Lija Athletic F.C.

Maltese association football club

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Football club

Lija Athletic F.C.

Full name| Lija Athletic Football Club
Nickname(s)| Tal-Larinġ, Tan-Nar
Founded| 1949; 75 years ago (1949)
Ground| Lija Athletic Sports Complex
Capacity| 500
Chairman| Colin Ciantar
Manager| Joseph Galea
League| Maltese Challenge League
2024–25| Maltese Challenge League, 15th
Website| https://web.archive.org/web/20070626070057/http://www.lijaathletic.com/

Home colours

Away colours

Third colours

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Lija Athletic Football Club, commonly referred to as Lija Athletic, is a football team originating from the village of Lija, Malta. The present club was founded in 1949 and has competed in the Maltese Premier League five times. During the 2023–24 Maltese Challenge League campaign, Lija Athletic finished the first round in 8th position, trailing 5 points behind the Top 6 teams. Consequently, they were slated to compete in the Play-Out section for the remainder of the season. However, Lija secured their place in the Challenge League early by defeating Żejtun 1–0, with 3 games still to play.

At the final committee meeting of the 2023-24 season, Peter Fenech announced he would be stepping down as president of Lija Athletic . On June 13, 2024, at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), Colin Ciantar was announced as his successor.

## History

[edit]

Although the first team in Lija is believed to have been formed in the 1930s, the first team to take part in the competitions organised by the Malta Football Association 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 in season 2003–04. Once again the Premier Division challenge was too much, and with 3 wins, 2 draws and 19 lost games, Lija finished in last place. In 2005–06 Lija Athletic continued the habit of leaving their division after one year, but this time the destination was the Second Division, after finishing 9th with 18 points in 18 games. In 2006–07 the team obtained a position in mid-table, finishing 7th place. In spite of a poorer record, the team climbed to 6th place the following season. In 2008–09 Lija Athletic were able to challenge for promotion, although they had to settle for third place behind Melita FC and local rivals Balzan Youths, thereby just missing out.

The 2009–10 season saw Lija Athletic strengthening the squad with several experienced players and some talented youngsters. From the early stages it was obvious the team would again be challengers for promotion, and with 48 points Lija Athletic won the Second Division championship and secured promotion to the First Division.

In Season 2013–14, Lija Athletic reached a new milestone when qualifying for the FA Trophy Semi-finals for the first time in the club's history, following exceptional wins including one against Premier giants, Floriana F.C. Lija Athletic were eliminated from the competition with a narrow 0–1 loss to Qormi F.C. in the FA Trophy Semi-final.

Following seven (7) seasons in the First Division, Lija Athletic regained promotion to the top flight, the Premier League, for the fourth time in the club's history, this time winning the First Division League with a total of 54 points. This is the first time in the club's history that Lija Athletic won the First Division Championship, with a relatively young squad.

In 2019–20, Lija achieved promotion to the top tier of Maltese football for the fifth time in their history. However, as with previous seasons, their stay in the top tier was short-lived, and they were relegated after just one season. Despite the setback, this season stood out as the best performance in the club's history, securing 5 wins and a total of 20 points. Noteworthy victories over Floriana and a draw with eventual champions Ħamrun highlighted that particular campaign.

The year 2024 holds special significance for Lija Athletic, as it marks the 75th anniversary since its establishment in 1949. The year kicked off on a positive note with a victory over Żejtun. Prolific striker Erjon Beu added to the celebration by scoring his 150th goal for the club.

## Kits

[edit]

Period  | Kit supplier  | Shirt sponsor (front)

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2009-19  |  Adidas (EuroSport)  | Falzon Group of Companies Ltd.
2019-20  |  Macron (TeamSport)  | Falzon Group of Companies Ltd., Take A Break Travel, the Teambar
2020-21  | Falzon Group of Companies Ltd., GCS Malta
2021-22  | Falzon Group of Companies Ltd., GCS Malta, Gracy's Malta
2022-25  | Falzon Group of Companies Ltd.

## Players

[edit]

### Current squad (2024–2025)

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

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1  | GK |  MLT | Jake Mallia
2  | DF |  MLT | Clayton Giordimaina
3  | DF |  MLT | Julian Camilleri
4  | DF |  MLT | Leon Muscat
5  | DF |  MLT | Alessio Azzopardi
7  | FW |  ALB | Erjon Beu
8  | MF |  MLT | Mead Mifsud
9  | FW |  TRI | Rundell Winchester
10  | DF |  MLT | Kenley Scerri
11  | FW |  BRA | Ronald Melo Costa
12  | GK |  MLT | Luke Bonnici
15  | MF |  MLT | Jake Jovanoski
16  | MF |  MLT | Gareth Joyce
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

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17  | MF |  MLT | Gianluca Falzon
19  | DF |  MLT | Luke Vella
20  | DF |  NGA | Nathan Obidike
21  | DF |  MLT | Matteo Fenech
24  | FW |  MLT | Brave Azzopardi
27  | FW |  VEN | Aron Hernandez
33  | MF |  MLT | Bradley Sciberras
44  | MF |  MLT | Courage Omoruanzoje
66  | MF |  MLT | Omar Khatib
77  | FW |  MLT | Kieran Curmi
83  | DF |  MLT | Sheldon Briffa
97  | GK |  MLT | Josmar Gauci Felice
98  | FW |  MLT | Luca Mallia
99  | FW |  MLT | Amir Amhamed

### Out on loan

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

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18  | DF |  MLT | Adam Camilleri (at San Gwann)
77  | MF |  MLT | Aiden Mallia (at San Gwann)

### Retired numbers

[edit]

No.  | Player  | Nationality  | Position  | Debut  | Last match

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6 | Daniel Scerri |  Malta  | Midfielder | 14 September 2003 vs Marsa | 23 April 2023 vs Fgura

## Staff & Administration

[edit]

### Technical team (2024–2025)

[edit]

| Position | Name

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Head Coach |  Joseph Galea
Assistant Coach |  Micheal Mangion
Goalkeepers Coach |  Simon Grech
Team Manager |  Daniel Scerri
U/19 Coach |  Ivan Falzon
U/19 Team Manager |  Marvin Abela
Team Doctor |  Dr. David Tanti
Physiotherapist |  Jean-Carl Azzopardi
Kit Manager |  Larken Micallef

### Administration (2024–2025)

[edit]

| Position | Name

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President |  Colin Ciantar
Sen. Vice President |  Emanuel Bezzina
Vice President |  Robert Magro
Hon. Secretary |  Samuel Cutajar
Asst. Secretary |  Carmel Bonnici
Treasurer |  Hubert Zammit
Asst. Treasurer |  Benjamin Muscat
Sporting Director |  Hubert Zammit
Administrator |  Samuel Cutajar
Club Delegate |  Samuel Cutajar
Legal Advisor |  Dr. Peter Fenech
Social Media/PRO |  Nicholas Saliba
Samuel Cutajar
Community Officer |  Gilbert Amato Gauci
Spiritual Director |  Rev. Can. Fr. Joseph Cilia
Committee Members |  Steve Spiteri Fiteni
Malcolm Seychell
Larken Micallef
Louis Fenech
Sunny Scerri

### Managerial History

[edit]

Dates  | Name

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2002 - 2004  |  Patrick Curmi
2004 - 2005  |  Ilir Pelinku
2005 - 2007  |  Jimmy Briffa
2007 - 2008  |  Anthony Grech
2008 - 2009  |  Ilir Pelinku
2009 - 2011  |  Marco Gerada
2011 - 2014  |  Brian Spiteri
2014 - 2015  |  Joseph Brincat
2015 - 2016  |  Brian Spiteri
2016 –  |  Joseph Galea

## Records

[edit]

### Club Top Appearances

[edit]

As of 02 December 2024
Erjon Beu is Lija's all-time top scorer with 155 goals to his name Player | Apps

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Daniel Scerri | 409
Luke Bonnici | 347
John Cuschieri | 305
Erjon Beu | 247
Beppe Antignolo | 245
Joe Cardona | 217
Clayton Giordimaina | 208
Raymond Borg | 207
Glenn Barry | 195
Leon Muscat | 187

### Club Top Scorers

[edit]

As of 02 December 2024
Player | Goals | Apps

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Erjon Beu | 155 | 247
Glenn Barry | 65 | 195
Ridha Dardouri | 50 | 73
Ige Abdullahi Adeshina | 50 | 147
Beppe Antignolo | 49 | 245

## Honours

[edit]

### League

[edit]

* First Division
* Winners (1): 2016–17
* Second Division
* Winners (1): 2009–10
* Third Division (3rd Level)
* Winners (2): 1962–63, 1977–78
* Third Division (4th Level)
* Winners (1): 1993–94

### Cup

[edit]

* Second/Third Division Knock Out Cup
* Winners (1): 1994–95
* Third Division Sons of Malta Cup
* Winners (1): 1978–79

## Youth academy

[edit]

The Lija Iklin Youth Academy alongside the Iklin Local Council and the 'Skema Żgħażagħ Iklin', was founded back in 2002 by then president Mr Charles J.Scerri.

During the years the academy has been recognized as one of central Malta's leading football academy's with over 250 players registered. The academy includes teams in each age category, catering for boys and girls.

Crest of Lija Iklin Football Academy

As of 28 October 2024
Season 2024–25

Category | Section | Pos | P | W | D | L | PTS
Under 15 | B | 9th | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1
Under 17 | C | 4th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6
Under 16 (Girls) | N/A | 4th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6

## Competitions history

[edit]

### 2000–present

[edit]

Season | League | Top Scorer | Knockout/Cup | Youths U/19

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Div.  | Pos.  | Pl.  | W  | D  | L  | GS  | GA  | P  | Name  | Goals  | Div.  | Pos.  | Cup
2000–2001  | 2nd | 2nd | 18  | 10  | 4  | 4  | 36  | 20  | 34 |  Alan Tabone  | 9  | First Round  | Section B  | 9th | First Round
2001–2002  | 1st | 10th | 24  | 4  | 3  | 17  | 21  | 70  | 11 |  Ilir Pelinku  | 6  | Second Round  | Section B  | 7th | Quarter-Finals
2002–2003  | 2nd | 5th | 18  | 6  | 6  | 6  | 21  | 24  | 24 |  Glenn Barry  | 10  | First round  | Section B  | 4th | Winners
2003–2004  | 2nd | 2nd | 18  | 9  | 5  | 4  | 31  | 24  | 32 |  Glenn Barry  | 7  | Second round  | Section B  | 9th | Preliminary Round
2004–2005  | 1st | 10th | 24  | 3  | 2  | 19  | 13  | 60  | 8 |  Glenn Barry  | 5  | First round  | Section C  | 2nd | Preliminary Round
2005–2006  | 2nd | 9th | 18  | 5  | 3  | 10  | 20  | 33  | 18 |  Michael Gatt  | 5  | First round  | Section B  | 6th | Second round
2006–2007  | 3rd | 7th | 22  | 8  | 6  | 8  | 27  | 25  | 30 |  Anthony Gera  | 8  | Quarter-Finals | Section B  | 2nd | Winners
2007–2008  | 3rd | 6th | 22  | 8  | 4  | 10  | 25  | 29  | 28 |  Beppe Antignolo  | 6  | First Round | Section A  | 8th | Preliminary Round
2008–2009  | 3rd | 3rd | 22  | 15  | 3  | 4  | 35  | 17  | 48 |  Chris Pace  | 8  | First Round  | Section A  | 10th | Quarter Finals
2009–2010  | 3rd | 1st | 22  | 14  | 6  | 2  | 48  | 22  | 48 |  Antoine Sacco  | 10  | Quarter-Finals | Section B  | 10th | Preliminary Round
2010–2011  | 2nd | 5th | 18  | 7  | 3  | 8  | 24  | 25  | 24 |  Admir Džanović  | 7  | First Round  | Section C  | 8th | Preliminary Round
2011–2012  | 2nd | 7th | 22  | 8  | 5  | 9  | 26  | 25  | 29 |  Gilbert Camilleri  | 6  | Fourth Round | Section C  | 8th | First Round
2012–2013  | 2nd | 4th | 22  | 13  | 3  | 6  | 42  | 30  | 42 |  Erjon Beu  | 12  | Semi-Finals | Section C  | 9th | First Round
2013–2014  | 2nd | 7th | 24  | 9  | 6  | 9  | 44  | 44  | 33 |  Kiril Aleksandrov  | 15  | Third Round | Section C  | 10th | Third Round
2014–2015  | 2nd | 9th | 26  | 12  | 2  | 12  | 45  | 43  | 38 |  Ige Abdullahi Adeshina  | 10  | Third Round | Section D  | 1st | Second Round
2015–2016  | 2nd | 5th | 26  | 12  | 5  | 9  | 40  | 27  | 41 |  Erjon Beu  | 9  | Fourth Round | Section C  | 2nd | Third Round
2016–2017  | 2nd | 1st | 26  | 16  | 6  | 4  | 63  | 34  | 54 |  Erjon Beu  | 24  | Fourth Round | Section B  | 2nd | Third Round
2017–2018  | 1st | 14th | 26  | 1  | 3  | 22  | 23  | 84  | 6 |  Erjon Beu  | 11  | Quarter-Finals | Section A  | 8th | Second Round
2018–2019  | 2nd | 7th | 26  | 9  | 8  | 9  | 49  | 50  | 35 |  Erjon Beu  | 20  | Fourth Round  | Section A  | 10th | Second Round
2019–2020  | 2nd | 2nd | 19  | 11  | 3  | 5  | 47  | 31  | 36 |  Erjon Beu  | 25  | Third Round  | Section B  | 2nd | Second Round
2020–2021  | 1st | 15th | 23  | 5  | 5  | 13  | 25  | 46  | 20 |  Erjon Beu  | 9  | Round of 32  | Section A  | 12th | N/A
2021–2022  | 2nd | 7th | 20  | 8  | 4  | 8  | 39  | 37  | 28 |  Lydon Micallef  | 18  | Preliminary Round  | Section A  | 12th | N/A
2022–2023  | 2nd | 10th | 28  | 11  | 6  | 11  | 51  | 54  | 39 |  Duvan Mosqueira Torres  | 16  | Preliminary Round  | Section B  | 7th | N/A
2023–2024  | 2nd | 9th | 24  | 9  | 5  | 10  | 31  | 44  | 32 |  Erjon Beu  | 10  | Round of 32  | Section B  | 7th | N/A
2024–2025  | 2nd | N/A | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0 |  N/A  | 0  | N/A  | Section B  | N/A | N/A

## External links

[edit]

### Official website

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Maltese football clubs

Premier League|

* Balzan
* Birkirkara
* Floriana
* Gżira United
* Ħamrun Spartans
* Hibernians
* Marsaxlokk
* Melita
* Mosta
* Naxxar Lions
* Sliema Wanderers
* Żabbar St. Patrick

Challenge League|

* Fgura United
* Gudja United
* Lija Athletic
* Marsa
* Mgarr United
* Mtarfa
* Pietà Hotspurs
* Senglea Athletic
* Santa Lucia
* Sirens
* St. Andrews
* Swieqi United
* Tarxien Rainbows
* Valletta
* Żebbuġ Rangers
* Żurrieq

Amateur League I|

* Attard
* Birzebbuga St. Peter's
* Għargħur
* Kirkop United
* Luqa St. Andrew's
* Marsaskala
* Mellieħa
* Msida St. Joseph
* Pembroke Athleta
* Qormi
* Qrendi
* Rabat Ajax
* San Ġwann
* Vittoriosa Stars
* Xgħajra Tornados
* Żejtun Corinthians

Amateur League II|

* Dingli Swallows
* Għaxaq
* Kalkara United
* Mdina Knights
* Mqabba
* St. Venera
* Siggiewi
* St. George's
* Ta' Xbiex
* Victoria Hotspurs

* 2024–25 Premier League
* 2024–25 Challenge League
* 2024–25 Amateur League I
* 2024–25 Amateur League II

* v
* t
* e

Football in Malta

Malta Football Association

National teams|

| Men|

* Men's
* results
* footballers
* captains
* U-21
* U-19
* U-17
* Amateur

| Gozo|

* Main

|

Women|

* Women's
* U-19
* U-17

Domestic leagues|

| Men|

* Premier League
* Challenge League
* Amateur League I
* Amateur League II

| Gozo|

* Gozo Football League First Division
* Gozo Football League Second Division

|

Women|

* First Division

Youth|

* Youth Football Association

Defunct|

* Second Division
* Third Division
* Women's Second Division

| Gozo|

* Third Division
* Women's League

|

Domestic cups|

| Men|

* FA Trophy
* Super Cup
* National Amateur Cup

| Gozo|

* G.F.A. Cup
* GFA Super Cup
* First Division Knock-Out Cup
* Second Division Knock-Out
* Second Division Challenge Cup

|

Women|

* Women's Cup

Defunct|

* First Division knock-out
* Second and Third Division knock-out

| Gozo|

* Independence Cup
* Freedom Day Cup
* Republic Cup
* Women's Cup

|

Lists|

| Men|

* List of champions
* List of clubs
* List of venues (by capacity)
* Foreign players
* Player of the Year

|

*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[DF]: Defender
*[FW]: Forward
*[MF]: Midfielder
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