The Committee

Occupying the role of Vice-President of Victoria Hotspurs for the past two years has been one of most gratifying experiences in my life.

Ever since graduating as lawyer in 2001, I have had the privilege of providing my legal advice to this glorious club. In 2016, I have received the official offer to join the club’s committee. This opened a world of opportunities within the local football scene.

Under the guidance of President Dr Anton Tabone, the club has embarked on a long-term strategy of putting the club on solid basis which will permit the club to face the modern challenges. This has already started, and I am proud to be part of a team that is working hard on the organisational, financial and legal aspects so that the club can be at the forefront also during the coming years.

The success registered also in the local league, cups and prestigious results in the various tournaments is a clear sign and result of the dedication and effort put by every member of the club. The return of a nursery to our club during this year is also a sign of the effort put by the club to the social aspect within Victoria.

It is my great ambition to see this club register more wins, ensuring bigger enthusiasm and support and to garner the necessary elements to ensure success for the coming years.

Dr. Joseph Grech
B.A., LL.D., Mag. Jur. (Eur. Law)
Vice-President Victoria Hotspurs

I joined Victoria Hotspurs Football Club as a youth nursery player when I was 11 years old. I remember being very proud to wear the Hotspurs shirt, especially when I made it to the senior team. Unfortunately, due to study and after work commitments I had to retire and in 2015 I was approached by some committee members to join and assist in building a more professional club.

Without any hesitation I accepted this opportunity and since 2015, I have occupied several positions within the committee. I am now proud to serve as the General Secretary of the Club. During these past three years, the Victoria Hotspurs Football Club has radically progressed, having now achieved a semi-professional status. This carries a lot of responsibility and hours of work. Basically, this job involves registrations and transfers of players, work permits, regulations and licencing reporting, daily correspondence, projects and much more.
I am also directly involved in the setting up and administration of our youth football academy. Attracting kids to our academy is quite difficult since we do not own a proper football pitch. However, I am sure this will also be successful thanks to the hard work of our academy head coach.

As they say, hard work pays off. And it really did for Victoria Hotspurs. I feel proud to have been part of the success achieved during the 2017-2018 season. After all the hard work and sacrifices we managed to win the twelfth championship with a total record number of points on the club’s seventieth anniversary, an anniversary which was marked with a historical exhibition and a documentary film on the remarkable history of our Club.

Reuben Scicluna
B.Com (Hons) (Banking & Finance)
General Secretary

I got to know about Victoria Hotspurs since my late uncle, Joe Grech ‘tal-Likk’, who in the early 60’s was a prominent player for the above-mentioned club. During my early childhood days, I remember my family members mentioning and describing nostalgically my uncle’s performances and successes with the club. I joined the aforementioned club when I was 14, where I played in almost all the club’s nursery catergories, including the club’s Senior Team. However, at the age of 22, I retired from competitive football due to severe difficulties to find a proper balance between daily training and studies at the University of Malta. In 2015, I was encouraged to join the Victoria Hotspurs committee to help in the club’s ambitious re-structuring process. Without hesitation I stood up for this challenge and accepted the offer. Since then I occupied diverse positions within the committee. Presently, I serve as the club’s Vice-General Secretary.

The re-structuring and re-culturing process of the Victoria Hotspurs Football Club was not an easy task at. Over the last years a lot of hard work and sacrifices have been made to ensure a sound future for our beloved club. The ultimate aim was to develop a long-termed vision based on strong and effective structures to help the club become self-sufficient and restore its late glory. The success that we are reaping now is the result of the sterling work carried out by all committee members over the last 4 years. But in particular I would like to thank Mr. G. Attard for his great commitment and dedication during his tenature as President and also our current President, Dr. A. Tabone, our current President, who managed to complete successfully the re-structuring process of the club.

For sure without the expertise of Dr. A. Tabone the road towards success would have been much more difficult and complicated. Lastly, I would also like to highlight Dr. Tabone’s great sense of distributed leadership, which indirectly enables a collective effort from all committee members.

After being tasked by the club’s President I coordinated with Keen Ltd. to set up this new and attractive website. Although being a very difficult and complicated task, with dedication and persistance I managed to complete this task successfully. The aim of this website is to keep constantly in touch with our supporters, to give a more professional image to the club and to reach out to new opportunities all over the world. Through this website our club aims to make a further leap into the modern digital world.
Finally, I feel honoured to serve for this glorious club. My promise is to continue working to help Victoria Hotspurs Football Club reach more successful results whilst making its name and history even bigger.

Ing.Karl Zammit

B.Eng (Hons) (Electrical Engineering)

Vice-General Secretary

The eldest member on the Committee of our Club. Born in Gudja, Malta but for the last 46 years has settled in Gozo, married to Frances a local girl from Victoria.

I have been member of committee for the last 5 seasons after being approached by Marvin Buttigieg, to form part of the committee. During these years I served as General Secretary and now as Club Treasurer. For the last 40 years, I was always involved with football in Gozo and also with the Gozo FA. I first start with Sannat Lions in their most glorious period (1976-1982) and afterwards joined the Council of the Gozo FA. Here I occupied the roles of Secretary and Treasurer in the times of the FA’s Presidents: the late Mr. Roger Portelli, the Hon Dr. Anton Refalo and the Hon. Dr. Chris Said. I was also part of the Committee of Gozo Football Club which competed in Malta with the Malta FA.

These were not easy times due to lack of interest from the local clubs. This was until Hon Dr Chris Said took the bull from its horn and guided Gozo FC to the Premiere league. At this time, Gozo FC played on a home and away system and registered record attendance at the Gozo Stadium. Surely one of the results to highlight was the victory against Maltese Champions Birkirkara at the Gozo Stadium.
For many years, I was the local member representing Gozo on the Council of the Malta FA. I still consider this as a great experience. My favorite saying was and is until nowadays: “I am here to help and serve and not being served“. Apart from being treasurer at Victoria Hotspurs, I am involved with other NGO’s. I am on the Committee of Gozo SPCA and the Gozo NGO’s Association.

I do not have much time for hobbies but when I have opportunity I like to watch football especially the English Premiere League. My favorite team is “The Wolves “or Wolverhampton Wanderers. I am honored and proud that Victoria Hotspurs are again on top of the local football. This was confirmed by the winning of Gozo Football league for the 12th time. I am sure that under the guidance of President Dr.Anton Tabone and together with committee, players and supporters, we will continue to be protagonists in the coming seasons.

JOE CAMILLERI
Club Treasurer

As a kid I used to look at the celebrations of Victoria Hotspurs from our home balcony and from there I started to follow this successful team. Three years ago I joined the Hotspurs family as a committee member and together with the other members I try to do my best in what is required by the club. As a committee member I contribute to the fund raising by organising activities and lotteries amongst others.

I am also an active member of the Red Army, where together with other supporters we take care of all the decorations and joyful atmosphere in the ground.

The club requires financial resources to keep going strong. My appeal to all our followers is to join our membership scheme which offers various discounts from our sponsors or donate any other amount through other funding schemes. Your support keeps us strong.

Forza Victoria Hotspurs!

Nathanael Zammit Magrin
Committee Member – Assistant Treasurer

Joining Victoria Hotspurs as the team paramedic only came naturally to me since I am a health care professional who grew up in the Hotspurs stronghold of Tac-Cawla.

My role gradually evolved into that of a Committee member and I am now involved in both the organisational as well as the technical aspect of the club. As a committee member I contribute to the club's strategy and work closely with the players to keep the team performing. Moreover, as a paramedic, I oversee all the medical tests and assist our players in any issue relating to their healthcare.

The club undergoes constant development in order to ensure the highest level of professionalisation and so far this has enabled us to achieve surprisingly positive results. Last year's successes in the GFA BOV First Division League and the Knock Out Competition bears testimony to the good work being carried out.

My humble appeal for all those who wish to become a part of this success is to join our advantageous membership scheme or donate any amount through the crowd funding scheme on our home page. Only your support will keep the silverware coming.

Alfred Xerri, BSc (Hons)., MBA (Melit).
Committee Member – Club Paramedic

When in late May 2017, Dr Anton Tabone approached me to form part of the committee of Victoria Hotspurs, I was wary and hesitant – we had been together during the fateful years between 2002 and 2006 when the team struggled and had to endure the humiliation of its first ever relegation. However, he persisted and convinced me that this time, it would be a different story altogether. Not only would there be a committee made up of diligent and forward-looking men, but he would personally strive to sign the best local talent and top foreign players. The rest is history since the achievements of Hotspurs during the 2017-18 season will be remembered not only by avid Hotspurs supporters but also, by all who follow the football scene in Gozo.

It is an honour to serve in the committee of Victoria Hotspurs not only because Hotspurs are one of Gozo’s most decorated clubs but also because one is following in the footsteps of men with foresight who set up this club and persisted, often against tough odds, to ensure that its competitiveness. The vision of our President, coupled with the passion of our many supporters, young and old, from different social backgrounds inspires me and fellow committee members to strive for further glory.

STEFAN GORG SAID (MA)
Committee Member

Football was always my favorite sport. From a very young age, I started playing with Victoria Hotspurs Youths. I played in all categories up to the senior team. In 2009-2010, I formed part of the squad that won the Gozitan league for the 11th time in the club’s history. After this success, I stopped playing football but still followed closely the team in all occasions.

In 2013, I joined the club’s central committee and occupied the post of Vice-President for various years. During the last 4 years, I witnessed a collective effort to bring about a radical and positive change in the club. The success experienced over the past two years is only the result of this hard and focused work.

I always believed that our club will one day be again the main protagonist in local football. Together with the President and the other committee members, we will continue to work harder every day to help the club remain the envy of all football clubs in Gozo.

Jesmond Xerri
Committee Member

My experience in the Victoria Hotspurs Football Club officially started 4 years ago when I was approached by Mr. Karl Zammit and he encouraged me to join the committee of the best football club in Gozo – Victoria Hotspurs. At first I hesitated a bit due to other personal commitments but later changed my mind and accepted the invitation. Straight away I put my full commitment into the task I will be assigned with. From the very first year I was given the role of Kit Manager and take care of all the needs of the technical staff and the players.

In this short message I would like to thank Mr. Marvin Buttigieg (our hard working Team Manager) for the full support that I always find in him and for the dedication and good decisions he takes for the team. I would also like to show my gratitude towards the technical staff namely; Mr. Gotthard Conti, Mr. Reuben Mercieca, the club paramedic: Mr. Alfred Xerri and all the players.

Last season (2017/18) was truly a memorable season for Victoria Hotspurs. This huge success would not have been possible without the help of our club president Dr. Anton Tabone, who came to our club with a vision and injected a new sense of believe to put Victoria Hotspurs back on top. Dr.Tabone best characteristic is his own way of leadership that unites the whole club. There are no words to express the gratitude for all his hard work and commitment. Two people that I would like to mention are Mr Geoffrey Attard and Mr. George Said, since both of them contributed immensely to the club. The first two years that I served in the committee Mr.Geoffrey Attard was club president. Mr.Attard worked hard towards the best interests of the club and laid the foundations for his predecessor. Mr.Attard played a huge part in last year’s huge success story. Today he still forms an active part inside the committee.

The name of Mr. George Said is synonym with Victoria Hotspurs Football Club. He served the club both as a player and president for a number of years and during his tenure brought huge success, including the 10th First Division League title and the Golden Star for Football Excellence (first team in Gozo to get this award). I would like to thank all the Red Army crew for giving us that extra push, the Victoria Hotspurs City Girls for their help and support, all our sponsors and last but not least all those who support and have Victoria Hotspurs FC close to their hearts.

I’m sure that with the help and eagerness of everyone we can continue to take Victoria Hotspurs F.C forward and put the name of our beloved club amongst the best on the Maltese islands. We just need to believe in ourselves and shout from the bottom of our hearts

WE LOVE YOU VICTORIA HOTSPURS – COME ON REDS.

Oliver Farrugia
Club Member – Kit Manager