Qormi F.C.

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Qormi FC
File:QormiFC.png
Full name Qormi Football Club
Nickname(s) Sofor u Suwed (Yellow-Blacks)
Tat-Tażmanja (Tasmanian Devils)
Tal-Ħobż (The Bakers)
Tal-Panini
Founded 1961
Ground Qormi FC Football Complex,
Qormi, Malta
Ground Capacity 500
Manager Malta Johann Scicluna
League Maltese Premier League
2015–16 11th

Qormi Football Club is a Maltese football club from the city of Qormi, that plays in the Maltese Premier League.

History

Qormi Football Club was founded in 1961 after the amalgamation of Qormi Youngsters (from the parish of St. Sebastian) and Qormi United (from the parish of St. George),[1] which is from where the club acquired its motto Fl-Għaqda s-Saħħa, (English: Strength in Unity). The club thus celebrated the 50th anniversary in 2011.

Qormi Football Club is affiliated with the Malta Football Association (MFA) which is the main football body in Malta. The Qormi FC Youth Nursery is a sub-committee of Qormi FC and almost 200 youngsters are affiliated with the nursery.

Qormi Football Grounds (Thomaso Grounds) are situated in Valletta Road, Qormi and the amenities includes pitches, a conference hall, fitness centre, bar and the Qormi FC Youth Nursery Headquarters.

The Qormi official colours are Yellow and Black. Qormi's biggest arch rivals are Zebbug Rangers from neighbouring town of Zebbug, Malta.

The club has spent some of its seasons yo-yo-ing from one division to another, but has recently started to build a more solid pace, progressing slowly but steadily to the upper divisions. Season 2007–08 was the best ever season in the club's recent history. Qormi clinched a second position finish in the Maltese First Division, following a hardly fought play-off penalty win against Mosta, which acquired the club's accession to the Maltese Premier League. Season 2008–09 will be the first season that Qormi will spend in the highest echelons of Maltese football since the old First Division was renamed the Premier League. To prepare for their first Maltese Premier League campaign, Qormi brought in ten new signings and gave a new look to the club's image. The team performed well in pre-season friendlies. In a press release, the club's committee expressed its aim to stay in top flight and possibly even making it to the Championship Pool. Nevertheless, Qormi still struggled against relegation like most newly promoted teams in the Premier League. Promotion was only achieved on the very last day of the league, with a 2–0 win on Hamrun Spartans F.C..

Season 2009–10 saw Qormi achieving a historical stint in the Maltese top-flight, as well as in the FA Trophy. The success was especially aided with arguably the best signing in the club's history, Camilo. Camilo finished top scorer in the league with 24 goals in 22 appearances where Qormi finished in the third place. Qormi then had to play a decider match to determine the taker of the Europa League spot for the next season, a match which Qormi lost to Sliema 0–2. Qormi also could have achieved a spot through the cup, however, albeit making it to the final, Qormi lost to Valletta 1–2.

After the departure of Camilo and other players, as well as coaches Jesmond Zerafa and Vincent Carbonaro, Qormi faced a difficult season the year after. Season 2010–11 saw Qormi retaining Stefan Giglio and Matthew Bartolo, and acquiring the services of George Mallia, Belgian Jason Vandelannoite, Nigerian Abubakar Bello-Osagie, South Korean Kang Ho-Jung in the first half of the season, and Brazilian Josue, Greek Christos Karamanolis, Guinea-Bissau Ibraima Sumaila Vaz Sani, and most notably, the Maltese national football team captain Michael Mifsud, in the second half of the season. Also notable was the change in technical staff at the beginning of the season, with Stephen Azzopardi heading the team. During the season, Azzopardi utilised various youth players coming up from the Youth Nursery. Qormi managed to finish eighth (only one team was relegated in Season 2010–11 however).

Qormi kept struggling season after season, with the occasional fluke in the Maltese FA Trophy. Qormi reached the final three times, all as runners-up, in 2009–10, 2011–12 and 2012–13.

The yellow-blacks celebrated their 50th anniversary during season 2011–12. On the pitch, as already mentioned, Qormi reached the final match of the Maltese cup competition, while holding various celebration activities and issuing various memorabilia, including a book relating history of football in Qormi between 1961 and 2011.

The club kept on struggling to avoid relegation, while enthusiasm for football in the city of Qormi began to wane. Qormi finished 8th in season 2014–15, once again clearing itself from relegation on the last matchday.

It was then revealed that the club had financial problems during an Extraordinary General Meeting held on August 13, 2015. The members agreed that the executive committee had to revisit the club's budgets prior to the 2015–16 season.

Kit Evolution

2005–06 home
2005–06 away
2008–09 home
2008–09 away
2008–09 third
2009–10 home
2009–10 away
2010–11 home
2010–11 away
2011–12 50th Anniversary
2011–12 home
2011–12 away
2014–15 home
2014–15 away

Achievements

Current squad

Players

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

No. Position Player
Malta GK Andreas Vella
Malta GK Jean Matthias Vella
Malta GK Erik Grima
Malta GK Miguel Falzon
Malta DF Steve Agius
Sweden DF Billy Berntsson
Nigeria DF Noah Olawole Oluoja
Malta DF Joshua Barbara
Malta DF Emerson Vella
Guinea DF Ousmane Sidibé
Malta DF Shamison Zammit
Malta DF Alessio Cassar - Captain
Malta DF Kurt Magro
Malta MF Clifford Gauci
Malta MF Yannick Yankam
Malta MF Gilmore Azzopardi
Netherlands MF Djamel Leeflang
Malta MF Jurgen Sciriha
Malta MF Clint Barbara
Malta MF Edward Falzon
Malta MF Iven Zammit
Malta FW Ryan Micallef
Sweden FW Alexander Nilsson
Malta FW Terence Vella
Malta FW Tensior Guzman
Malta FW Luke Farrugia
Brazil FW Juan Vieira Peixoto

Club Officials and Coaching Staff 2015/2016

Club Officials & Committee Members (Elected June 2015)

  • President: Jesmond Aquilina (from 21 Sep 2015)
  • Vice-President: Kyle Fenech
  • Secretary: Vacant
  • Assistant Secretary: Joseph Cardona
  • Treasurer: Vacant
  • Assistant Treasurer: Vacant
  • Member (MFA Council & Executive Member): Redeno Apap
  • Member (MFA Delegate 2): Victor Agius
  • Member (Supporters Club Coordinator & MFA Delegate 3): Kerstin Gatt
  • Member (Administrator): Karl Sciortino
  • Member (Youth Team Coordinator): Robert Farrugia
  • Member: Alan Desira
  • Member: Anthony Thorne
  • Member: Tonio Cachia

Coaching staff

  • Coach:Johann Scicluna
  • Assistant Coach: Matthew Psaila
  • Goalkeeping Coach: Franco Scicluna

Managers

  • Malta Jesmond Zerafa (2007–10)
  • Malta Vince Carbonaro (July 1, 2009 – July 1, 2010)
  • Malta Stephen Azzopardi (June 7, 2010 – Oct 18, 2012)
  • Malta Jesmond Zerafa (Oct 19, 2012 – June 21, 2013)
  • Italy Tommaso Volpi (June 22, 2013 – Dec 20, 2013)
  • Italy Karel Zeman (Jan 3, 2014–2014)
  • Malta Josef Mansueto (2014 – February 2, 2015)
  • England Mark Miller (February 4, 2015 - May 15, 2015)
  • Malta Jesmond Zerafa (July 1, 2015 – October 15, 2015)
  • Malta Johann Scicluna (October 22, 2015 – )

References

  1. Axiaq, M. (2011), L-istorja ta' 95 sena futbol f'Ħal Qormi, u 50 sena amalgamazzjoni ta' Qormi FC. Qormi FC: Qormi, Malta. pp.19–21

External links