League Runners-Up 1952/53, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05
FA Trophy Winners 2001/02, 2002/03, 2004/05
FA Trophy Finalists 1972/73, 1989/90, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01
Super Cup Winners 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
Super 5 Competition 1998/99, 2002/03, 2003/04
Lowenbrau Cup 1998, 2003
First Division Champions 1984/85
Division 2 Champions 1951/52, 1960/61, 1964/65, 1967/68, 1970/71, 1976/77, 1978/79
Division 2 Runners-Up 1963/64
Division 2 Knock-Out 1960/61, 1963/64, 1964/65, 1966/67, 1978/79
Division 2 Sons of Malta Cup 1967/68, 1971/72, 1979/80

History 1916 -

Football in Birkirkara has been played long before Birkirkara FC were formed. Band clubs and bars had their own football teams which used to take part in amateur competitions on a national level. In 1916, the famous Salvu Troisi a former player of Hamrun and Floriana, among other teams, founded Birkirkara United. The club played Second and Third Division football. There were other clubs like Birkirkara Red Stars and Birkirkara Celtic. After World War II, Birkirkara Celtic had a strong youths team. In 1944-45, they managed to win Section A Group II of the Anglo-Maltese League, losing to the legendary Floriana Ajax in the section deciders. Then in the Anglo Maltese Cup, Birkirkara Celtic met once again Floriana Ajax, this time beating them 1-0. There was a lot of enthusiasm in Birkirkara which led to the merger between Birkirkara United and Birkirkara Celtic to form Birkirkara FC in December 1950. Players like Lolly Rizzo, Emmanuel Borg, Victor Farrugia and Lolly Cuschieri, all former players of Birkirkara United and Birkirkara Celtic, who had moved to other top clubs returned with Birkirkara FC. The first honour won by Birkirkara FC was obtained in season 1951-52, when they won promotion to the then First Division League with maximum points. The next year was one of the best seasons in the history of the club when Birkirkara ended as runners-up in the First Division one point behind Champions Floriana and finalists of the Cassar Cup. The sixties were a period of ups and downs with continuous promotions and relegations. In 1967-68, they managed to win the Division 2 Championship and the Sons of Malta Cup. Birkirkara also managed to eliminate Valletta from the FA Trophy. In season 1972-73 Birkirkara went very close to winning the First Division title for the first time. After a good campaign in the previous season, Birkirkara found themselves at the top of the table in the second round as leaders Floriana suffered defeats against Birkirkara, Gzira and Sliema. In a decisive match which had to give the winner the title, Floriana defeated Birkirkara 1-0. Three years later, Birkirkara were once again condemned to playing in Division 2 and once again Birkirkara went through a period of relegations and promotions. Although they were strong enough in Division 2 and then in the First Division, following the introduction of the Premier League, Birkirkara failed to establish themselves in the top division. The last season in the First Division was the season 1988-89 when they were promoted as runners-up. The following season, they managed to reach the final of the FA Trophy eliminating Zurrieq, Senglea and Floriana on their way. Thousands of Birkirkara supporters flocked to Ta' Qali to watch their heroes win the first major honour. However a controversial goal gave Sliema Wanderers the cup. In 1994, Birkirkara FC amalgamated with Luxol St. Andrews for a trial period and played under the name of Birkirkara Luxol. After two years of Birkirkara Luxol, Birkirkara abandoned the plan but still retained all the players the club had signed during that period. This seemed to be the beginning of a new era as in season 1996-97, Birkirkara finished in the runner-up position behind Valletta, thus qualifying to play in the UEFA Cup for the first time against Spartak Trnava of Slovakia. For three consecutive seasons, Birkirkara placed second behind Valletta. In 1996-97, the difference between the two sides was quite clear but in 1997-98, Birkirkara and Valletta kept fighting for the title till the very end. The title had to be decided in the last game between them which was played on the 2nd May 1998. The largest crowd for decades turned up at Ta' Qali. Birkirkara needed a draw to win the title while Valletta had to win. Valletta defeated them 2-1 to win the title. In 1998-99, the title was again a race between two teams, Valletta and Birkirkara. The Stripes defeated Valletta on the three occasions but they paid dearly for dropping important points against other teams. Valletta went on to win the title by two points. But this season was marked with the first major honours to arrive at Valley Road. Birkirkara won the Lowenbrau Cup on better goal difference after draws with Valletta and Hibernians. They moved on to win the Super 5 Competition beating Sliema Wanderers 4-0 in the final. Season 1999-2000, they did even better as for the first time they managed to claim the Rothmans Premier League title leading the table right from the start. Birkirkara can boast of being the first champions of the millennium. Another landmark for Birkirkara is the first qualification for a further round in UEFA competitions. In season 2001, they managed to eliminate Lokomotiv Tbilisi of Georgia in the UEFA Cup Qualifying Round on the away goals rule. Since then, the Stripes claimed all major honours more than once, going on to win their second Premier League title in season 2005/06