Maltese FA Trophy
Organising body | Malta Football Association |
---|---|
Founded | 1933 |
Region | Malta |
Number of teams | 67 |
Qualifier for | UEFA Europa Conference League |
Domestic cup(s) | Maltese Super Cup |
Current champions | Birkirkara (6th title) |
Most successful club(s) | Sliema Wanderers and Floriana (21 titles) |
Television broadcasters | TVMSports+ (live matches) |
Website | matchcentre.mfa.com.mt |
2023–24 Maltese FA Trophy |
The FA Trophy, currently known as the IZIBET FA Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual
The team who wins the cup wins a place in the First qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League. This competition is now played on a knock-out basis between all the senior clubs in the Maltese and Gozitan football pyramids. The cup winners play a match for the Maltese Super Cup against the league champions of the season.
Format
The ten teams from the
Starting with the
On 13 January 2011, the
On 21 May 2016, the old silver trophy has been replaced by a new one, partially paid by the english FA. The new trophy has been presented right before the match between England and Malta for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.[2] The new Trophy will be 65 cm in height, and 7 kilogrammes in weight, six of which are solid silver. The trophy will be produced with the traditional methods of silversmithing, by hand. The new Trophy will carry forward the main features of the current FA Trophy, with the player holding the ball aloft being the top part on a silver pedestal, also featured on the current trophy, containing the exact wording which symbolises the bond between the English FA and the Malta FA, the globe and the base will remain identical, with the effigy of the football match found on the current trophy also retaining its place.[3] The new trophy has been designed in the shape of the old Cassar Cup, which was another historical competition of the MFA in which the best two British service teams used to play against the two best Maltese teams for the cup. Veterans recall the passion of these matches with the Maltese football aficionados all rooting for the Maltese teams against the British ones.
Since this new restructuring of the competition in the 2011–12 season, already a major resemblance to the English F.A. Cup is evident as a lot of giant-killings have already taken place. The best story so far has been that of
Both the 2019–20 and the 2020–21 seasons of the trophy has been declared abandoned by the MFA due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.[5][6]
Winners and finalists
Performance by club
Club | Wins | First final won | Last final won | Runners-up | Last final lost | Total final appearances |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sliema Wanderers | 21 | 1935 | 2016 | 21 | 2017 | 42 |
Floriana | 21 | 1938 | 2022 | 12 | 2006 | 33 |
Valletta | 14 | 1960 | 2018 | 15 | 2022 | 29 |
Hibernians | 10 | 1962 | 2013 | 11 | 2015 | 21 |
Birkirkara | 6 | 2002 | 2023 | 6 | 2018 | 12 |
Ħamrun Spartans | 6 | 1983 | 1992 | 4 | 2008 | 10 |
Melita | 1 | 1939 | 1939 | 1 | 1940 | 2 |
Żurrieq | 1 | 1985 | 1985 | 2 | 1986 | 3 |
Gżira
|
1 | 1973 | 1973 | 0 | 1 | |
Rabat Ajax | 1 | 1986 | 1986 | 1 | 1954 | 2 |
Balzan | 1 | 2019 | 2019 | 1 | 2016 | 2 |
Msida St. Joseph | 0 | 1 | 2005 | 1 | ||
Marsaxlokk | 0 | 2 | 2023 | 2 | ||
Senglea Athletic | 0 | 1 | 1981 | 1 | ||
St. George's | 0 | 2 | 1950 | 2 | ||
Qormi | 0 | 3 | 2013 | 3 |
References
- ^ "Changes to National League, FA Trophy format approved". MaltaFootball.com. 13 January 2011.
- ^ "Malta receives new FA Trophy prior to Wembley match". Times of Malta. 9 October 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
- ^ "The Malta FA unveils the new FA Trophy". MFA. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
- ^ Busuttil, Antoine (19 February 2017). "SK VICTORIA WANDERERS THROUGH TO FA TROPHY SEMI-FINALS". maltafootball.com. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
- ^ Camilleri, Valhmor (2020-05-18). "MFA ends 2019-20 Premier League and FA Trophy". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
- ^ "Sports ban forces termination of domestic competitions". Malta Football Association. 2021-04-09. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
- ^ a b c "Malta – List of Cup Finals". RSSSF. Retrieved 20 June 2011.