The 1909–10 Maltese First Division was the first edition of the

Maltese First Division The Maltese Challenge League (referred to as the BOV Challenge League for sponsorship reasons) is the second-highest division in Maltese football, behind the Maltese Premier League. The First Division was the precursor of the present Premier ...

, the precursor of today's Premier League.

Overview

Following numerous attempts to organise a local football competition and the ever-increasing interest in the game, on 26 October 1907 the Lyceum Football ground was inaugurated in Marsa. This was to host the first football league campaign contested by Maltese teams and selections from the military service; the

Royal Malta Artillery The Royal Malta Artillery (RMA) was a regular artillery unit of the British Army prior to Malta's independence. It was formed in 1889, having been called the Royal Malta Fencible Artillery from 1861 until 1889. Initially on the British Esta ...

selection won the competition. This led to the set up of the first league season with all games to be played at the Lyceum Ground. A total of five teams joined the league and the stipulation was that each team had to provide their own goalposts and nets. The league ended with a two-way tussle between

Floriana Floriana ( or ''Il-Floriana''), also known by its title Borgo Vilhena, is a Floriana Lines, fortified town in the Port Region, Malta, Port Region area of Malta, just outside the capital city Valletta. It has a population of 2,205 as of March 2014 ...

and

Sliema Wanderers Sliema Wanderers Football Club, nicknamed "tax-Xelin" ( of the shilling), is a professional Maltese football club. It is the most successful team in Malta and hails from the seaside town of Sliema. It currently plays in the Maltese Premier Leagu ...

, after the latter were awarded a 2–1 win over St. Joseph's United following crowd trouble. In the decider game played on 24 April 1910, Floriana triumphed with a single goal from top scorer Salvu Samuele thereby winning the first edition and being awarded the Daily Malta Chronicle Cup, a cup specifically designed for the occasion.

Overview

League table

Results

References

See also