Nickname(s) The Reds Coach Vince Galea 2016/17 BOV 3rd Division, | Chairman Joe Farrugia League BOV 3rd Division Founded 1956 | |
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Full name Kirkop United Football Club | ||
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.
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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..
Managerial History
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