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G.F.A. HISTORY
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Those British sports lovers who thought that football should be a kicking and not a handling game, formulated the laws and regulations of this game on this idea. In 1863 the Football Association was formed for the purpose of organizing and running this new game which took its name after the name of this body and hence the term "Association Football". However, outside Great Britain, the game is more referred to as "soccer" than "football". It is a sure fact that football or soccer is the most popular sport in Malta and Gozo and the oldest of all the national sports disciplines practiced and followed in Malta and Gozo and thus qualifies for the title 'the national game'.
Football started to be played in Malta towards the end of the nineteenth century when the country, then a Crown Colony, was under the governorship of the British Sir Arth Borton. As a matter of fact, local football owes its origin to the members of the British Services, which were stationed in the colony. Records prove that it was introduced as early as 1884 when soccer was "played bootless on a piece of land which could be described as anything but a football pitch". It is said that football boots were used for the first time in 1885 and a year later the referee's whistle was introduced at a match played in Zabbar between the Trashier Regiment and Cospicua St. Andrew's, an encounter which finished in a one-all draw. In 1908 the crossbar and extra-time were introduced. Goalnets and the numbering of players in local football were introduced later.
The Gozo Football Association was
founded in 1936, the first league competition took place only in
season 1936/37 and till now 59 Championship titles have been won.
Subsequent years saw the inception of other competitions alongside
the
Understandably, World War II brought competitive football to a halt. Many Gozitan players of the time had joined the British Forces in the defense of the island and the British Empire. But when the war was over, the previous clubs started to rebuild their teams. They started staging a lot of friendly matches against British Services Teams in order to assess the worth of their players hoping that football competitions would soon be re-established. On its part, the Gozo F.A. was keen to start organizing competitive football again with the least possible delay. This actually happened as in season 1944-45 the ball was set rolling again. Furthermore, new clubs were established. Besides the domestic competitions.
One of the main objectives of the Association is the organization and running of domestic football competitions. Presently, the Association organizes several competitions for its Member Clubs, the most important of which is the National League. Fourteen Clubs participate in the National League, which is divided into two divisions.
Seven clubs in the First Division participate in the Onvol Division one League. The last placed club is relegated to the Second Division and the sixth place of Division one League plays the Play-Off against Runners up of the Division two.
The other seven clubs in the Second Division participate in the Sprite Division two League. The winner is promoted to the First Division. Parallel to the National League, the Association organizes also the Under 21, Under 16 and Under 13 League.
After the National League competition, the most important competition of the Association is the G.F.A. Cup. All the Clubs, both the First Division and Second Division are entitled to take part at one stage. Another important honor is the Independence Cup and the only teams who can participate are from the First Division. On the other hand, the Second Division teams has the second division knock-out Cup to look forward to. The Gozo Football Association organize another two Cup Finals which are the Freedom Day Cup and the Bov Super Cup. Only the first two teams in the table of the second round from the First Division compete for the Freedom Day Cup. The football season ends with the Super Cup Final which is sponsored by the Bank of Valletta. This Cup is entitled for the Gozitan Champions and the winners of the G.F.A. Cup. The fixtures of all these competitions are published in a booklet towards the end of September.
The highest authority in Gozitan Football is the General Meeting of the Gozo Football Association which meets at least once every year during the month of July. During this meeting an administrative report and an audited financial report are presented for the comments and approval of the members of the Association and elections are held for the ordinary members of the Executive Committee. The Officers of the Association, namely the President, three vice-presidents and an Honorary Treasurer are elected every two years. The General Secretary, who is also an Officer of the Association, is chosen by the Council and has an indefinite tenure of office. The General Meeting of the Association is empowered also to make changes to the Statute of the Association which changes require a two-thirds majority of those present and voting to be adopted.
The Executive Committee is composed of the Officers of the Association and nine other members as follows one (1) from the First Division Clubs, one (1) from the Second Division Clubs, one (1) from the Youth F.A. and two (2) Independent Member. Whilst the Officers of the Association do not represent any particular Member Club, the other members of the Executive Committee must represent a Member Club or a Member Association on the Council of the Association, which is the next highest authority after the General Meeting.
The Council of the Association is composed of representatives of the Member Clubs (all the Clubs in the First and Second Divisions are entitled to have a representative with full voting powers) the Malta Football Referees Association although not Member of the Association, has the right to send one representative with full voting powers.
The Association conducts its
business also through several other persons and through several
committees which are established either by the Statute or the
Regulations of the Association or by the Council itself. It is the
Council which is empowered to select the persons to fill a statutory
position or a place in a committee established by the Statute or by
the Regulations or by the
Furthermore, the Council has the right to formulate the policy of the Association and to enact the necessary regulations. Council Meetings, which normally are held once every month and are normally open to the Media.
Needless to say, the local Association is sparing no effort and leaving no stone unturned with a view to ensure that the local soccer game is given the best of chance to improve in many aspects and in conformity with the requirements of the modern game.
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