National Stadium, Ta' Qali

Last updated
National Stadium, Ta' Qali
Malta TaQali.JPG
National Stadium, Ta' Qali
Full name
LocationFlag of Malta.svg  Malta
Coordinates 35°53′42″N14°24′55″E / 35.89500°N 14.41528°E / 35.89500; 14.41528
Executive suites6
Capacity 16,997 [1]
Record attendance35,102 [2]
Malta 2–3 West Germany
1986 World Cup Qualifier
16 December 1984
Field size105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft) [3]
Surface Hybrid grass
Construction
Opened1981;43 years ago (1981)
Renovated2016–2017
Tenants

The National Stadium, locally also referred to as Ta' Qali, officially known as Grawnd Nazzjonali[ citation needed ] (Maltese for National Stadium), is a stadium located in Ta' Qali, Malta. The stadium, which also contains the headquarters of the Malta Football Association, seats 16,997 people and is, by far, the largest stadium in the country. It serves as the national football stadium of Malta and is the home stadium of the Malta national football team. The stadium, together with three other stadiums, also hosts the Maltese Premier League.

Contents

History

Background and early years

Although officially the new stadium was inaugurated on 6 December 1981 with a Maltese Premier League encounter between Zurrieq F.C. and Senglea Athletic F.C., certain records suggest that the stadium was already up and running by May 1981. Indeed, newspapers extracts indicate that the stadium hosted the final of the first ever national championship organised by the now defunct Malta Football Federation (not to be mixed with the Malta Football Association, which at that time was known as the Main Football Association) between Valletta Vanguards FC and Birkirkara St. Joseph Sports Club on 3 May 1981. [4]

The highest ever attendance at the Stadium was on during a 1986 World Cup Qualifier encounter between Malta and West Germany played on 16 December 1984, when 35,102 people turned up to watch Malta narrowly lose to the runners up of the previous World Cup. [2]

The Millennium Stand

Entrance to the Millennium Stand Malta - Attard - Ta' Qali National Stadium 14 ies.jpg
Entrance to the Millennium Stand

On 3 September 2002, the Malta Football Association inaugurated the Millennium Stand. [5] The Millennium Stand replaced the 5,000 seater East Stand, which had been declared as a dangerous structure for a number of years by then and hence had to be demolished. The construction of the Millennium Stand, which cost Lm3.5 million, was regarded as the "biggest infrastructural project ever undertaken by the Malta Football Association" whereas the stand itself has been described as "the jewel in the Malta FA's crown". [5] [6]

At the Main Stand Ta' Qali National Stadium Main Tribune.jpg
At the Main Stand

Pitch Resurfacing

In 2016, the Maltese Football Association announced a €1.5 million project to replace the old grass surface with a modern hybrid grass surface, with the latter having been in service for 35 years. The project was conducted by SIS Pitches who are renowned for other works such as the Vodafone Arena and iPro Stadium. The expenses were partly financed by UEFA and FIFA, with the rest being covered by the MFA.

Future

In July 2017, during the annual general meeting, the Malta Football Association announced five projects were announced by the association. Two of these projects, which also include the construction of new futsal hall and a parking adjacent to the Enclosure (West Stand), entail the re-development of the North and South Stands. [7] A short clip shared by the association on its Facebook page suggests that the space behind both the goals will be removed and the two stands will be moved closer to the pitch. [8] The re-development also entails removal of the corners, making stadium an "English-style" venue.

Events

UEFA European Under-17 Championship

The National Stadium was Malta's main venue during its hosting of the 2014 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. The stadium hosted 7 matches in all, including the opening ceremony, 3 group stage games, the semi-finals and the final. 9,422 [9] people turned up to watch England win the championship by beating the Netherlands on penalties. [10]

Games of the Small States of Europe

The Xth edition of the Games of the Small States of Europe was held in Malta and the National Stadium was chosen to hold the Opening Ceremony. [11] The Opening Ceremony was spectacular as colour, dance and fireworks made the evening a memorable one for those present at the stadium.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malta Football Association</span> Association football governing body of Malta

The Malta Football Association is the governing body of football in Malta.

Football in Malta is run by the Malta Football Association and was introduced to Malta during British rule in the mid-19th century. The sport at the time was new to England, and was used as a means of entertainment for the soldiers stationed in Malta at the various barracks around Malta at the time. In 1863 a football association was formed which governed rules and regulations for this quickly changing sport, which was still in amateur competition stage and played in an un-scheduled format until 1909 when a league format was introduced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Empire Stadium (Gżira)</span> Maltese soccer stadium

The Empire Stadium, also known as the Gżira Stadium or just The Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium in Gżira, Malta. It was used mostly for football matches and hosted the home matches of the Maltese national football team, including the very first international match for Malta in 1957 against Austria. It also hosted the final of the Maltese Cup. The stadium was able to hold 30,000 spectators and originally opened in 1922. It was notorious for its sandy pitch. The stadium hosted its final game in 1981, being replaced by the modern Ta' Qali Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gozo Stadium</span>

The Gozo Stadium, formerly known as the Silver Jubilee Ground, is the main stadium of the island of Gozo, Malta. The Gozo Stadium, which is located in Xewkija, seats only 1,644 people but its standing areas at each end of its main stand ensure that the stadium can hold up to approximately 3,800 people Similar to National Stadium in Malta, the Gozo Stadium is the main venue of the local top division, the Gozo Football League First Division, and the finals of all cups organised by the Gozo Football Association are generally held at the stadium.

The 2007–08 Maltese FA Trophy was the 70th season since its establishment. It featured 20 teams from Maltese Premier League and First Division. The competition started on 3 November 2007 and ended on 24 May 2008 with the final, which Birkirkara F.C. won 2–1 against Hamrun Spartans.

The 2010–11 Maltese Premier League is the 96th season of the Maltese Premier League, the top-tier football league in Malta. It began in August 2010 and ended in May 2011. Birkirkara are the defending champions, having won their third title last season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centenary Stadium</span> Maltese football ground

The Centenary Stadium is a stadium located in Ta' Qali, Malta. The stadium, which is situated next to the National Stadium, houses the headquarters of the Malta Youth Football Association. It seats 3,000 and serves as the home stadium of the Malta national under-21 football team. The stadium, together with three other stadiums, also hosts matches of the Maltese Premier League, Maltese First Division and Maltese FA Trophy.

The 2011–12 Maltese Premier League was the 97th season of the Maltese Premier League, the top-tier football league in Malta. It began on 19 August 2011 and it ended in May 2012. Valletta were the defending champions, having won their 20th title last season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 UEFA European Under-17 Championship</span> International football competition

The 2014 UEFA European Under-17 Championship was the 13th edition of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship, an annual football competition between men's under-17 national teams organised by UEFA. The final tournament was hosted for the first time in Malta, from 9 to 21 May 2014, after their bid was selected by the UEFA Executive Committee on 20 March 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey.

The 2012–13 Maltese Premier League was the 98th season of the Maltese Premier League, the top-tier football league in Malta. It began in August 2012 and ended in May 2013. Valletta were the defending champions, having won their 21st title last season.

The 2014–15 Maltese Premier League is the 100th season of the Maltese Premier League, Valletta are the defending champions, having won their 22nd title the previous season.

The 2000–01 Maltese FA Trophy was the 63rd season since its establishment. The competition started on 24 December 2000 and ended on 17 May 2001 with the final, which Valletta won 3-0 against Birkirkara.

The 2016–17 Maltese Premier League was the 102nd season of the Maltese Premier League. The season began on 19 August 2016 and concluded on 6 May 2017; the relegation play-off took place on 12 May 2017. Valletta were the defending champions, having won their 23rd title the previous season.

The Siġġiewi Ground is a stadium located in Siġġiewi, Malta. The stadium seats 240 people and generally hosts matches from the Maltese youth football leagues.

The 2015 Maltese Super Cup was the 31st Maltese Super Cup, an annual football match played between the winners of the previous season's Maltese Premier League and the FA Trophy. The match was contested by Hibernians, champions of the 2014–15 Maltese Premier League, and Birkirkara, winners of the 2014–15 FA Trophy against the same Hibernians. Played as the first official game of the season at Ta' Qali National Stadium on 12 August 2015, Hibernians came from behind to win 2–1, making it their third title in eleven appearances.

The 2014 Maltese Super Cup was the 32nd Maltese Super Cup, an annual football match played between the winners of the previous season's Maltese Premier League and the FA Trophy. The game was played between Valletta, champions of the 2013–14 Maltese Premier League, and Birkirkara, who beat Hibernians in the final of the 2014–15 FA Trophy. Played at Ta' Qali National Stadium, Birkirkara won the match 2–1.

The 2004–05 Maltese FA Trophy was the 67th season since its establishment. The competition started on 6 November 2004 and ended on 20 May 2005 with the final, which Birkirkara won 2–1 against Msida St. Joseph.

The 2002–03 Maltese FA Trophy was the 65th season since its establishment. The competition started on 2 November 2002 and ended on 22 May 2003 with the final, which Birkirkara won 1-0 against Sliema Wanderers.

The 2001–02 Maltese FA Trophy was the 64th season since its establishment. The competition started on 23 December 2001 and ended on 23 May 2002 with the final, which Birkirkara won 1–0 against Sliema Wanderers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship</span> International football competition

The 2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship was the 20th edition of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship, the annual international youth football championship organised by UEFA for the men's under-19 national teams of Europe. Malta hosted the tournament from 3 to 16 July 2023. A total of eight teams played in the tournament, with players born on or after 1 January 2004 eligible to participate.

References

  1. ↑ www.untangledmedia.com, Untangled Media-. "Malta-England... Tickets for local fans sell out in 10 days". MFA.
  2. 1 2 "Malta vs West Germany, 16 December 1984, World Cup qualification".
  3. ↑ "The grass is greener at the National Stadium". Times of Malta. 25 August 2016.
  4. ↑ "BIRKIRKARA ST JOSEPH AT TA' QALI NATIONAL STADIUM'S INAUGURAL MATCH". Birkirkara St.Joseph Sports Club.
  5. 1 2 "Millennium Stand inaugurated". Times of Malta. 4 September 2002.
  6. ↑ "Millions for the millennium stand". Times of Malta. 24 September 2002.
  7. ↑ www.untangledmedia.com, Untangled Media-. "MFA teams up with Government to build football school". MFA.
  8. ↑ "Facebook". www.facebook.com.
  9. ↑ "Netherlands U17 vs. England U17 - 21 May 2014 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  10. ↑ "England win European U17 Championship". BBC Sport.
  11. ↑ "Small Nations Games open". Archived from the original on 2018-06-22. Retrieved 2017-08-27.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.