The official opening of this unique football exhibition by Sheffield United FC (SUFC) and Ferencvaros, took place at the Auberge d’Italie on Wednesday 4th February. The Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Hon. Mario de Marco inaugurated the exhibition.

In a short speech, Dr de Marco said that the relationship between the MTA and SUFC – which is the first of its kind in the world – is not simply an advertising partnership, but more than that. He mentioned the various aspects of this partnership which include the unique exhibition being inaugurated, the Ferencvaros training camp and game, as well as the community visits that Sheffield United stalwarts and legends conducted in the community, schools and hospital.

The Parliamentary Secretary highlighted the fact that the Ferencvaros-Sheffield United link is also opening up opportunities of marketing the Maltese Islands in Hungary, which is now served by a direct flight. He also referred to various plans underway involving collaboration between SUFC and other Maltese organisations, such as the Parliamentary Secretariat for Youth and Sport, the University of Malta, Malta Enterprise and the Malta Football Association.

The exhibits on show are both unique and highly valuable. The original hand written rules of football dating from 1858 and later adopted by the English FA in 1863 are on display, together with the world’s oldest football trophy: the Youdan Cup, won by Hallam FC in 1867. The original football rules have never left the UK before and SUFC’s willingness to bring them to our Islands highlights the strength of the relationship being forged between Sheffield United and Malta. The Malta Tourism Authority is the current shirt sponsor of SUFC.

Other priceless football memorabilia are on display such as shirts of historic players and from games that are important to Sheffield United’s history, medals and caps. Ferencvaros have also brought over three prestigious cups for the exhibition, amongst them the Inter Cities Fairs Cup won in 1964/65: a unique achievement for this Hungarian team.
All in all, the exhibition is an opportunity not to be missed by all football lovers and historians to have a closer look at some of football’s most prestigious artefacts.

Present for the opening were Ferencvaros Chairman Terry Robinson, SUFC Deputy Chairman Chris Steer, SUFC Director Scott McCabe and other SUFC senior officials, football legends Tony Currie and Alan Hodgkinson, current SUFC Captain Gary Speed, as well as MTA CEO Josef Formosa Gauci and senior MTA staff.