PIN’s latest publication, Goal, the official Encyclopaedia of the Malta Football Association promises to be one of the best publications of this year’s Christmas season.

This work is penned by well-known football historian, Carmel Baldacchino who has already given us a number of first-class publications on the history of Maltese football. Baldacchino is also the author of the long-standing series in the Times, ‘Shadows from the Past’.

After his epic publication, Goals, Cups, and Tears which went into eight volumes, one wonders how Baldacchino found the energy to go to an even bigger project.

Each volume of this ambitous publication which is planned to go into ten volumes, is divided into four parts.

Part One is a detailed account of the history of the Malta Football Association.

Part Two narrates the history of the national team.

Part Three covers all the encounters between Maltese clubs and foreign opponents.

It is however, Part Four which makes this work a true encyclopaedia. In Part Four one finds listed players who made their name in the top division of the league, referees, coaches, officials, league clubs, competitions, foreign clubs, national teams and other important information.

The first volume covers the period 1863 to 1922. These were the formative years of Maltese football. It also covers the great Mile End era which is described by the author as the golden age of Maltese football.

The publication is sponsored by the Malta Football Association and it is recognised by the Association as its official history.