Victoria Hotspurs Football Club is a Maltese football club from the town of Victoria, Gozo, and that as from the 2024âÂÂ25 season has become the first ever Gozitan club to switch from the Gozo football league system to the Maltese one.
The club was founded in 1948 and, prior to their migration, has won 13 Gozo First Division titles, the last one being in the 2018âÂÂ19 season. The club is popularly known by the Gozitans simply as il-Hotspurs, which when translated to English literally means The Hotspurs. In 2000, when they won their tenth title, they became the first Gozitan club to be awarded a Golden Star for Sport Excellence.
Moreover, Victoria Hotspurs also became the first - and so far the only - club competing in the Gozo Football League who had a Gozitan player from their ranks debuting and representing Malta in international football matches.
The club also holds the record for the most consecutive wins across all domestic competitions in Malta, a run stretching 32 matches.
The Victoria Hotspurs Football Club was formed in December 1948 by Dr. Antoine Mercieca M.D. with the help of Mr. Gigi Xuereb and Mr. Alfred Attard.
The club's original name was Victoria Hotspur, since its first Club President, Dr. Antoine Mercieca M.D., was a fervent supporter of Tottenham Hotspur, an English football club in London that competes in the Premier League. Nicknamed The Hospitals, Victoria Hotspur had its first premises in the old Gozo Hospital in St. Francis Square, Victoria. The first three matches were played with players wearing brand new white shirts borrowed from the Gozo Hospital. Later on, red shirts with white sleeves, together with white shorts, were bought from the sister island of Malta. Victoria Hotspurs Football Club played its first friendly match against the Salesian Youths, losing 1âÂÂ2. Its first official Gozo Football League match was played against Ghajnsielem Rangers on 30 January 1948, with Victoria Hotspurs winning the game 2âÂÂ1. After finishing second to Salesian Youths, Victoria Hotspurs won their first Galea Cup after defeating RAF(Gozo) 6âÂÂ1.
The golden years for the club were between 1957 and 1970. Re-organized again in 1957, Victoria Hotspurs won the Second Division League, amongst others, such as the Dingli Cup, the Tapie Second Division and the MG Second Knock Out, in Season 1958 â 1959. In December 1959, Victoria Hotspurs had its first official club, which was better known as Tal-Luqa in St. Francis Square, Victoria.
In 1960, Victoria Hotspurs played their first friendly game in Sicily against Oratorio Salesiano San Gregorio, with the game ending 1âÂÂ1. Joe Camilleri, the club's longest serving captain, scored for the Hotspurs. Victoria Hotspurs won its first League Championship in 1961âÂÂ1962. After clinching the title, Victoria Hotspurs played a friendly game against the then Malta League Champions, Floriana F.C., on 3 June 1962, with the greens winning 4âÂÂ3. The season which took place between the years 1962âÂÂ1963 commenced with Victoria Hotspurs winning the second Galea Cup and also the second League Championship. During this season, Vincent Grech was the first Victoria Hotspurs player to win the prestigious title of the Gozo Football Player of the Year.
Victoria Hotspurs won the Esso Cup for the first time in 1963âÂÂ1964, yet lost the League Championship of the same season, Victoria Hotspurs played the last decisive game against Xaghra Young Stars, winning 4âÂÂ0, but unfortunately the game was played with one linesman. Xaghra Young Stars filed a protest with the Gozo Football Association (GFA) and consequently, Victoria Hotspurs lost the replay 1âÂÂ2. During this season Victoria Hotspurs won the first Reserves League.
The following year, 1964âÂÂ1965, Victoria Hotspurs won the third League Championship and the first Independence Cup. Success followed, and during the season which took place between the years 1965âÂÂ1966, Victoria Hotspurs won the fourth League Championship and the Esso Cup for the second time. Again, Victoria Hotspurs dominated the 1966âÂÂ1967 season, winning the fifth League Championship and the third Esso Cup. Victoria Hotspurs also won their third Galea Cup during season 1968âÂÂ1969.
Although Victoria Hotspurs were very close to winning the League Championship during the season 1973âÂÂ1974, the Club did not manage to win any trophy during the seventies. Despite this, in October 1977, Victoria Hotspurs was the first Gozitan team to win against a foreign football team in the Silver Jubilee Ground. Victoria Hotspurs winning 2âÂÂ1 against Awras, a Libyan First Division team from Derna. Anton Sillato from the penalty spot and Tarcisio Galea scoring for the Hotspurs.
After an absence of several years, Victoria Hotspurs won their sixth League Championship in the season of 1979âÂÂ1980. Under the guidelines of Dutch coach Albert Lemmen, the title was decided after winning a three games decider against Sannat Lions. Victoria Hotspurs won 1âÂÂ0, with Tarcisio Galea scoring the winning goal.
Victoria Hotspurs won their first Republic Cup in 1980âÂÂ1981 season after winning against rivals Sannat Lions. Victoria Hotspurs won the seventh League Championship in the season of 1984âÂÂ1985. The then coach was Michael Camilleri, while player Dominic Grech was in charge of the training sessions. During this season, the latter won the title of Gozo Football Player of the year.
During the season of 1989âÂÂ1990, ex-player Vincent Grech took over the role of Coach. Victoria Hotspurs won their first Super Cup during this season.
Following the first Super Cup, under the guidelines of Vincent Grech, Victoria Hotspurs won the eight League Championship during the 1990âÂÂ1991 season after defeating Xewkija Tigers in a title decider, with Michael Cremona and Silvan Debono scoring for Victoria Hotspurs. Victoria Hotspurs won again the Super Cup during season 1990âÂÂ1991 and 1991âÂÂ1992.
The League Championship was back in Victoria during season 1993âÂÂ1994. During this season, Victoria Hotspurs also won the Super Cup, yet lost the final of the GFA Cup to Ghajnsielem F.C. after the penalty shootout. During the season 1995âÂÂ1996, Victoria Hotspurs won again the Super Cup after winning 1âÂÂ0 against Nadur Youngsters, with Sabri Rais scoring after extra time. Rais was again decisive when he scored four goals in the final of the GFA Cup during season 1996âÂÂ1997 against Xaghra United. This was the first and the only GFA Cup Victoria Hotspurs won so far. During this season, Victoria Hotspurs won again the Super Cup and the Republic Cup. Victoria Hotspurs player Dione Lautier won the Gozo Football Player of the year award.
Victoria Hotspurs reached their tenth League Championship in season 1999âÂÂ2000. Dominic Grech was back at the club as coach. During this season, Victoria Hotspurs won again the Super Cup and the Millennium Cup after beating Zebbug Rangers 2âÂÂ1, with Michael Vella scoring the golden goal. Victoria Hotspurs was the first Gozitan team to reach the tenth League Championship. Hotspurs player Reuben Mercieca won the Gozo Football player of the year.
Victoria Hotspurs suffered relegation from the Gozo First division in season 2004âÂÂ2005 and bounced back two years after. After absence of a few years, Victoria Hotspurs were back as champions of the Gozo Football league in season 2009âÂÂ2010. Under the guidelines of ex-player Christopher Buttigieg, Victoria Hotspurs won the League Championship for the eleventh time together with the Super Cup, the Freedom Cup and Independence Cup. Victoria Hotspurs player John Paul Grima won the Gozo Football player of the year.
The season 2017âÂÂ2018 marked the seventieth anniversary of Victoria Hotspurs. With Dr. Anton Tabone back as president, and after an absence of eight years, Victoria Hotspurs were back as League champions for the twelfth time with a record total of points. Ex-player Gotthard Conti was back at the club, this time as Coach. Victoria Hotspurs also won the First Division knock out after defeating Ghajnsielem 3âÂÂ1. Victoria Hotspurs player Christian Mercieca won the Gozo Football player of the year award.
Victoria Hotspurs won their 13th League Championship in season 2018âÂÂ2019, the GFA Super Cup and after a 22-year absence the BOV GFA Cup after beating Nadur Youngsters FC 3âÂÂ2. Team captain, Ferdinando Apap won the Gozo Football player of the year award.
On 22 August 2019, Victoria Hotspurs played a friendly match against Italian Serie C squad Calcio Catania at the Stadio Torre Del Grifo, Catania. The Italians won the game 3âÂÂ2, Elton Silva scoring both goals for the Hotspurs. This match was the first match ever in Victoria Hotspurs FC's 71-year old history against a foreign professional side abroad.
On 26 February 2024, the club issued an official statement confirming that in October 2023 Victoria Hotspurs has applied to become a member of the Malta Football Association and with the aim of starting participating in the Maltese football league system, specifically the Maltese National Amateur League, as from the 2024âÂÂ25 season.
The application was approved by the overwhelming majority of the member clubs of Malta Football Association during a historic Extraordinary General Meeting held on 30 April 2024, such that Victoria Hotspurs has become the 54th member club of the Association and got the right to start participating in the Maltese football league system as from the 2024âÂÂ25 season. In doing so, Victoria Hotspurs has become the first ever Gozitan club to migrate from the Gozitan football system to the Maltese one and the second club based in Gozo to participate in Malta after Gozo F.C.
In the first season, Victoria Hotspurs participated in the Maltese National Amateur League II and won the promotion to the Maltese National Amateur League I following the 16th consecutive league win in February 2025, with the title following in another win in the next match, this time against St. George's. During the same season, the Hotspurs also established a record for the most consecutive wins across all domestic competitions in Malta, a run stretching 32 matches and which was ended by an inevitable loss against the then Malta Premier League Opening Round winners Floriana in a Round of 16 match valid for the Maltese FA Trophy.
In the debut season, Victoria Hotspurs also won the National Amateur Cup, courtesy of a 2-1 win over Qrendi, and were runners up against Birà ¼ebbuáa St. Peter's in the National Amateur Super Cup. In the second season, Hotspurs faced Premier League club Birkirkara in a match valid for the Round of 32 of the Jubilee Cup. After going ahead in the 30th minute, Hotspurs led their more illustrious opponents for much of the match, only for Birkirara to score in the 81st minute and needing penalties to qualify to the next round.
Victoria Hotspurs's traditional rivals are fellow cross-city rivals Victoria Wanderers and Oratory Youths. This rivalry is quite unique within the Maltese islands, given that both in Malta and Gozo the statute of the Malta Football Association and the Gozo Football Association limits one club for each city, town or village.
This rivalry was brought to the fore when following the Hotspurs' move to Malta, Victoria Wanderers and Oratory Youths colluded and spearheaded a change to the statute of the Gozo Football Association - headed by the brother of Victoria Wanderers' president - to reduce the number of the clubs that may represent Victoria to two. So long this change remains in place, the Hotspurs will be prevented from returning to Gozitan football as a representative of Victoria.
Victoria Hotspurs is considered to be the most successful Victorian club amongst the three city rivals. Victoria Hotspurs won the Gozitan First Division 13 times, compared to the 6 championship won by Oratory Youths and the sole league won by Victoria Wanderers.
As of 28 May 2025
Following shift to Malta, as of 10 June 2025
Following shift to Malta, as of 10 June 2025
Victoria Hotspurs debuted in the Malta Youth League in the season 2025âÂÂ26, with the youth team starting from the bottom division. In their first season, the team was managed by ÃÂscar Guerrero.
In January 2025, Victoria Hotspurs established the Victoria Hotspurs Youth Development Academy in collaboration with Luxol St. AndrewâÂÂs Football Academy.