Pace Grasso Stadium

The Pace Grasso Stadium, formerly known as Schreiber Sports Ground, was a stadium in Paola, Malta. It was used mostly for football matches.

Pace Grasso Stadium

Former names	Schreiber Sports Ground
Location	Paola, Malta
Coordinates	35°52′19.8″N 14°30′41.3″E
Owner	Government of Malta
Surface	Gravel
Construction
Broke ground	10 October 1945
Opened	12 October 1946
Demolished	No but dilapidated

History

The site of the stadium was formerly occupied by Tal-Borg Battery, an artillery battery built by Maltese insurgents during the French blockade of 1798–1800. The battery was probably demolished during the early 19th century.^[1]

The stadium was built in 1946 by Captain Serafino Xuereb, who at that time was also the president of Hibernians,^[2] on land provided by the Governor of Malta of that time, Sir Edmond Schreiber.^[3] Fittingly, the stadium was named as Schreiber Sports Ground but eventually it was renamed to Pace Grasso Stadium in remembrance of Harry Grasso and Victor Pace, who were both killed by an explosion caused by fireworks intended to be used for Hibernians' post-FA Trophy celebrations. Hibernians had lost the match to Sliema Wanderers on penalties.^[4]

The Schreiber Sports Ground was inaugurated on 12 October 1946 with a match from the Minor League between Mosta Youngsters and Birżebbuġa St. Peter's. In 1959, the proprietor of the stadium, Mr Xuereb, passed on the ownership of the lease to the owners of the Empire Stadium in Gżira for the sum of £9,750.^[2] The new owners originally considered the prospect of demolishing the stadium and erect a new one and move to a home-and-away system, with the clubs to the north of Malta based in the Empire Stadium and those to the south based at the redeveloped Schreiber Sports Ground.^[2] These plans however never materialised.^[2] During the season 1977-78, the lease was terminated and the stadium was taken over by the Government of Malta.^[2]

The stadium used to host matches from the lower divisions of the Maltese football league^[5] but eventually was replaced by the modern Centenary Stadium in Ta' Qali.

Future

The stadium, which has since fallen in state of disrepair, was subject to a number of proposed developments.^[6] Ultimately, on 28 September 2017, the Planning Authority approved the construction of a regional health hub in the area. The project also entails the conversion of part of the Pace Grasso Stadium into temporary parking.^[7]

Violence

On 14 May 1967, violence broke out and three matches had to be abandoned.^[8]

See also

• Association football portal

• List of football stadiums in Malta

References

1. Spiteri, Stephen C. (May 2008). "Maltese 'siege' batteries of the blockade 1798–1800" (PDF). Arx – Online Journal of Military Architecture and Fortification (6): 26–27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 November 2016.
2. Carmel Baldacchino, Goal - The Official Encyclopaedia of the Malta Football Association; Volume 3 - The Good and the Lean Years (1936-1949) (Malta, 2014)
3. "Pace Grasso ground area to be developed". Timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
4. "HIBERNIANS FC - Club History". Hiberniansfc.org. Archived from the original on 17 March 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
5. "Schreiber Sports Ground in Paola". Timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
6. "Four major projects for Pace Grasso Ground". Timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
7. "Planning Authority approves application for Paola regional health hub - The Malta Independent". Independent.com.mt. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
8. "Black Sunday at Schreiber Ground". Timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 28 January 2018.