There were five of them, Ġużi, Turu, Louis, Eddie and Ronnie Theobald.

All were fine players but two of them, Louis and Eddie, can be considered among the all-time greats in the local game.

Ġużi and Turu Theobald’s father was a Welshman who, before the First World War, may have played some football for the Navy.

Turu was very proud of his elder brother who played for Vittoriosa Rovers and was picked for the Rest of the League XI in 1917. He was also the proud father of three sons, Louis, Eddie and Ronnie.

Turu Theobald started his career with the Constitutionals in the 1920s in the old Amateur League.

A natural-inside forward, he delighted the crowds with his artistry. There has never been a greater dribbler of the ball than Turu Theobald, except perhaps, his son Eddie.

He could score goals too as can be seen from his record. In 1935, Turu scored four goals for Hibs in a 7-0 victory over Ħamrun Spartans.

His professional career lasted only six seasons but during that period he never missed a game for Hibernians. Always loyal to the Paolites, he refused many tempting offers from other clubs, thus spurning his chance of winning some major honours.

The war halted competitive football and when the game resumed at the end of hostilities, Turu’s career was over, although he still turned out occasionally for Hibs’ second and third teams in the 1940s.

Turu’s eldest son Louis was born in Paola on July 20, 1938. With his football pedigree, it was inevitable that Louis would join Hibernians.

He graduated through the various junior teams of the club until he made his league debut on May 6, 1955 against Sliema Wanderers.

Taking over the captain’s armband, he missed only two matches in seven glorious seasons, leading the team to their first-ever league championship, an FA Trophy and two Cassar Cup victories.

Lean and elegant, he instantly caught the eye with his film star’s good looks.

A classic half-back, he was one of the pioneers of the new style that was introduced during the sixties. Louis preferred to play himself out of trouble rather than boot the ball aimlessly upfield.

Keeping tackling to a minimum, he anticipated his opponent’s move and positioned himself perfectly to cut off the inevitable pass. He did this so elegantly that he made it all look so easy!

His best season was 1959-60 when, despite missing out on the league championship to Valletta in the last game of the season, he was honoured with the Footballer of the Year award.

He was the first Hibs’ player to win this distinctive honour.

Injury jinx

The following season, after 30 years of heartbreak and disappointment, he led the Paolites to the league championship and, the season after that, to victory in the Cassar Cup and FA Trophy finals.

The sky seemed to be the limit for Louis Theobald.

Then, like a bolt out of the blue, the injury jinx hit him again. An injury against Floriana midway through the 1963-64 season plagued him for the rest of his career.

He made bold efforts to regain his fitness but his best days were over and, during the summer of 1968, he joined Birżebbuġa St Peter’s in the Third Division.

He spent only two seasons with the Seasiders but during this period, he helped the club to win the Third Division Cup. In 1970, he retired from the game completely.

Eddie Theobald was born in Paola on September 28, 1940. One of the all-time greats of Maltese football as a midfield player he had no equal.

His skills, accurate passes and intelligent play made him an automatic choice both for his club Hibernians and the national team, earning 17 caps.

He joined Hibernians’ minors team in March 1956 and made his league debut in season 1958-59 against Floriana.

From then on, he never lost his place in the team, helping the club to win its first three championships. He was voted MFA Footballer of the Year twice in seasons 1966-67 and 1970-71.

Eddie played nearly 200 league games for Hibs. He hardly ever missed a match through injury and was rarely substituted and was never suspended. These facts say a lot about the skills and character of this great footballer.

In 1973-74, Hibs were pipped to the championship by Valletta.

The Paola club’s committee decided to take drastic action. They decided to scrap the old team and promote their minor team en-bloc into the First Division.

It was a move which was to pay rich dividends in the future.

However, no-one expected Eddie Theobald to be transferred.

In a controversial deal, which many Hibs’ fans still talk about to this day, he moved to Żebbuġ Rangers for the ridiculous sum of 200 pounds!

Eddie stayed with Żebbuġ for three seasons. Much of his old magic was still there to the delight of his new fans and to the dismay of the Hibs’ supporters.

The Rangers’ team was not of the same standard as Hibs though. In 1977 they got relegated and, rather than play in the Second Division, Theobald retired.

For a time he took up coaching but after a while he retired from all competitive football.

Ronnie, the youngest of the three Theobald brothers, did not reach the same heights as Louis and Eddie but he was a very good footballer in his own right.

Ronnie spent his whole career with Vittoriosa Stars.