Singapore FA was a representative team of the Football Association of Singapore in competitions run by the Football Association of Malaysia, separate from the Singapore national team. Despite its participaton in the Malaysia Cup ceasing in 1994, it is still by far the second most successful team, winning the tournament 24 times (only surpassed by its rival Selangor). Its derby with Selangor was known as the most North-South Rivalry.
Contents
History
Pre-War to 1970s
The Singapore Amateur Football Association had participated in the Malaya (Malaysia) Cup since its inauguration in 1921 with a representative side. During the pre-war years, Singapore and Selangor were a dominant force and fierce rivals, winning the Cup 19 times between them. The post war years were also dominated by Singapore and Selangor up till 1970, where Selangor emerged as the dominant force in the Malaysia Cup with eleven Cup wins, compared to two victories by Singapore. However, the excitement of Cup during the 1970s attracted a full house at every Cup match played at the National Stadium. Fans often nicknamed the Singapore team "The Lions" since this period.
The 1980s and 1990s
Due to changes in the Malaysia Cup format in 1982, all teams participating in the Malaysia Cup now had to qualify by finishing within the top 8 positions in the Malaysian League, instead of gaining direct entry to the Cup as before. Singapore was excluded from the Malaysian League, and thus the Malaysia Cup, from 1982 to 1984.
During the Malaysian League's amateur years (1982 to 1988), Singapore was only allowed to participate from 1985 to 1988. By this time, Pahang, Kuala Lumpur, Kedah and Johor had emerged as serious contenders to the cup besides Selangor F.C.. Other teams within the League (KL, Pahang and Kedah) managed to sign key Singapore players like Fandi Ahmad, Malek Awab, K. Kannan and V. Sundramoorthy to boost their teams.
Although Singapore won the Malaysian League in 1985, and qualified for the Malaysia Cup every year from 1985 to 1988 (finishing second in the Malaysian League in 1986 and 1988, and third in 1987), they failed to reach the finals of the Malaysia Cup during this time.
When the Malaysian League was replaced by the Semi-Pro League in 1989, Singapore continued to participate. Singapore finished runners up in the league in 1990. In 1993, Singapore was relegated to Division 2, where they finished runners up.
1990s
In 1990, Singapore finished runners-up to Selangor in Semi-Pro League 1 and reached the Malaysia Cup final. The team included emerging players such as Nazri Nasir, Hasnim Haron, D. Tokijan, Borhan Abu Samah, alongside Australian players Abbas Saad and Alistair Edwards.
Many fans expected the team to build on the success of 1990 in the following season but the failure to retain the services of players like Borhan Abu Samah, Abbas Saad and Alistair Edwards proved to be costly. The team did not qualify for the Malaysia Cup and was fighting to avoid relegation to Semi-Pro League 2 in 1991. Worse was to follow when the team was finally relegated to Semi-Pro League 2 after a very inconsistent and poor performances throughout the 1992 season.
Relegation proved to be the turning point for the Lions with a complete shake up of the team in 1993. Top local and key import players like Fandi, Malek, Kannan, Sundram, Jang Jung, Abbas Saad and Alistair Edwards, who were then playing for Malaysian teams all returning to help the Lions in their mission to regain their status in Semi-Pro League 1 and at the same time, mount a serious challenge to the Cup through qualification by finishing as one of the top two teams in League 2. This team, dubbed as the "Dream Team" did achieve its primary targets of promotion to Semi-Pro League 1 and mount a serious challenge to the Cup. However, the trophies still eluded them as this team finished second to Selangor in League 2 and runners up again to Kedah in the Cup.
Despite failure at the last hurdle in 1993, the Lions retained the services of key players like Abbas, Jang Jung, Malek and at the same time, introduced up and coming players like Steven Tan, Lee Man Hon and V. Selvaraj for the following season.
In 1994, the Semi-Pro League was replaced by the fully professional Malaysian Premier League.
With the right mix of experienced pros, young players and expert tactician in former Aston Villa/New Zealand defender Douglas Moore, this team won the Malaysian League and Cup double in 1994. The league was won after a long and hard battle with Kedah where both teams swapped top positions throughout the season with the key moment was the 2:0 win against Kedah in Kallang that finally sealed the title for the Lions. The Malaysia Cup was won with an emphatic 4:0 victory over Pahang at Shah Alam Stadium, with Abbas Saad scoring a hat-trick and Fandi rounding off the score.
2010s
In 2011, the Football Association of Singapore and the Football Association of Malaysia reached an agreement that would see greater co-operation between the two nations. With the under-23 players from the Young Lions as the base, the team was allowed five local players over the age of 23, as well as a number of overseas players (in accordance with the quota set out by the rules of the Malaysian competitions). This was the first time a Singapore team would participate in Malaysian domestic football since Singapore won the Malaysian League and Cup double in 1994.
The team, called the LionsXII, played in the Malaysian Super League and Malaysia Cup from 2012 to 2015. LionsXII were runners up in 2012, and champions in 2013.
Seasons
Malaysia Cup
The preliminary group phase from 1921 to 1978, and the preliminary league phase from 1979 to 1988 was considered part of the Malaysia Cup proper and not as a stand-alone competition.
From 1921 to 1950, the winners of the Northern and Southern sections play-off in the final.
The Cup was shared between finalists Singapore and Selangor in 1928 and 1929.
An Eastern zone was added from 1951.
Semi-professional era
The Malaysian Semi-Pro League, with two divisions, was inaugurated in 1989. The two divisions were merged into the Premier League in 1994.
Singapore's performance was as follows:
Key
References:
Honours
Malaysia Cup: 24
1921, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1928 (shared), 1929 (shared), 1930, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1937, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1977, 1980, 1994
Malaysia League/ Malaysia Premier League: 2
1985, 1994
Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Cup: 1
1989
FAM Cup Winners (Tier 3): 2
1963, 1967
FAS Premier League (semi-pro): 1
1995