The S.League is the top professional soccer league in Singapore. Launched in 1996, the league currently involves ten teams. Football is a ball game played between two teams of eleven players, each attempting to win by scoring more goals than their opponent. ... 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

History

Prior to 1996, local soccer competitions were not the main attraction for football fans in Singapore. Since 1921, Singapore had been entering a representative side (nicknamed "The Lions") in the Malaysia Cup, and later also in the Malaysian League. Along with the state side from Selangor, Singapore was one of the two dominant forces in the Malaysian soccer scene for over 70 years. Thousands of fans packed stadiums home and away to watch the Lions team take on the best Malaysian sides. 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 1921 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Malaysia Cup is a highly-prestigious annual soccer tournament in Malaysia. ... State motto: no State motto Capital Shah Alam Royal Capital Klang Sultan Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Chief Minister Mohd Khir bin Toyo Area 7,956 km2 Population  - Estimated 4,100,000 State anthem Duli Yang Maha Mulia Selangor (Jawi: سلنجور, population 4. ...

In 1994, Singapore won the Malaysian League and Malaysia Cup double. But that was to be its last year in the Malaysian competitions. The initial push to leave came at the beginning of 1995 when there was a dispute between the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) over the FAM's desire to impose of levy on the gate receipts of Malaysian League and Cup matches played in Singapore. Rather than accpet the levy, the FAS decided that the time was right to withdraw from the Malaysian competitions and focus on building up a professional domestic league. It was hoped that this move would facilitate a wider development of the game and help find places for the involvement of a burgeoning population of players and coaches. 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) is the governing body of football in Singapore. ... The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is the governing body for soccer in Malaysia, responsible for organising the Malaysian national football team and the major soccer tournaments within the country. ...

A task force was set up to develop plans for the new league, and Douglas Moore, who had been the coach of Singapore's 1994 Malaysian championship-winning side as well as the Singapore national football team, was brought in as the league's first Chief Executive. First International Singapore 2 - 3 South Korea (Singapore; April 11, 1953) Largest win Singapore 8 - 1 Indonesia (Singapore; August 28, 1986) Singapore 7 - 0 Nepal (Singapore; June 6, 1986) Singapore 7 - 0 Philippines (Singapore; June 9, 1993) Worst defeat Burma 9 - 0 Singapore (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; November 9, 1969) World...

The first S.League season was held in 1996. Eight teams were involved that year and the competition was split into two series. In each series, all eight teams played in each home and away. The table-topping teams from each of the two series then met each other in a season-ending play-off match to determine the champions. Geylang United won the first series and the Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) won the second. Geylang the beat SAFFC in the final play-off to be crowned the first S.League champions. Geylang were captained in that first season by Singapore's best-known soccer star Fandi Ahmad (who also captained Singapore's last Malaysia Cup-winning side in 1994). The following year, Fandi moved to SAFFC and won the S.League title with them (and later went on to become their coach). Geylang United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... The Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... Fandi Ahmad is a former professional soccer player from Singapore. ...

Since its first season, the S.League has grown to involve ten teams. The format of two series and a season-ending play-off has now been replaced by a more traditional league format.

Past champions

2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Tampines Rovers Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Home United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Geylang United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 2000 is a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1999 is a common year starting on Friday of the Common Era, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Home United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... The Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Geylang United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ...

Top scorers

Home United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... Home United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... The Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... The Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... The Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... The Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... Home United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... Balestier Khalsa Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... The Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ...

Current S.League clubs

• Albirex Nigata FC (Singapore)
• Balestier Khalsa FC
• Geylang United FC
• Home United FC
• Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC)
• Sinchi Golden-Throat FC
• Tampines Rovers FC
• Paya Lebar Punggol FC
• Woodlands Wellington FC
• Young Lions (Singapore national under-23 team)

Albirex Niigata(アルビレックス新潟) is a J. League team. ... Balestier Khalsa Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... Geylang United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... Home United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... The Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... Tampines Rovers Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... Woodlands Wellington Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ...

Former S.League clubs

• Balestier Central FC (merged with Clementi Khalsa FC to form Balestier Khalsa FC)
• Clementi Khalsa FC (merged with Balestier Central FC to form Balestier Khalsa FC)
• Gombak United FC
• Jurong FC
• Sengkang Marine FC
• Sembawang Rangers FC
• Tanjong Pagar United FC

Balestier Khalsa Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... Balestier Khalsa Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... Sembawang Rangers Football Club is a soccer club in Singapore, based at Khatib in Yishun. ...

League football in Singapore before the S.League

Prior to the formation of the S.League, the top league competition in Singapore was the now-defunct National Football League (NFL). This was largely a semi-professional league and in the eyes of most fans at the time was very much second-fiddle to Singapore's participation in the Malaysian competitions. The dominant team in the NFL's 21-year history was Geylang International (now Geylang United). Foreign teams were occassionally invited to participate in the NFL and in 1994, the league was won by Perth Kangaroos of Australia.

NFL champions:

1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Geylang United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Geylang United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1992 is a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Geylang United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1991 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Geylang United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Geylang United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Geylang United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1988 is a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Geylang United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1985 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Home United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1984 is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Tampines Rovers Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1983 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1982 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1980 is a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Tampines Rovers Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1979 is a common year starting on Monday. ... Tampines Rovers Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1978 was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... The Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1977 was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1977 calendar). ... Geylang United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1976 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Geylang United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... Geylang United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapores S.League. ...

External links

• Official S.League website
• Football Association of Singapore website