By Anton Camilleri

When one looks up at the club’s façade, one is sure to notice the club’s emblem which was created in 1928. When the club was established in 1920 none of the members at that time ever felt the need that the club should have an emblem like the other clubs. The need for a new ‘bandalora’ made them think about it.

On the 7^th of October 1928 the committee decided that an embroidered ‘bandalora’ should be done. In another committee meeting that month the sum of £30 was to be allocated for this project. The design was created at no cost by Mr. Luqa Aguis who was President of the club between 1926/27. Mr. Benjamin Sultana filled the inner part of the design at a fee of £3.

A problem aroused when the designer asked for the club’s emblem to be put in the middle but at that time no one had any idea what it should be. They looked for any ideas for the emblem but with no luck.

At last someone asked advice from Mons. Carlo Cortis Archpriest of the Cathedral, who suggested the tower with the inscription Fortitudo Dei which means Strength of God. The idea was liked by all and that is how the club’s emblem we see today was born.

The ‘bandalora’ was embroidered by the Good Shepherd Nuns which have their convent in Balzan, the cost was of £32.14s.1d, (Lm32.07c,1m). It was blessed on Easter Sunday, 20^th April 1930.

References:

Hal-Balzan, Jan/Frar, 1976

Robert Mifsud Bonnici, Dizzjunarju Bijo-Bibljografiku Nazzjonali, Dipartiment ta’ l-Informazzjoni, 1960.

Micheal Schiavone, L-Istorja tal-Kazini tal-Baned f’malta u Ghawdex, Vol.1, Pin, 1997.