Floriana F.C.
 |
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| Full name | Floriana Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Tal-Irish, Greens, tal-Qaghqa (of the Ring-cake |
| Founded | 1894 |
| Ground |
Independence Ground, Floriana, Malta |
| Capacity | 3,000 |
| Chairman |
 Riccardo Gaucci |
| Manager |
Giovanni Tedesco
|
| League | Maltese Premier League |
| 2015–16 | Maltese Premier League, 5th |
| Website | Club home page |
Floriana Football Club is a semi-professional Maltese football club in the town of Floriana that currently plays in the Maltese Premier League. It has one of the largest fan followings on the islands and remains the most successful club in Maltese history, along with Sliema Wanderers. In all, Floriana F.C. has won 25 national leagues and 19 FA Trophies. It is also the only team from Malta to have qualified from the qualifying rounds to the first round proper of the UEFA Champions League, in the 1993–94 season.
Floriana Football Club was founded in 1894 with the inauguration of the football ground officiated by Queen Alexandra. The site was a cricket ground from 1890 till its conversion project. Together with St. George's FC, is one of the two oldest clubs in Malta. During that period, football in Malta was introduced by the British Servicemen who were stationed on the island, which was then a colony of the British Empire.
The club is affiliated to the Malta Football Association which in turn is a member of both UEFA and FIFA. The team, which plays in green and white, is nicknamed The Irish, after having adopted its colours following a friendly match against the Royal Dublin Fusiliers who were stationed in Floriana Malta at the time.
Floriana Football Club has won the major Maltese League championship 25 times and the U*BET FA TROPHY 19 times. Floriana also have a futsal team which participates in Malta's top futsal league.
Football was introduced in Malta at the end of the 19th Century by the British troops stationed on the island. At that time Malta formed part of the British Empire and, the Island was the base of British forces in the heart of the Mediterranean. The forces' barracks, which were strategically located around the island of Malta, enjoyed large areas that were used as parade grounds, training areas and for sporting activities.
The sports practised by the soldiers were mainly cricket, hockey and football. The British forces in Malta were mainly stationed in Floriana, Cospicua, Mtarfa, Marsa and Sliema. The locals who were influenced by the soldiers stationed in the area were introduced to these sporting activities. The most popular sport amongst the residents of Floriana was football, however some also practised cricket and hockey. Floriana still has its hockey club, carrying the name Floriana Young Stars Hockey Club.
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