7 football clubs in Singapore that faded into history
Warriors FC celebrate after winning their ninth S.League title in 2014. (Photo: Singapore Premier League)
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SINGAPORE: The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced on Wednesday (Dec 6) that it is searching for a 10th club to take part in the Singapore Premier League (SPL).
The SPL, formerly known as the S.League, was officially launched in 1996 with a field of eight local clubs. In the years since, many teams – both foreign and local – have joined and left the only professional sports league in Singapore.
Here is a look back at seven of them.
WARRIORS FC
Previously known as the Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC), Warriors FC are the most successful club in SPL history, winning the league title nine times between 1997 and 2014. They also won the Singapore Cup four times during their era of dominance.
Nicknamed the Rhinos, the Warriors were one of the S.League's founding members. They called the Choa Chu Kang Stadium home and counted Singapore legend Fandi Ahmad among their notable players and coaches.
In 2010, they became the first Singapore club to win an AFC Champions League match when they beat China's Henan Jianye 2-1. It remained the only victory by a Singapore side at Asian football's premier competition until 2022, when the Lion City Sailors beat South Korea's Daegu FC.
The club was renamed Warriors FC in 2013, with TODAY reporting at the time that the move was aimed at opening up "more marketing and sponsorship opportunities".
They began running into financial trouble in 2018, however, and at the end of the following year, FAS instructed them to sit out the 2020 SPL season after they failed to pay their players and staff.
The club has not competed in the SPL since.
WOODLANDS WELLINGTON
Founded as Wellington FC, Woodlands Wellington adopted their name as they joined the S.League for its inaugural season in 1996.
Plying their trade at the Woodlands Stadium, the Rams had their share of top-half finishes in the league's first decade, finishing as high as second in the first series of the two-part 1996 season.
Woodlands Wellington would have its most successful period between 2005 and 2008, winning the Singapore League Cup in 2007, reaching the final of the Singapore Cup in 2005 and 2008, and finishing third in the S.League in 2005.
Having accumulated substantial debt at the end of the 2014 S.League season, however, the club dropped out of the league.
A merger with Hougang United was mooted – and Hougang's website still mentions it – but TODAY reported in September 2016 that the tie-up had fallen through.
Woodlands continues to be represented in Singapore football, albeit at a lower level, with Woodlands Rangers playing in the Island Wide League.
Woodlands Wellington icon R Vengadasalam, meanwhile, currently heads a club with SPL dreams called the Woodlands Lions.
SEMBAWANG RANGERS
Another founding S.League club from Singapore's northern climes, Sembawang Rangers were formed via the merger of Gibraltar Crescent and Sembawang Sports Club for the league's first season.
Known as the Stallions, they played at the Yishun Stadium between 1996 and 2003.
They never quite matched the success of their rivals in Woodlands, however, recording a best finish of sixth place in the course of their eight seasons in the S.League.
The Stallions left the S.League in 2003, and after one more season in the Prime League for youth and reserve players the following year, they rode off into the sunset.
GOMBAK UNITED
Initially known as Redhill Rangers, the club was renamed Gombak United when it joined the S.League in 1998.
The Bulls pulled out of the S.League after the 2002 season due to financial difficulties but returned in 2006 having moved from the Bukit Gombak Stadium to the Jurong West Stadium.
They had their best season in 2008, winning their first and only piece of silverware as they beat the Super Reds 2-1 in the final of that year's League Cup.
A year later, they recorded their best S.League finish as they claimed third place behind champions SAFFC and runners-up Tampines Rovers.
Facing financial trouble again, Gombak pulled out of the S.League for a second time at the end of 2012.
Talk of a second comeback for the Bulls has surfaced in the decade since, but as of 2023, it has not materialised.
JURONG FC
Founded in 1975 as Jurong Town, Jurong FC dropped the "town" from their name as they joined the S.League for its second season in 1997.
The Cobras drew sizable crowds to their home matches at the Jurong East Stadium, with Singapore great V Sundramoorthy taking the helm as player-coach towards the end of his playing career.
While Jurong did not finish higher than fifth during their seven seasons in the S.League, they did reach the final of the Singapore Cup twice during Sundram's tenure, losing to SAFFC in 1999 before falling to Tampines Rovers three years later.
Like Sembawang Rangers, Jurong FC bowed out of the S.League in 2003.
SINCHI FC
While 2003 marked the end of the road for the Stallions and Cobras, it was also the year that saw the arrival of the S.League's first foreign team.
A team made up of players from China, Sinchi FC, was brought in to boost the league's competitiveness. They did not make much of a mark, however, finishing no better than seventh in their three seasons in the S.League.
Their stint was also marred by tragedy. In 2004, their 18-year-old defender Jiang Tao died after he was struck by lightning during a training session at the Jurong Stadium.
Sinchi FC would, however, pave the way for the participation of other foreign clubs, including fellow Chinese teams Liaoning Guangyuan, Dalian Shide and Beijing Guoan.
Two Sinchi players, Shi Jiayi and Qiu Li, would also go on to represent the Singapore national team after being granted Singapore citizenship.
ETOILE FC
Of the foreign teams beyond China that would later play in the S.League and SPL, Japan's Albirex Niigata and Brunei DPMM would undoubtedly be the most successful, continuing to compete today after their respective debuts in 2004 and 2009 – and racking up eight league titles between them.
Other teams – Sporting Afrique, whose players hailed from several African countries; the Super Reds of South Korea; and the Harimau Muda youth sides from Malaysia – had less memorable tenures.
Between these two sets of clubs, there is Etoile FC.
Joining the S.League in 2010, Etoile, which means "star" in French, was mostly made up of players of French origin.
Glory arrived quickly for Etoile in their first season as they won the League Cup in March.
They then made history by becoming the first foreign team to win the S.League, sealing the title on a dramatic final day with a 4-2 victory over Albirex Niigata.
One of their key players on their road to the crown was Frederic Mendy, who was the league's top scorer that season. He later went on to play in Portugal's top-tier Primeira Liga and South Korea's K League, and is currently on the books at fourth-tier French side FCM Aubervilliers.
Etoile ultimately proved to be a flash in the pan, however. After finishing fifth the following season, they withdrew from the S.League to focus on grassroots football and youth development.
The club continues to exist in the form of the Etoile FC Academy.
