Lija Athletic FC - Founded A.D. 1949
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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 organised 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.


In 1948-49, the present club, Lija Athletic 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 they were 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 season 2001-02, and after a quick return to Division One, they managed to regain promotion thanks to the runner-up position obtained last season (2003-04).

 
Roll Of Honours

 

o 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 )

 

o 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"     (Click here for an Exclusive web-page marking the Under 19 team's promotion to Section B)

Season 2006/07: Section "B" Runners-Up - Promoted to Section "A"     (Click here for an Exclusive web-page marking the Under 19 team's promotion to Section A)

Season 2006/07: Under 19 Youth Knock-Out Champions (*see below)            (Click here for an Exclusive web-page marking the Under 19 team's Knock-Out success)

 

o RESERVES LEAGUE

Season 1975/76: Third Division Section "A" Champions

Season 1985/86: Second Division Champions

 

o 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"

 

o 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

 

Historic Moments Of Success

 

05 January 2005  -  Centenary Stadium Ta' Qali  -  Premiere League Match

Sliema W.  0:1  Lija Ath.

An exclusive page following the surprise and historic win Lija Athletic obtained against current champions Sliema Wanderers, has been set up to mark this special occasion. For exclusive interviews with the coach, the President, and man-of-the-match and goal-keeper Simon Agius, as well as some of the headings from local newspapers. ... click here

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Season 2002/2003  -  National Stadium  -  Under 19 Section A Knock-Out ~ Final Winners

Lija Ath.  2:1  Valletta

 
 

 
 

The above photo features the following players: Brandon Lowell, Josef Mifsud, Nicky Gatt, Jonathan Vella, Michael Gatt, Glenn Deguara, Ayrton Zammit, Andrew Ellul, Etienne Lewis, Andrew Decesare, Josef Busuttil, Alex Muscat, Andrie Zammit Tabone, Cleavon Frendo, Chris Calleja, Glenn Vassallo and Jesmar Cremona, together with President of the Club, Charles J. Scerri, and Carmel Cilia, Emmanuel Spiteri, Mario Calleja (coach) and Charles Buttigieg.

 

  
 
PRELIMINARY ROUND 28-Jan-03: Lija Ath. vs Naxxar L.    

2-1
FIRST ROUND 05-Mar-03: Lija Ath. vs St. Andrew's  

3-2
QUARTER-FINALS 23-Apr-03: Lija Ath. vs Qormi

3-0
SEMI-FINALS 12-May-03: Birkirkara vs Lija Ath.

0-2
FINAL 23-May-03: Valletta vs Lija Ath.

1-2

HSBC Youths A Knock-Out Competition - Season 2002-2003
 

 

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Season 1995/1996  -  First PROMOTION ever to the M.F.A. Premiere Division League
     
 

. :: Click on the above 1995/1996 Senior Team photograph to view a larger version :: .
 
 

 Back Row: Joe Bugeja (Coach), Saviour Sammut (V. President), Rueben Grech, Ruben Cassar, Joe Demanuele, Dennis Cauchi, Jason Cachia, Felix Cuschieri (Treasurer), Raymond Cuschieri, Robert Farrugia, Gyorgy Handel;

 Front Row: George Taliana, Colin Ciantar, Matthew Naudi, Emmanuel Micallef, Michael Cutajar, Emmanuel Lowell, Ridha Dardouri, Michael Taliana (Squad Captain).

Lija Athletic FC - Promoted to Premier Division 1996 - 1997 - First promotion to Malta's top flight football

  
 

Division 1 League Table 1995 - 96

 P W D L GF GA Pts.
Pietà Hotspurs 18 14 4 0 48 15 46
Lija Athletic 18 13 1 4 42 19 40
Mellieħa 18 6 5 7 30 27 23
Tarxien Rainbows 18 5 8 5 18 19 23
Mosta 18 7 2 9 21 28 23
Marsa 18 6 5 7 18 26 23
Dingli Swallows 18 6 4 8 26 29 22
Santa Luċia 18 4 8 6 21 23 20
St. George's 18 5 5 8 19 28 20
Gżira United 18 2 2 14 18 47 8