The first team from Msida to reach the cup final

Football fever in Msida is at its highest after their team reached the FA Trophy final for the first time in the club's history.

Msida St Joseph, however, are not the first team from Msida to reach the final of a Maltese cup competition. This honour belongs to St Joseph's United way back in 1912.

Towards the end of February 1912, the huge crowds that thronged the Marsa ground for the league competition encouraged the owners of the newly-built Mile End Sports Ground to sponsor a cup competition.

In those days, the cup competition did not have a permanent trophy but each year a different piece of silverware was donated by the sponsors. The cup was added to the collection of the winners.

This trend began in 1910 when Floriana won the National Ground Cup and continued up to 1914 when the Cousis Shield was introduced.

Seven teams took part in the 1912 competition, but Floriana and Hamrun Spartans opted to stay out.

Without these two teams the competition lost much of its sparkle but still the matches were played in the best cup-tie spirit and the football seen at the Mile End was of the highest standard.

In the first match, Valletta United beat Msida Rangers by a solitary goal scored by R. Caruana.

In the second match, the other team from Msida, St Joseph's United, fared much better and won an exciting game against Senglea Shamrocks 2-1.

Salvu Troisi scored the first goal but Polidano, the Shamrocks' inside-right, equalised soon afterwards.

In the second half the 'Msidians' had more possession and built one attack after another until Troisi scored the winner after a 30-yard dribble and a well-placed shot.

The last quarter-final was the best of the lot and in fact a replay was needed.

In the first match Sliema and Melita shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw. The replay took place the following Sunday.

A strong wind prevailed and the teams found it difficult to control the ball. During the first half, although with the wind against them, Sliema did most of the attacking but still did not score.

During the second half, Sliema adapted to the conditions much better than Melita and scored three times to gain a place in the semi-finals.

The best match of the competition was undoubtedly the semi-final tie between Sliema and St George's which ended in a 4-3 win for the Saints.

In the other semi-final, Valletta United and St Joseph's United fought tooth and nail for the other place in the final.

During the first half, Valletta had two thirds of the play but they did not succeed in turning their superiority into goals.

In the second half the tables were turned and St Joseph's were more dangerous. Their inside-left Lucina scored what proved to be the winning goal.

Players' movement

So it was St George's and St Joseph's who contested the final on April 14, 1912.

St Joseph's were strengthened by the introduction of several players from Hamrun Spartans, the most notable being Pawlu Borg, Bellia and Despott.

They also had Troisi back in the team after he spent two seasons with Floriana FC. Troisi was, perhaps, the greatest ever player to wear the colours of Msida.

The rule of registration for players was still not enforced and therefore these could move from one club to another as they pleased.

This practice was very evident during this competition and whenever a club was eliminated, their players moved to another club that was still in the reckoning.

Despite this unfair scenario, St George's showed their superiority from the very start of the match. They were all over their opponents whose lack of organisation and knowledge of each other's play was very apparent.

Guzè Tagliaferro was in fine form and scored the first two goals. Before half-time Ciantar dribbled his way past the opposing defenders and scored the third and last goal for St George's.

This victory served to soothe the wounds inflicted by Floriana on St George's in the league and the Imtarfa Cup earlier that season.

For the players from Msida there was only the consolation of a loser's medal.

Maybe this time, after a 93-year wait, luck will finally smile on them and perhaps Msida St Joseph will take the FA Trophy to their club tomorrow.

1911-12 cup competition

Played at the Mile End Sports Ground

Quarter-Finals

03-03-1912 Valletta United s Msida Rangers 1-0
10-03-1912 St Joseph's United vs Senglea Shamrocks 2-1
20-03-1912 Melita-Vittoriosa vs Sliema Wanderers 1-1 aet
Replay: Sliema W. vs Melita 3-0

St George's bye

Semi-Finals

31-03-1912 St George's FC vs Sliema Wanderers 4-3 aet
07-04-1912 St Joseph's United vs Valletta United 1-0

Final

14-04-1912 St George's FC vs St Joseph's United 3-0 Tagliaferro (2), Ciantar