Dingli Swallows
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
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.
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
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club from the small village of Dingli
Dingli
Ħad-Dingli is a village on the west coast of Malta, with a population of 3,326 persons , 13 kilometers from the capital Valletta and two kilometers from the nearest town, Rabat. The village lies on a plateau some 250 metres above sea level, which is one of the highest points of Malta...
, which currently plays in the Maltese First Division
Maltese First Division
The Maltese First Division is the second-highest division in Maltese football, behind the Maltese Premier League and above the Maltese Second Division. The league has been running for many years.12 teams take part in the league...
. The club was founded in 1948. Dingli Swallows played in the Maltese Premier League
Maltese Premier League
The Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons , is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909...
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
Maltese Premier League
The Maltese Premier League, known as BOV Premier League for sponsorship reasons , is the top level league for football in Malta. The league was first competed in 1909...
as champions of the Maltese First Division
Maltese First Division
The Maltese First Division is the second-highest division in Maltese football, behind the Maltese Premier League and above the Maltese Second Division. The league has been running for many years.12 teams take part in the league...
for the first time in their history. The club beat Vittoriosa Stars
Vittoriosa Stars F.C.
Vittoriosa Stars Football Club are a Maltese football club from the town of Birgu, which currently played in the Maltese First Division.-Current season:The club is taking part in the BOV 1st Division of the Malta Football Association....
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
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 - 2008/09Maltese 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