| Brief History | ||||
| Although the first team in Lija is believed to have been formed in the 1930's, the first team to take part in the competitions organized by the MFA were Lija Amateurs. Lija Amateurs were founded in 1944 and in season 1944-45, they took part in the Second Division. The team was disbanded after three years. Other teams before Lija Amateurs were Lija Brighters and Lija United. In 1948-49, the present club, Lija Athletic F.C. were founded. The club joined the MFA and played in Division Three. The team was gaining momentum, until during a Third Division league match against Qormi Youngsters in March 1957, the referee abandoned the game due to fighting between the players. The MFA suspended the club from all football activities. However this decision was reviewed and the team was back in 1958. The club tasted its first success when winning the Third Division Championship in 1962-63. The team was relegated in 1968-69 and it took Lija Athletic nine years to regain promotion to the Second Division, once again winning the Third Division title. The introduction of the Premier Division by the MFA in 1980 meant that all clubs were promoted by one division. Lija Athletic found themselves in the First Division. After a rather good performance during the first season in Division One, Lija were relegated in 1981-82. The club won promotion to the First Division in 1987-88, but after one year it was demoted back to Division Two. In 1990-91, Lija Athletic were relegated to the Third Division. After three years in Division Three, the Athletic won three consecutive promotions way up to the Premier League after winning the championships of Divisions Three and Two and placing second in Division One. In the Premier League for the first time ever, during the season of 1996-97, Lija Athletic had a very hard time with the big guns of local football, and were relegated after placing last. Lija Athletic regained Premiership status after placing second in First Division (2001-2002), and after a quick return to Division One, the club managed to regain promotion thanks to the runner-up position in Division One obtained in season 2003-2004. Lija Athletic's third spell in the Premier league of 2004-2005 lasted for one year only, as the club suffered two consecutive relegations. After four years competing in the third tier of Maltese football, the Athletic find themselves in Division One after winning the Second Division championship of 2009-2010. |
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| Roll of Honours | ||||
| SENIORS LEAGUE Season 1962/63: Third Division Section "A" Winners (Third Division League Champions and Promotion to the Second Division) Season 1977/78: Third Division Section "B" Winners (Third Division League Champions and Promotion to the Second Division) Season 1978/79: Winners of the Third Division Trophy "Sons of Malta" Season 1979/80: Promotion to the First Division (5th place in the Second Division League - introduction of Premier Division) Season 1987/88: Promotion to the First Division (Joint runners-up in the Second Division League) Season 1993/94: Third Division Section "B" Winners (Third Division League Champions and Promotion to the Second Division) Season 1994/95: Second Division Section "A" Winners (Second Division League Runners-Up and Promotion to the First Division) Season 1994/95: Division II & III Knock-Out CHAMPIONS Season 1995/96: Promotion to the Premier Division (*see below) (Winners of Runners-up League Trophy) Season 2000/01: Promotion to the Premier Division (Winners of Runners-up League Trophy) Season 2003/04: Promotion to the Premier Division (Winners of Runners-up League Trophy) Season 2009/10: Promotion to the First Division (Winners of the Second Division League) MINORS LEAGUE Season 1971/72: Section "C" Champions Season 1976/77: Section "C" Champions Season 1977/78: Section "B" Champions Season 1986/87: Section "C" Champions ( Finalists of Inter-Section Knock-Out ) Season 2002/03: Youths "A" Knock-Out Champions (*see below) Season 2004/05: Section "C" Runners-Up - Promoted to Section "B" Season 2006/07: Section "B" Runners-Up - Promoted to Section "A" Season 2006/07: Under 19 Youth Knock-Out Champions RESERVES LEAGUE Season 1975/76: Third Division Section "A" Champions Season 1985/86: Second Division Champions GOOD CONDUCT CERTIFICATES Season 1950/51: Third Division Section "A" Season 1969/70: Third Division ( Reserves ) Section "B" Season 1987/88: Reserves Section "C" Season 1991/92: Reserves Section "D" Season 1970/71: U/18 League Section "D" Season 1974/75: U/18 League Section "D" Season 1979/80: U/18 League Section "B" FAIR-PLAY AWARDS Season 2005/06: Lija Athletic FC - Overall Fair-Play Award Season 2005/06: Lija Athletic FC - First Division League Fair-Play Award Season 2007/08: Lija Athletic FC - Overall Fair-Play Award Season 2007/08: Lija Athletic FC - Second Division League Fair-Play Award Season 2009/10: Lija Athletic FC - Second Division League Fair-Play Award |
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| Lija Athletic F.C. first committee in 1949 | Lija Athletic F.C. first team during Season 1949/1950 | Lija Athletic F.C.'s first promotion to the Maltese Premier Division. | ||
