The death was announced last week of Freddie Vella James, one of the stalwarts of Floriana FC in the 1950s and 60s.
Vella James was born in Birżebbuġa in 1933. His family moved to Gżira when he was still very young and Freddie had his football baptism with the Gżira Government School football team.
Showing great promise, he was snapped up by the committee of Floriana Colts.
Vella James soon settled in his new surroundings and by 1954, he was one of many promising youngsters in the second and third teams of Floriana FC
Still only 16, Vella James initially played in the minors team as left half-back. In those days, the youth teams of Floriana and Sliema were composed of the best young footballers on the island.
Vella James soon established himself in the team and was only replaced when he reached the age limit. After serving his apprenticeship in the junior strings, he was finally given his big chance in 1956-57 as an emergency replacement for Tony Vella who had just left for Australia.
Vella was a legend in his own lifetime and it was very difficult for a raw youngster to step into his boots.
Vella James, however, never shirked a challenge as many of his opponents can vouch.
He was made of stern stuff and, although he did not have the finer qualities of Tony Vella, he more than made up for this with his enthusiasm and hard running.
Vella James was small in stature but was full of grit and determination. He was also a fine dribbler but it was not for this aspect that he is best remembered.
In my opinion, he was Floriana’s utility man. His role was to fill in the gaps, break down opponents’ moves and push his team forward with his non-stop running.
Instead of playing for the gallery, as many star players do, Vella James used his skills first and foremost for the good of the team.
Vella James played 11 league games in season 1956-57, doing well enough to establish himself in the Floriana team and as one of the most promising half-backs on the island.
In those days, Vella James scored quite regularly from a deep-lying position and he was also an excellent penalty-taker.
In fact, as far as I could ascertain, he never missed one from the spot.
Vella James was absolutely fearless in an age when tackling was hard and sometimes ruthless. He stayed with Floriana for 12 eventful seasons, winning nine major honours with the club.
In 1958-59, his best season with the Greens, he became the second Floriana player to win the MFA Footballer of the Year award at the time. His choice was a popular one because he was, perhaps, the only shining light in an otherwise dark season for Floriana.
His efficiency on the field of play was recognised by the Malta selectors when he was called to play against Czech club Banik Ostrava in the 1959 Christmas Tourney although he failed to make the final cut.
However, he atoned for this disappointment after being in-cluded in the full Malta team which played its first away international in Tunis.
In 1965-66, he missed nearly a whole season through injuries and the next season he made only eight first-team appearances.
It was obvious that his best days were over but instead of retiring, he joined Żurrieq in the Third Division.
He stayed with Żurrieq for four years. Schreiber football seemed to suit his tough and boisterous style well but time catches up with everybody and at the end of the 1971-72 season, after a year with Lija Athletic, Vella James decided to hang up his boots.