NEPTUNES, one of Malta’s topmost teams, was officially founded in 1929 by Mr Alfred Gauci, then popularly known as Is-Sur Fred. He was the club president from its first year until he retired from the post in 1948. He passed away on May 7, 1979. 
 
The origins of the club are to be found in a group of youngsters who swam regularly in Balluta Bay and played waterpolo just for fun. 
 

 
Needless to say that one of our former vice-presidents, Mr Robert Arrigo, is also president of Sliema Wanderers Football Club and also the Mayor of Sliema! 
 
The game of waterpolo had already been in existence in Malta when Neptunes were formed. The Amateur Swimming Association was founded in 1925. Actually the first name of our club was Balluta Boys. Friendly matches against visiting warships as HMS Walrus and HMS Viscount were played. 
 
In 1930 the first wooden hut was built on the rocks. This was ten foot long, five wide and seven high. In the evenings members used to meet there under the light of a paraffin lamp. It was exposed to the elements and rough seas caused damage to it every now and again. 
 
The playing area was on the side of the hut as in front of it there was a slope. Teams from British destroyers were being freely challenged and gradually the club, by this time having changed name to Neptunes, was becoming the envy of all other previously established clubs. 
 
The first team, by the way, was composed of these players: Joe Demarco, Johnny Chetcuti, Frank Bardon, Franz Mattei, Gerry Degiorgio, Jerry Calleja Gera and Joe Albanese. 
 
Goalkeeper and captain Joe Demarco had suggested to Mr Gauci to change the club’s name. As the team was riding over the crest of the waves at that time, it was unanimously decided, on the suggestion of Mr Gauci who was a great admirer of the sea, to give the club the name of the King of the Sea ­ NEPTUNE. And the first competitive game for the club was in 1931 in the second division. This was against Vittoriosa at Sliema Pitch which used to be laid out on one side of the Chalet. 

Vittoriosa made use of three players from the Royal Artillery who had not obtained permission from the military authorities to play. Half-way through the game, the players were picked up by the Army Red Cap pickets and Neptunes, then very superior won the match hands down. The following year Neptunes again took part in the second division after having missed promotion the previous year. 
 
By this time, players like Franz Wismayer, who, God bless him, still frequents the club,  and the late Jimmy Chetcuti and Wilfred Podesta, had made the grade and formed part of the first team. 
 
Promotion was again missed but in 1933 there were no teams enough to make up in two divisions and so only one championship was held with all teams participating in that division. 
 
Matches were played alternately at the Neptunes and St Julian’s pitches. Neptunes and Sliema finished on equal points. without any previous notice, the association decided that the game was to be played that same day which was  a stormy October Sunday afternoon. 
 
The Neptunes players were taken by surprise but still faced the strongest Sliema team and beat them. The players were met by huge crowds at the club and everyone was drinking and making merry at Grezz and Helen’s Bar, today the entrance to Neptunes Court opposite the club, above the Neptunes gym. 
 
This was Neptunes’ first game against Sliema United and their first-ever success. They continued on this road by winning the knock-out competition as well. 
 
Suddenly the club was mobbed by youngsters who wanted to form part of the team. 
 
Neptunes had a team called Sharks which took part in the second division, the Sea Rovers their third string and Youngsters and Dolphins who took part in the junior competitions. 
 
When they met sides from the British Fleet crowds used to throng the venues of these matches. They played in various places all over the island, by the breakwater at the entrance to the Grand Harbour, alongside ships, at Kalkara, Vittoriosa, Senglea, Manoel Island, St George’s Bay. 
 
The Neptunes tree flourished with players by the name of Salvu Privitera later to become a member of parliament, Eggie Xuereb (whose son Martin was our goalkeeper in early seventies), Joe and Teddy Gatt (Teddy’s son Edward also had a say in the club’s successes), Marcel Bianchi, Alfred Lanzon, whose grandsons Kayne and Niki, are today in Neptunes’ senior side. 

PRE-WAR CHAMPIONS 

In the Thirties, Neptunes won the league championship on the four occasions they took part. That was in 1933, 1934, 1937 and 1938. They also won the first championship organised after the war in 1945. 
 
After winning the 1949 championship, Neptunes were to face a ten-year barren spell as they could find no youngsters who could replace the then veteran stars. 
 
There were fears during the Fifties about the very existence of the club. The premises used to close at 8 or 9 p.m. and a number of members used to sit on the benches at Balluta square. 
 
Mr Angelo Debono, Dr Loris Manche and Mr Stanley Ellul Mercer entered the scene and under their guidance the club slowly but surely regained their former composure. 
 
The wooden club house was done away with and a concrete club house was built. The club’s mentors were always keen on seeing Neptunes developing into one of the finest waterpolo and swimming clubs on the island. 
 
This they succeeded in doing as the pictures of the club in various stages here aptly indicate. 
 
The club returned to winning honours in 1964 when the double was registered with a relatively young side which included a new signing from Sirens by the name of Freddie Portelli, later to become renowned for leading the beat-group The Malta Bums. 

HEADLINES  

Neptunes hit the headlines on many an occasion. Some transfers they landed really rocked the waterpolo community: Freddie Griscti in 1968 from neighbouring Balluta, Guzi Attard from Valletta in 1976 and the one and only John Paris from Exiles in 1986. 
 
Neptunes are the first club to have participated in a top European competition when in 1975, as winners of the Cup, they were grouped with Barceloneta of Spain and Odense of Denmark. 
 
Sliema and Marsascala did this 22 years later (vide Annual 1997, page 49). 
 
A number of “firsts” is one thing Neptunes boast of. They won the first championship at the then new national pool at Zonqor Point, Marsascala. Then they did the same when play moved to the new pool at Tal-Qroqq. The first winter league in 1994 was also ‘grabbed’ by Neptunes. The cups and trophies won at the first time of asking are countless. A picture of the 1984 coveted championship cup in particular still hangs at the club. That was the Martini Cup which the sponsors decided to withdraw after one year. 
 
Then they went through times when all or the bulk of the national team was made up of players from Neptunes. 
 
A case in point is the 1936 Malta team taking part in the Berlin Olympic Games. Neptunes’ players then were: Franz Wismayer, Jimmy Chetcuti, Joe Albanese, Wilfred Podesta, Babsie Podesta and Alfie Lanzon. 

GREATEST TEAM 

The greatest team of all must be the Eighties’ edition. Between 1986 and 1989, Neptunes registered a record of four consecutive championship victories. That should take some beating! Most of the players responsible for this historic feat are still active. Reliable goalkeeper Adrian Cachia, non-stop utility man Anthony Cachia and strong centre-man John Paris are still battling it out for Neptunes. The rest have sought pastures new. 
 
Great international names also turned up for Neptunes. The Serbian Josip Kovacevic, Dutch internationals Jan Evert Veer and Van Belkoum, the Russians Dimitrij Apanasenko and Alexandre Kolotov, the chap from Montenegro Mirko Vicevic and Croatian Vito Padovan. 
 
Foreign coaches and technical advisers often led Neptunes. In 1975 there was the Swede Laars Skaal, the Hungarian professor Geza Nemeth in 1977,  the Yugoslav Bruno Cvitan in 1979 and 1980, Dutchman Jan Evert Veer in 1985, Serb Josip Kovacevic in 1990, Ladislav Botlik in 1992, and in 1984 the renowned Italian national team coach Gianni Lonzi. In 1996 Serbian Sergio Afric was engaged in a frantic manner after the club decided to replace its coach. Afric was retained for 1997. 
 
The most successful of all, however, must have been the Italian professor Claudio Silvestri who was instrumental in Neptunes’ four-championships-in-a-row success. 

FAITHFULS  
  
Neptunes had a never-ending list of faithfuls who devoted a lot to the waterpolo team. Surgeon Major Loris Manche, a household name at the club, proudly maintains that he has occupied all positions within the structure of the Neptunes Club except the post of barman! As a player in all positions, committeeman, president, medical adviser, coach, honorary president and what not. 
 
Bertie Portelli is also one of the longest-serving players the club has ever had. He even played for the club after his retirement! In 1972, with Neptunes heavily depleted through injuries and suspensions, Bertie was recalled for the last decisive league encounter against Sliema. We beat them and managed to carry off that year’s championship. 
 
Other victories which tasted very sweet were those in the Winter League competition in 1994 as well as most of the matches in the 1995 winter league when the Neptunes’ youngsters showed their worth with some magnificent displays. 
 
Neptunes Pitch has been the venue of several outstanding events. Many an international waterpolo tournament has been held here and in the old days older members recall with great nostalgia the mock battle between the Knights Of St. John and the Turks which was held annually on September 8, for a long time Malta’s national day. 
 
This used to attract thousands of spectators from all over the island. The premises was still a wooden hut on a small platform. It used to be decorated in a way to represent Fort St Angelo and our Grand Master La Valette (splendidly acted by the late Jimmy Chetcuti, rode majestically his famous wooden horse as the battle raged on land and water. Ammunition was collected months before the actual event by enthusiastic members who rolled paper balls and made harmless missiles. At one time it even consisted of stale eggs! 
 
The numerous crowds created typical battle atmosphere by the roaring encouragement, cheering and jeering. Spectators on various boats around the battle ground very often used to be the target of some missile that goes astray! 
 
Drama was also practised at the club. There used to be also discos which attracted hundreds of jivers. Sumptuous dinners, carnival dances, tombola parties, end-of-season dinner dances, children’s Christmas and Carnival parties, fancy dress competitions…you name it and …Well you never cease to be entertained at Neptunes. 
 
CLUB HOUSE  
  
A dream of the older members came true when the first concrete club house was erected in 1957. Then in 1964 new concrete dressing rooms were built and the wooden hut was done away with once and for all. 
 
The Angelo Debono, Loris Manche and Stanley Ellul Mercer triumvirate had beaming faces as the club started its steady way to recovery and everything started to flourish. Membership gradually increased. 
 
Some years later, and two concrete arms spread out behind the goal-posts to protect the pitch from rough weather. Life-long wishes were becoming a reality as in the early Seventies the pitch was enclosed completely and in 1972 the Amateur Swimming Association organised an international waterpolo tournament which was the first to be held at Neptunes. 
 
Ferocious force 10 north-easterly winds blew on December 8 and 9, 1988, and together with high waves that accompanied them, inflicted the heaviest damage the Neptunes club had ever experienced. The club was reduced to shell form! 
 

 
In 1990, our club, as well as most of the Maltese population, was rocked to learn that our president at that time, Wilfred Mamo, was reported missing when the yacht he was travelling on to Sardegna to watch England’s opening World Cup soccer match against Eire in Cagliari, tragically sank soon after leaving Mazzara del Vallo, Sicily. 
 
Wilfred, also one of the longest-serving members of the club, was a player until the late Sixties, a former secretary, treasurer and also coach. His absence from the club was sorely missed by all. 
  
Mr Joe Psaila was elected president the following year and the refurbished Neptunes Club was to be further embellished.  A mammoth reconstruction programme saw Neptunes having a new heated fresh-water pool and a splendid gym hall. 
 
Mr Psaila ably aided by then treasurer Mr Carol Calleja and his hard-working committee members were instrumental in landing such a prized jewel. 

Yes, Neptunes are a forward-looking club where members, waterpolo players and swimmers can live in the seventh heaven! 
  
Neptunes had six players chosen to represent Malta in the waterpolo competition at the Berlin Olympics, in 1936. 
  
In 1996, club swimmer Gail Rizzo represented Malta at the Atlanta Olympic Games. 
 
* * * Neptunes are the only club in Malta to have its own 33 by 22 metres fresh water heated pool . . . surrounded by the blue Mediterranean. 

* * *  There is a gym fully equipped with modern amenities. The club is open all the year round. Club’s telephone number 346900 is also a FAX number. 

* * *  There are three restaurants at the club. One is at street level, another at pool-deck level and the third, mostly for use by members, throughout the day. 

* * * The annual membership fee is Lm60 for a family with kids,  Lm55 family without kids, Lm40 for a single person, while over-60s, are considered senior citizens and their fee is Lm25 for a married couple and Lm20 for a single person. There is a youth membership of Lm10, but youngsters are encouraged to join in the fun with their friends, at no charge at all. 

* * * A club annual has been published for the past 12 consecutive years. Any body who would like a free copy of any of the last three years is to contact the editor, Mr Leonard Zammit, Madonnina, 4, Mulberry Street, San Gwann SGN 03, Malta. E-mail address: lvz@.vol.net.mt Please send postage fees - Lm1 for overseas readers, 25c for local readers. 

* * * Training camps are held regularly by overseas teams during the winter months. These come especially from Holland, Hungary, Sweden, Austria Germany and Northern Italy. E-Mail to obtain further information.