Lino Falzon, the former Mosta, Sliema Wanderers and Malta national team player, who passed away two days ago at the age of 83 years will be laid to rest today after a mass to be celebrated at 3.30pm at the Mosta Rotunda.
Lino Falzon had started his career with his hometown club Mosta FC in the Second Division, from where he was already making a name for himself, so much, that in June 1962 he became the first player from the lower divisions to play for the national team when team selector Joe Bonnici Soler picked him to play for Malta in the Euro Nations’ Cup qualifier against Denmark in Copenhagen.
He soon caught the attention of the big clubs with big spenders Sliema Wanderers winning the race for his signature when they had paid Mosta 625 Maltese lira plus giving them as part of the deal also player Rudyard Mifsud. Similarly, Valletta were keen to sign the Mosta wonder boy, but they didn’t have as much cash as the Wanderers as they offered players Joe Attard and Charlie Chircop in exchange of Falzon. Mosta went for the cash.
Lino Falzon remained with the Blues for seven years playing for a couple of years alongside his brother Frans Falzon. Then on 11th August 1969, his hometown club Mosta, having just won promotion to the Second Division, negotiated with the Wanderers to have him back, as they were eyeing an immediate promotion to the top division.
During his years with the Blues Lino Falzon won three league titles, three FA Trophies. once the Scicluna Cup, the Independence Cup, the Cassar Cup, the Testaferrata Cup, the Christmas Cup and the MFA League.
He was selected on five occasions to play for the Malta national team during a period when at best Malta played two international matches in a season, sometimes even less. In addition, he played twice for the Malta B selection, four times for the Malta Amateurs in the Liguria Tournament and once for the MFA XI.
