Dingli Swallows F.C.

Dingli Swallows

Full name	Dingli Swallows Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Swallows
Founded	1948
Ground	Centenary Stadium (Capacity: 4,000)
Chairman	Darren Micallef
Head Coach	Bobby Gyorev
League	Maltese First Division
2010-11	Maltese First Division, 8th
Home colours

Dingli Swallows Football Club is a Maltese football club from the small village of Dingli, which currently plays in the Maltese First Division. The club was founded in 1948. Dingli Swallows played in the Maltese Premier League after finishing as league champions for the 2008–09 season.

History

The club was founded soon after the end of World War II, thus being one of the first Maltese football clubs. The "Swallows" competed mostly in the lower divisions till the beginning of the 90s, when under the guidance of Dingli born coach John Mary aka Jimmy Farrugia, they were promoted to the Maltese second division after a memorable season. The following season they were promoted to the First Division after winning 5-3 a decider against Siggiewi to fill in the place vacated after that Luxol St. Andrew,s and B'Kara FC merged. They survived in the First Division for five seasons, until they were relegated back to Division Two. After a few years struggling in Division Two, they were promoted to the First Division again as Division Champions at the end of season 2006-07 under coach Jesmond Zammit. During the successive season they managed to win the First Division Cup for the first time in their history.

From there they never looked back and on May 19, 2009, Dingli Swallows were promoted to the Maltese Premier League as champions of the Maltese First Division for the first time in their history. The club beat Vittoriosa Stars 2-1 at the Corradino Stadium in the championship decider match. The major hero of this achievement was Coach Jesmond Zammit, a former player and Committee member of the same club. The club established itself as the major club hailing from the western part of the island, thus shadowing eternal rivals Rabat Ajax who have been trailing for some years hip-hoping between the second and third divisions.

Their first season in the Maltese premier League was a very difficult one and the Swallows under coach Jesmond Zammit managed only two victories - against Floriana 2-1 and against Msida SJ 5-2. They were relegated back to the First Division finishing at the 9th place just in front of Msida SJ. Currently they are playing in the MFA First Division. After a very difficult beginning they have recovered very well and won the fight against relegation without any worries. They closed their season on a very high note, beating First Division Champions Balzan Youths 3-2, after that they were trailing by 2 goals, to win the First Division Cup for the second time in their history.

Currently Mr Darren Micallef -a veteran of the club despite his age- is Chairman of the club and Mr Carmelo Muscat is the club's Secretary. A position which he has held for decades. Mr Borislav Gyorev is the Club's coach since December 2010.

Training ground

Tartarni Ground, the training ground of Dingli Swallows FC, was built by the English Military Forces during their stay in Malta - and in Dingli in particular where they had their barracks. In the 1980s it was refurbished and enlarged and several youth and reserve leagues matches were held there. Currently an extensive refurbishment of this ground is going on. A brand new full-size, synthetic turf pitch is being laid. New dressing rooms and a gym are being constructed under the pitch. There will be also a small stand for spectators. It is planned that in the future matches from the lower divisions of the Malta Football Association will be staged here.

Dingli Swallows youth nursery

The Dingli Swallows FC Youth Nursery was officially founded in July 1996 with the first president being the current Malta Youth Football Association General Secretary Mr Joseph Micallef. Mr Micallef together with Mr Joseph Cuschieri and others worked hard to structure the nursery. Since then the nursery worked hard to instruct children in the game of football. The nursery consists of various age-groups namely: the Under 17s, 15s, 13s, 11s, 9s and Under 7s sections. The Under 17 and Under 15 teams participate in the Malta Youth Football Associations Leagues. The other age-groups participate in several festivals organized by the Dingli Swallows YN itself, the Youth FA and other football nurseries. Head coach of the nursery is Mr Kevin Asciak, a former Dingli Swallows player who holds an A Licence in coaching. Mr Asciak used to play for Dingli Swallows during their first promotion from the third division in the early 1990s.

The nursery is very proud that apart from some promotions, it won also for quite a few times the Fair-Play Trophy for various categories. It is to be said also that some players made it to the Dingli Swallows first team especially when the team was competing in the Second and First Divisions. Amongst others one can mention Edwin Casha (who was the first team's captian for some seasons), Mark Abela, Mark Bugeja, Conrad Zammit, Jonathan Sapiano, Edison Scicluna, Mauro Vassallo, Roderick Sapiano and Julian Camilleri.

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player GK Mark Abela GK Jeffrey Farrugia DF Frans Owusu DF Alex Portelli DF Matthew Pace DF Kurt Pace MF Clayton Caruana MF Mauro Brincat MF Karl Bonavia MF Rigers Ceka

No. Position Player MF Warren Chircop MF Reuben Vella MF Roderick Briffa MF Etienne Farrugia MF Kurt Formosa FW Chris Azzopardi FW Leontiev Konda FW Charlon Sammut FW Jonathan Sapiano FW Steve Meilak

Club officials and coaching staff

Club officials

• President: Darren Micallef
• Honorary President: Dr. Saviour Agius
• Vice President: Karl Anthony Agius
• Secretary: Carmelo Muscat
• Assistant Secretary: Antoine Azzopardi
• Treasurer: Rigovert Casha
• Assistant Treasurer: Tony Muscat
• Executive Committee Members: Joseph Cuschieri, Alistair Micallef

Coaching staff

• Head Coach: Borislav (aka. Bobby) Gyorev
• Assistant Coach: Kevin Asciak

Achievements

Maltese First Division Champions - 2008/09

Maltese First Division Knockout Winners - 2007/08 & 2010/11

Maltese Second Division Champions - 2006/07

Maltese Second Division Runner Up - 1993/4 (Promoted after winning 5-3 after extra time, a decider against Siggiewi)

Maltese Third Division Champions 1992/3 (After beating Kirkop United 6-1 in the Championship decider)

Maltese Second & Third Division Knockout Winners - 2001/02 & 2005/06

External links