You read about the millions of euros being spent on Ronaldo, Kaka and other internationals in the professional football world.

You also read about teams like Hibernians, Sliema Wanderers, Valletta, Floriana and other Premier League clubs in the local press.

But, whoever mentions the "Amateurs" of Melita FC? Not many football followers do so but they appear to be making a comeback to remind us of days gone by.

The revival of Melita FC this past season has brought back memories of the great days when the "Amateurs" were under the guidance of the late Gian Bencini.

I had just returned to Malta in 1947 after having served in the British Army after the war and been appointed sports editor of the Sunday Times of Malta.

It was at that time that I got to know the late Joe Griffiths and hear about his pre-war playing days when Melita shocked the all-conquering Sliema Wanderers with a 4-0 thrashing in the final of the FA Trophy in May 1939.

But, of course, when I first knew him Griffiths was a part-time sports reporter with Allied Newspapers and, I believe, on Melita's coaching staff.

In those days, too, Melita were languishing in the lower regions of the MFA leagues mainly because as soon as a Melita star appeared on the field he was snapped up by a team from the top divisions on a professional basis.

But as their outgoing president Anton Naudi says, Melita is an amateur club run on a "professional" basis and translates simply that to this day no player or administrator in the club is financially compensated for his/her services.

They have stuck to their mottos "Playing the Game for the Game's sake" as well as being the "Home for the Amateurs".

Melita FC were last in the First Division in 1984 and slid down to the nether echelons of the MFA leagues before the remarkable successes of 2008/2009 when they gained promotion to the First Division.

It has been a hard grind but is a success story achieved thanks to a build-up and foresight of management right through with a nursery which boasts 380 children from the age of five right through to age 17. It is interesting to note that during the season just ended the nursery supplied 23 players of the full complement of 33 used in Division Two.

I am sure the late Sur Gian Bencini, Griffiths and their successors would be proud to read of the following Melita FC achievements during 2008/2009:

Senior team - runners-up in Division Two with automatic promotion; winners of the Division II/III knock-out trophy.

Youth team - Champions

MFA Youth Section 'B' and promotion; youth teams winners of Sections 'B', 'C' and 'D' knock-out trophy.

But it was not only the team that triumphed with player Matthew Borg (I) winning the top scorer award in the Second Division. He was also voted the Best Division Two Player.

Club president Anton Naudi and his management team must be proud of the achievement of his club and will pray that the Premier League teams will not be poaching any of his players.

Followers of Melita Football Club will hope so too and maybe we will yet see them back in the top division soon, too.