Kirkop United F.C.

Kirkop United Football Club is a Maltese football club based in Ħal Kirkop, Malta. The club currently plays in the Maltese Third Division. Founded as Kirkop F.C. in 1956, the club changed its name to Kirkop United F.C. in 1970.

Kirkop United FC
Full nameKirkop United Football Club
Nickname(s)The Reds
Founded1956 (1956)
as Kirkop F.C.
ChairmanJoe Farrugia
CoachPaul Bugeja
LeagueBOV 3rd Division
2016/17BOV 3rd Division,
WebsiteClub website

The club enjoyed the most successful period during the 1980s and 1990s, winning 3 promotions, 2 of which were as champions. Also recently Kirkop won a promotion during the 2010–11 season, and won another promotion as champions during the 2014–15 season.

Kirkop United has long-standing rivalries with neighbours Zurrieq F.C. and with Luqa St. Andrew's F.C.. The team's home colours have been entirely red since 2003 when the club changed them from a red shirt, white shorts and white socks.

History

Kirkop United was formed in 1956 as Kirkop F.C. by the founder Mr. Clement Farrugia, and was affiliated to the Malta Amateur Football Association. The following season (1957–58) Kirkop F.C. joined the Malta Football Association, taking part in the Maltese Third Division and finished in a mid-table position. The successive two seasons Kirkop F.C. improved a lot, but in 1961–62 Kirkop F.C. only managed a decider against St. John FC. Kirkop lost that match and were therefore removed from the MFA. The seasons between 1962 and 1970, Kirkop ranged from Kirkop Stars to Kirkop United, and formed part of the M.A.F.A. again.

In the 1970–71 season, Kirkop United F.C. were back affiliated to the M.F.A. and played again in the Maltese Third Division. After several years, 1983–84 proved to be a successful season and won promotion to the Maltese Second Division for the first time. The club was relegated to the Maltese Third Division in the 1986–87 season.

Kirkop United F.C. won promotion again in 1989–90 during a memorable season, winning the Mosta Tournament, Dr. J. Mifsud Cup and declared Maltese Third Division champions, winning 13 out of the 14 league games.

The following season Kirkop managed a safe mid-table position in the Maltese Second Division and finishing runners up in the Second & Third Division Knock-Out.

After a positive two-year spell, the club was relegated back to the Maltese Third Division, but soon won back promotion to the Maltese Second Division in the 1992–93 season, before going back down the following year.

Following the relegation, the club was competitive and challenged for promotion immediately. From the 1994–95 season to the 1998–99 seasons, Kirkop United always finished in 2nd place and just missed out on promotion. The following three seasons the club finished in 4th, 9th and 9th. Kirkop again tried to push for promotion but only managed 4th, 4th and 6th during the 2003–05 seasons. The club then started going backwards finishing 14th and 17th during the 2005–2006 and 2006–07 season. For the 2007–08 season there was a change in the league structure with 19 teams competing in two sections. Kirkop in Section B only managed a disappointing 9th and only 2 points in a season to forget.

The 2008–09 season was a season of transition at Kirkop and the club managed to gain 16 points and finish 8th. The following season Kirkop moved further up and finished 5th with a target to challenge for promotion the next season.

The 2010–11 season was a season to remember for Kirkop as the club won promotion after 17 seasons in the Maltese Third Division. In the first season back in the Maltese Second Division, Kirkop had a very positive showing finishing a mid-table 8th position. The 2012–13 season was a season full of ups and downs for Kirkop but finally they managed to stay clear off relegation and finish 10th.

Season 2013–14 was one to forget for Kirkop as the club was relegated back to the Maltese Third Division after 3 seasons. However the following season Kirkop bounced back immediately winning both the promotion and the championship after a 2–0 win in the league championship decider against Mġarr United F.C..

League statistics
Season Division Record
Pos G W D L Win% GF GA Pts
1957–1958 League 3rd Division 5th 7 2 2 3 28.57% 5 7 6
1958–1959 League 3rd Division 4th 7 2 2 3 28.57% 12 10 6
1959–1960 League 3rd Division 5th 7 3 0 4 42.86% 11 12 6
1960–1961 League 3rd Division 7th 14 2 4 8 14.29% 17 26 8
1961–1962 League 3rd Division 8th 14 3 4 7 21.43% 7 13 10
1962–1970 Kirkop U. did not participate / 0 0 0 0 0.00% 0 0 0
1970–1971 League 3rd Division 6th 10 0 4 6 0.00% 6 26 4
1971–1972 League 3rd Division 4th 8 1 1 6 12.50% 4 15 3
1972–1973 League 3rd Division 2nd 8 4 2 2 50.00% 16 11 10
1973–1974 League 3rd Division 5th 16 6 3 7 37.50% 20 27 15
1974–1975 League 3rd Division 2nd 12 5 6 1 41.67% 18 7 16
1975–1976 League 3rd Division 6th 12 3 3 6 25.00% 10 18 9
1976–1977 League 3rd Division 3rd 12 6 4 2 50.00% 13 6 16
1977–1978 League 3rd Division 5th 12 4 1 7 33.33% 6 13 9
1978–1979 League 3rd Division 4th 12 4 3 5 33.33% 17 13 11
1979–1980 League 3rd Division 8th 8 2 2 4 25.00% 8 18 6
1980–1981 League 3rd Division 6th 10 4 1 5 40.00% 12 12 9
1981–1982 League 3rd Division 5th 10 4 3 3 40.00% 6 8 11
1982–1983 League 3rd Division 5th 10 5 0 5 50.00% 12 11 10
1983–1984 League 3rd Division 1st 14 11 3 0 78.57% 38 6 25
1984–1985 League 2nd Division 6th 18 7 4 7 38.89% 22 24 18
1985–1986 League 2nd Division 5th 18 6 5 7 33.33% 19 24 17
1986–1987 League 2nd Division 10th 18 0 1 17 0.00% 18 66 1
1987–1988 League 3rd Division 6th 12 1 3 8 8.33% 10 28 5
1988–1989 League 3rd Division 3rd 14 6 5 3 42.86% 26 15 17
1989–1990 Rothmans League 3rd Division 1st 14 13 0 1 92.86% 39 13 26
1990–1991 Rothmans League 2nd Division 4th 12 5 2 5 41.67% 15 10 12
1991–1992 Rothmans League 2nd Division 7th 12 0 3 9 0.00% 9 27 3
1992–1993 Rothmans League 3rd Division 1st 12 9 2 1 75.00% 20 6 20
1993–1994 Rothmans League 2nd Division 7th 12 1 3 8 8.33% 13 27 5
1994–1995 Rothmans League 3rd Division 2nd 14 9 3 2 64.29% 19 13 30
1995–1996 Rothmans League 3rd Division 2nd 14 9 4 1 64.29% 27 10 31
1996–1997 Rothmans League 3rd Division 2nd 14 10 2 2 71.43% 39 18 32
1997–1998 Rothmans League 3rd Division 2nd 12 6 3 3 50.00% 22 15 21
1998–1999 Rothmans League 3rd Division 2nd 12 9 0 3 75.00% 24 14 27
1999–2000 Rothmans League 3rd Division 4th 14 9 0 5 64.29% 28 18 27
2000–2001 Rothmans League 3rd Division 9th 15 6 4 5 40.00% 21 15 22
2001–2002 Rothmans League 3rd Division 9th 15 4 5 6 26.67% 20 18 17
2002–2003 Rothmans League 3rd Division 4th 15 10 2 3 66.67% 28 15 32
2003–2004 MIA 3rd Division 4th 15 10 3 2 66.67% 27 12 33
2004–2005 MIA 3rd Division 6th 16 8 5 3 50.00% 22 10 29
2005–2006 BOV 3rd Division 14th 16 3 3 10 18.75% 20 37 12
2006–2007 BOV 3rd Division 17th 18 4 5 9 22.22% 21 36 17
2007–2008 BOV 3rd Division Section B 9th 16 0 2 14 0.00% 11 41 2
2008–2009 BOV 3rd Division Section B 8th 16 3 7 6 18.75% 12 20 16
2009–2010 BOV 3rd Division Section B 5th 18 6 5 7 33.33% 25 27 23
2010–2011 BOV 3rd Division Section B 2nd 18 12 2 4 66.67% 39 17 38
2011–2012 BOV 2nd Division 8th 26 11 2 13 42.31% 44 52 35
2012–2013 BOV 2nd Division 10th 26 7 6 13 26.92% 26 43 27
2013–2014 BOV 2nd Division 13th 26 4 8 14 15.38% 24 47 20
2014–2015 BOV 3rd Division 1st 24 16 4 4 66.67% 62 16 52
2015–2016 BOV 2nd Division 12th 26 5 5 16 19.23% 25 43 20

Current squad
Name Nationality Date of birth (Age)
Goalkeepers
Emann Grech (1997-07-22) July 22, 1997
Giancarlo Borg (2003-05-19) May 19, 2003
Defenders
Luca Mizzi (1997-07-22) July 22, 1997
Melchior Grech (c) (1991-01-01) January 1, 1991
Fabian Caruana
Matthew Cassar (1994-05-21) May 21, 1994
Midfielders
Karl Caruana (1996-01-17) January 17, 1996
Matthew Caruana (1992-09-21) September 21, 1992
Neil Cutajar (1990-07-07) July 7, 1990
Ilyad Scicluna (1988-01-25) January 25, 1988
Forwards
Kirsten Farrugia (1998-01-18) January 18, 1998
Michael Theuma (1990-09-26) September 26, 1990
Eric Zammit (1994-02-12) February 12, 1994

Club Officials
Name Nationality Job Title
Technical Staff
Paul Bugeja Coach
Team Manager
Luke Assistant Coach
Redeemer Caruana Kit Manager
board members
Joe Farrugia President
Antoine Mifsud Secretary
Edward Mizzi Treasurer
Vice-President
Assistant Secretary
Redeemer Caruana board member
Silvio Ciappara board member
board member
Kevin Ellul board member
board member
Nazzareno Zammit board member

Presidential history
Start End Nationality Name
2006 2010 Remigio Zammit
2010 2013 Toni Bezzina
2013 2016 Emanuel Azzopardi
2016 present Joe Farrugia

Managerial history
Period Name Total League Knock-Out / F.A. Trophy Other Win%
Games Win Draw Lost Games Win Draw Lost Games Win Draw Lost Games Win Draw Lost
2005–2006 Louis Facciol 19 3 4 12 16 3 3 10 3 0 1 2 / / / / 15.79%
2006–2007 Leonard Farrugia 20 5 5 10 18 4 5 9 2 1 0 1 / / / / 25.00%
2007–2008 Rokku Farrugia 19 0 3 16 16 0 2 14 3 0 1 2 / / / / 0.00%
2008–2009 Albert Busuttil 20 5 9 6 16 3 7 6 4 2 2* 0 / / / / 25.00%
2009–2010 Albert Busuttil 23 7 5 11 18 6 5 7 3 0 0 3 2 1 0 1 30.43%
2010–2011 Albert Busuttil 21 14 2 5 18 12 2 4 3 2 0 1 / / / / 66.67%
2011–2012 Albert Busuttil 28 12 2 14 26 11 2 13 2 1 0 1 / / / / 42.86%
2008–2012 Albert Busuttil 92 38 18 36 78 32 16 30 12 5 2 5 2 1 0 1 41.30%
2012–2013 Jason Bartolo 27 7 6 14 26 7 6 13 1 0 0 1 / / / / 25.93%
2013–2014 Albert Busuttil 27 4 9 14 26 4 8 14 1 0 1* 0 / / / / 14.81%
2014–2015 Albert Busuttil 28 19 4 5 24 16 4 4 3 2 0 1 1* 1 0 0 67.86%
2015–2016 Albert Busuttil 28 6 5 17 26 5 5 16 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 21.43%
2013–2016 Albert Busuttil 83 29 18 36 76 25 17 34 6 3 1 2 1 1 0 0 34.94%
2016–present Vince Galea

NB. As from the season 2011/12 the 2nd/3rd Division Knock-out was removed and all teams participated in the F.A. Trophy
(*2008/09) Kirkop United 1 – 1 (1 – 3 aet) Naxxar Lions
(*2013/14) Kirkop United 2 – 2 (2 – 4 aet) Senglea Athletic
(*2014/15) League Championship Decider – Kirkop United 2 – 0 Mgarr United

Honours

League
  • Maltese 3rd Division Champions: 3
    • 1983–84, 1989–90, 2014–15
  • Maltese 3rd Division Promotion: 5
    • 1983–84, 1989–90, 1992–93, 2010–11, 2014–15

Cup
  • Maltese 3rd Division Knock-Out Runners-Up: 2
    • 1974–75, 1990–91

Other
  • 1969–1970
    • Minor League Champions
  • 1973–1974
    • Minor League Champions
  • 1982–1983
    • Carmel Farrugia (Division 3 Footballer of the Year)
  • 1983–1984
    • Division 3 Reserve League Champions
  • 1987–1988
    • Division 3 Reserve League Champions
  • 1989–1990
    • Mosta Tournament Winners
    • Dr J. Mifsud Cup Winners
    • Carmel Farrugia (Division 3 Footballer of the Year)
  • 1993–1994
    • Under 21s League Section C Winners
  • 1995–1996
    • Paul Farrugia (Division 3 Footballer of the Year)
  • 1996–1997
    • Osama Milud (Division 3 Top Scorer)
  • 1997–1998
    • Jean Pierre Abdilla (Division 3 Top Scorer)
  • 2001–2002
    • Reserves League Section D Winners
  • 2005–2006
    • Under 14's League Section C Winners
  • 2008–2009
    • Fgura Tournament Winners
  • 2010–2011
    • Under 15's League Section C Promotion
  • 2012–2013
    • Women's 2nd Division Promotion
    • Women's Dr Marlene Farrugia Cup Champions
    • Under 17's League Section C Promotion
    • Under 15's League Section C Promotion
  • 2014–2015
    • Under 17's League Section B Champions
    • Seniors MFA 3rd Division Champions
  • 2015–2016
    • Under 19's League Section D Champions
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