In the European Cup their finest hour came in 1971-72 when they beat Iceland’s IA Akranes away 4-0 to win a tie with one time winners Celtic. In 1996-97 they eliminated Margveti Zestaphoni of Georgia having impressively won the away leg 3-0. In 2003-2004 they beat Skonto Riga of Latvia before losing convincingly to FC Copenhagen.
Their recent domestic form has been impressive. Not only have they won three successive championships since 2000, they also twice finished twice runners up. They reached the final of the Maltese Cup in 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2004, winning two.
Sliema Wanderers are currently 5th in the Maltese Premier league, one place behind their old rivals Floriana who won the December clash between the two, 3-0.
HIBERNIANS FC
Finally we have a look at the sometimes controversial history of Hibernians FC. Founded in 1922 Hibernians were originally known as The Constitutionals after the pro British political party of the same name.
Based in the small town of Paola they were hopeful of a place in the Malta Amateur Football League. This didn’t follow and the team fell apart. Five years later they reformed and finally took part in the Amateur League.
In 1930-31 The Constitutionals won the championship for their first time. To build on 
that success the club decided to apply for the position in the MFA. To drop any political connections they changed their name to Hibernians and their club colours to black and white.
Their first season at the highest level proved successful finishing joint top with Sliema Wanderers. They repeated this feat in 1933-34. However controversy was just around the corner and at the end of 1936-37 the club were banned by the MFA following debts incurred mainly through the signing of foreign imports.
They were not reinstated until after the Second World War. By 1948 they were losing finalists of the FA Trophy. By 1951 they finished second up to Champions Floriana and again finished runners-up in the Trophy final.
Tragedy occurred when in 1952, two Hibs supporters were killed when fireworks they were preparing for the second replay of the Trophy final exploded on the way to the game.
Hibernians won their first Championship in 1961 and followed that by finally winning the 
FA Trophy by beating Valletta 1-0. Further championships were added in 1967, 1969, and another three between 1978 and 1982.
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