Empire Stadium (Gżira)

Empire Stadium (Gżira) Welcome to the Page dedicated to the Empire Stadium of Gżira. It had three entrances in Rue D'Argens and an entrance to the Grand Stand.

Built on the site that during World War I used to be a balloon observation post, the Empire Stadium served as the main venue for Maltese football between 1922 and 1981. During this period, football, boxing, horse-racing, greyhounds, athletics and motor-cycling were held regularly at the Empire. Turf never existed but there was a hard, stony surface good enough to play football in all weather condi

tions. The ground was almost completed by October 1922 and was inaugurated on Saturday, 4 November of the same year with an exhibition match between Malta XI and HMS Ajax (2-2). The stadium, managed by Meme' Scicluna, was constructed so that every spectator had a perfect view of the field of play. There were sanitary arrangements, four dressing-rooms, a first aid station, an office, telephone, and a ladies room. The pitch had full dimensions. It is really a shame that the Empire Stadium is now in an appalling state.

U l-Kotra qamet f’daqqa – u għajtet: “Jien Maltija!Miskin min ikasbarni, - miskin min jidħak bija!”U l-Kotra għanniet f’...
25/03/2026

U l-Kotra qamet f’daqqa – u għajtet: “Jien Maltija!
Miskin min ikasbarni, - miskin min jidħak bija!”
U l-Kotra għanniet f’daqqa – u semmgħet ma’ l-irjieħ
L-Innu ta’ Malta tagħna, – u l-leħen kien rebbieħ,
Fuq ngħas l-imgħoddi ġwejjef, – in-ngħas ta’ l-Apatija
Xħin ruħna kienet rieqda – ġo sodda barranija;
U l-ombra ta’ Vassalli – qamet minn qiegħ il-qabar,
U għajtet: “Issa fl-aħħar – jiena se nsib is-sabar.”

- 80 years have passed from the match between Malta XI and HNK Hajduk Split. This match led to the below poem written by Rużar Briffa, Jum ir-Rebħ 💪⚽

U l-Kotra qamet f’daqqa – u għajtet: “Jien Maltija!
Miskin min ikasbarni, - miskin min jidħak bija!”
U l-Kotra għanniet f’daqqa – u semmgħet ma’ l-irjieħ
L-Innu ta’ Malta tagħna, – u l-leħen kien rebbieħ,
Fuq ngħas l-imgħoddi ġwejjef, – in-ngħas ta’ l-Apatija
Xħin ruħna kienet rieqda – ġo sodda barranija;
U l-ombra ta’ Vassalli – qamet minn qiegħ il-qabar,
U għajtet: “Issa fl-aħħar – jiena se nsib is-sabar.”

FA Trophy Quarterfinal 1968Birkirkara v Valletta 2-2A fine save by Birkirkara’s goalkeeper Bonello in a match played in ...
24/03/2026

FA Trophy Quarterfinal 1968
Birkirkara v Valletta 2-2

A fine save by Birkirkara’s goalkeeper Bonello in a match played in pouring rain on Sunday 2nd June 1968.

For the record, Micallef scored a brace for The Stripes whilst Valletta’s goals were scored by Attard & Falzon.

Malta News - 15th April 1974
26/02/2026

Malta News - 15th April 1974

25 February 1979.Malta - West Germany.
25/02/2026

25 February 1979.
Malta - West Germany.

Una foto pregna di Romanticismo.
Campo in terra battuta.
Tribune in legno.

Era il 25 Febbraio 1979.
Malta-Germania Ovest.
Qualificazioni europee.

Another historic Football pitch will make way to progress 😔
19/01/2026

Another historic Football pitch will make way to progress 😔

A look at the ground’s history and the new government’s plans to turn it into a 200-spot car park

Il-Milied it-tajjeb!Merry Christmas!🎅🏻🎄🏟️
25/12/2025

Il-Milied it-tajjeb!
Merry Christmas!

🎅🏻🎄🏟️

23/12/2025

During the 1950s, the Empire Stadium used to host a number of athletic races in between football matches. Here is one of them as never seen before!

Rabat FC when they faced Valletta FC on the 5th October 1952.The Magpies finished 6th in Division 1 and were eliminated ...
08/12/2025

Rabat FC when they faced Valletta FC on the 5th October 1952.

The Magpies finished 6th in Division 1 and were eliminated by Floriana FC (2-3 aet) in the FA Trophy. A combination of Rabat and Hibernians players played against Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland) during the Christmas Tournament.

Standing - W. Powell, G. Dalli, J. Pearson, P. Micallef, A. Pearson, R. Spiteri
Squatting - C. Zahra, E. Chappell, E Sammut, R. Bencini (mascot), C. Theuma, H. Herbert

Considering that the sun is shining on the benches of the Enclosure stand, this must have been a match played during the...
07/12/2025

Considering that the sun is shining on the benches of the Enclosure stand, this must have been a match played during the morning. Can you recognize the teams? Do you recall a football match played during the morning at the Empire Stadium? Share your memories in the comments

⚽️ 📸 🏟️ 🥅

Poppy Day Charity Match 1st November 1945MFA League XI v Combined Services 7-3
14/10/2025

Poppy Day Charity Match 1st November 1945
MFA League XI v Combined Services 7-3

The 1️⃣5️⃣th Annual Athletic Sports organized by the Royal University of Malta on Friday 9th May 1952 at the Empire Stad...
20/07/2025

The 1️⃣5️⃣th Annual Athletic Sports organized by the Royal University of Malta on Friday 9th May 1952 at the Empire Stadium, Gzira 🏃🏟 - Who remembers sports days being held at the Empire? Can you recognize some of the names? 🧐🔎

Address

Triq Imsida
Gzira

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Empire Stadium (Gżira) posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Empire Stadium (Gżira):

Share