Matthew Micallef St. John Athletics Stadium

35°52′31.6″N 14°29′37.4″E / 35.875444°N 14.493722°E / 35.875444; 14.493722OwnerGovernment of MaltaOperatorMalta Amateur Athletic AssociationCapacity2,500[1]SurfaceGrassTenantsAthletics Malta

The Matthew Micallef St. John Athletics Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium situated in Marsa, Malta. The stadium seats 2,500 people and is the national athletics venue of Malta.[2] It is operated by the Malta Amateur Athletic Association.

Background and description

In December 2009, the Government of Malta leased the stadium to the Malta Amateur Athletic Association for a lease period of 49 years.[3] The stadium is a multi-purpose facility, which includes an eight lane running track around the pitch. The facilities also comprise an uncovered stand, which holds up to 2,500 people, and a warm-up track behind the said stand. The warm-up track was inaugurated by the Association on 29 April 2016.[4]

Marsa Sports Complex

The stadium makes part of the Marsa Sports Complex. The Complex hosts a number of sports facilities, including two full size football pitches, a rugby field, an archery range, a baseball/softball pitch, and outdoor basketball and netball courts.[5] The Complex also comprises an 18-hole golf-course, tennis courts and a cricket pitch; these facilities are administered by the Marsa Sports and Country Club.

Notable events

European Team Championships

The stadium hosted the Third League of the European Team Championships twice. Indeed, in 2010 Malta hosted the Third League of the 2010 European Team Championships for the first time[6] whereas the most recent edition played out in Malta was the Third League of the 2017 European Team Championships.[7]

Malta national football team

On 1 February 1983, the stadium, back then was known as the Marsa Stadium, hosted the Malta national football team for the first and only time since then. The match was a friendly against the Tunisia national football team. Malta broke the deadlock but eventually lost the encounter 2-1.[8]

See also

  • Athletics portal

References

  1. ^ "EATC 3rd League". Malta2017.org. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Travel: Racing and training in Malta - Athletics Weekly". Athleticsweekly.com. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Athletics finally given right of way for track". Timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  4. ^ "Official Opening of Warm-Up Track – 29/4/16". Athleticsmalta.com. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Marsa Sports Complex – SPORT MALTA". Sportmalta.org.mt. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  6. ^ "Athletics Malta Well prepared to stage the European Team Championships third league at Marsa - The Malta Independent". Independent.com.mt. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  7. ^ "EATC 3rd League". Malta2017.org. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Malta national team v Tunisia, 1 February 1983". Eu-football.info. Retrieved 16 October 2017.

External links

  • Matthew Micallef St. John Athletics Stadium at SportMalta.org.mt
  • Matthew Micallef St. John Athletics Stadium at Malta2017.org