According to local tradition, football was first played in Kirkop during the war by a group of local youngsters and 'refugees' from the Cottonera area.
The group was led by the founder and first president of Kirkop United, Klement Farrugia.
In those days the area around the Luqa airport was littered with British soldiers whose only means of passing their free time was to play football. The youths of Kirkop, therefore, found enough opposition for their daily kick-abouts.
After the war, everyone returned to their towns and the soldiers left the temporary camps and billets.
The youths of Kirkop, however, did not abandon their favourite game and they continued to play friendly matches against amateur teams from nearby villages.
It is unfortunate that these early encounters were never recorded but we know for certain that in 1951 the first official team from the village, Kirkop Stars, was founded.
The first committee, as given in the newspapers at the time, was:
Dr G. Camilleri (president); A. Spiteri (vice president); L. Sacco (secretary); J. Zammit (treasurer); C. Muscat (assistant secretary); J. Spiteri (assistant treasurer); and L. Spiteri, S. Attard, C. Spiteri (members).
It is surprising that the name of Klement Farrugia is not included in this list but there is no doubt that he was the person behind the launching of the new club.
Unfortunately, we know very little about the early years of Kirkop Stars. It is certain, however, that during the first few months of existence the club only played friendly matches.
The first match, which we find recorded in newspapers, was the one played against Xewkija Tigers on February 21, 1954. Kirkop won that early encounter 7-1.
Time passed and the club became more organised until in October 19, 1955 Kirkop Stars became one of the founder members of the Malta Amateur Football Association (MAFA). The club's Council Member in those days was, of course, Klement Farrugia.
In 1955-56 and 1956-57 Kirkop Stars took part in the MAFA League but in 1956 they joined the MFA as associate members. The Stars applied for membership in the league but their application was not accepted before 1957-58 when they were finally admitted to the Third Division.
The Stars played their maiden game in the league on October 13, 1957 against Qrendi FC, winning this first derby 1-0. The team found it very difficult to keep its head above the water in its new surroundings.
Somehow, they kept bobbing up and down the Third Division League table up to the end of 1961-62 when they finished in the bottom place of the standings. They applied for re-admission but their application was refused and they had to forfeit their status.
For a while the game in Kirkop was in the doldrums. Eight years passed before the village was represented again in the MFA, this time under the name of Kirkop United.
In 1957-58 the MFA organised a league for amateur players in preparation for the 1960 Rome Olympics. Kirkop United were formed specifically in that year to take part in this new competition.
Kirkop took part in the Amateur League in 1957-58 and 1958-59 but when the competition was discontinued they remained in the MFA as associate members, taking part in the competitions for minors.
They applied for admittance in the league many times until at last their application was accepted in 1970-71.
From then on, the team took many steps forward, winning various honours in the lower divisions of the Maltese league. From time to time, they also produced players who made a name for themselves in the top sphere of the game with other clubs.
The most noted were Leonard Mizzi, Leonard Farrugia and Raymond Mifsud, who played for Valletta FC, and Christopher Vella who played for Hibernians FC and Sliema Wanderers.
For the record...
Kirkop Stars
Founded: 1951.
First game: 21-02-54 vs Xewkija Tigers 7-1 (friendly)
First competitive match: 04-12-55 vs Hamrun Heroes 0-3 (MAFA) First league match: 13-10-57 vs Qrendi FC 1-0 (Division Three)
Colours: Red shirts with black shorts.
Kirkop United
Founded: 1957.
First game: 24-11-57 vs Hamrun United 0-3 (Amateur League)
First competitive match: 24-11-57 vs Hamrun United 0-3 (Amateur League)
First league match: 10-10-70 vs Sirens FC 0-2 (Division Three)
Colours: Red and white.
Address: 44, Benedittu Street, Kirkop, ZRQ 10.