Jurong FC

Jurong Football Club was a professional football club, based in Jurong, Singapore. The club played in S.League, the top division of football in Singapore from 1997 to 2003. The team's best league finishes in this period were fifth place in both 1998 and 2001.

The club was founded as Jurong Town Football Club in 1975, and prior to 1997 revamp, they were known as Jurong Football Club. The team won Singapore's President's Cup (now known as the Singapore Cup) in 1988 and 1989, and were runners-up in 1999 and 2002.

History

Pre S.League Era

Jurong Town Football Club was formed in 1975, the registration date was 25 July 1975. The purpose of forming the club was to serve thousand of employees and the residents in the Jurong Industrial estate.

In 1975, the club organised the Jurong League for the men and Jurong Netball League for the ladies. These two competitions attracted a large number of workers in the Jurong area, after their working hours they used to play in these competitions before going home. Then, the club was given the Division One status. It was coached by the well known footballer of the 1960s, the late Rahim Omar. He coached the club for two years, after which it was relegated to Division Two till 1987.

In 1988, the FAS re-organised the domestic competition, Jurong Town was once again selected to be in the Premier League. In that year, Jurong Town was sponsored by Japan Airlines, the first company to come into a domestic competition with $100,000 sponsorship. This sponsorship helped the club to engage players like V. Sundramoorthy, Jeffrey Lazaroo, A.R.J. Mani, K Kannan, D. Tokijan and Lim Chiew Peng. Two youngsters Nazri Nasir and Lim Tong Hai who joined the club at the age of 16. Jurong Town gave both these young players $3000 scholarship. Jurong Town also signed Brazilian, Manalton Santos. Jurong Town won the President's Cup in that year and D. Tokijan was awarded the top scorer for the year. Jurong Town also signed David Lee at the end of the 1988 season.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, their kits are sponsored by Hummel.

Sundram did not start the season because he had a good offer from Switzerland. He had this golden opportunity and Jurong Town do not want to be an obstacle in his career even with one-year contract with Jurong Town, the club happily released him to pursue a better future.

In 1989, David Lee and Au Yeong Pak Kuan joined Jurong Town and the team won the President's Cup, Singapore Pool's Cup and finished runners-up in the Premier League. Jurong Town had two Danish and one Finnish player in the squad.

In 1990, the club gave another opportunity to two youngsters, they are Tamil Maran and Shari Ismail, who are now back with Jurong Town. The club also signed two Australian, Tommy Marras and Peter Murphy. And the team finished second in the Premier League with goal difference to Geylang United.

In 1991, Jurong Town was relegated to Second Division.

In 1992, Jurong Town played well and was promoted to Premier League again. During this year another player was unearthed, he was Nahar Daud, now playing for Tiong Bahru United. Jurong Town finished runners-up in the second division and qualify thru the play-off into the Premier League.

In 1993, the club was not doing so well even after signed a Danish coach and three Danish players. But Jurong Town escaped the relegation.

In 1994, this time no chance, even with players from Slovakia, the club was relegated to Division One.

In 1995, the club was relegated to Division Two.

In 1996, after doing so badly in the past three years, K Suppiah the club manager wanted to help Jurong Town to come back. He engaged Mr Jimmy Pearson to be the coach and M.Somasamy team manager for 1996 team and with two signings from Ghana and one from Nigeria. It worked as Jurong Town were the group Champion in its group and earned a place in the S.League 1997.

1997–1999: Instability

1997 saw the former NFL side, Jurong Town renamed themselves as Jurong FC and adopt a Scorpion as their mascot. They will join the S.League taking the number of participating clubs to 9. They will also based in the Bukit Gombak Stadium for the following season instead of the original base, Jurong Stadium, Jurong FC finished seventh out of nine teams in their first S.League season. The club's notable achievements that season were ending Geylang United's unbeaten runs in the league and Alan McTurk scoring the fastest goal of the season.

In 1999, Jurong FC star player, V Sundramoorthy, was appointed the coach of Jurong FC. He became the first ever player-coach in the S.League history. Jurong finished in sixth position in the 12-team league. That year also saw Jurong FC coming closest to a trophy since their entry into the S.League, as they reached the final of the Singapore Cup. The club's captain, Jason Ainsley, was the top scorer for Jurong FC with 19 goals; he was the third top scorer overall for that season. Jurong FC's main sponsor WSA Lines then ended their sponsorship as well. Dalis Supait was recalled back to the national team after a superb performance that season.

2003: Pulling out from the S-League

Finally in 2003, Jurong FC's financial problems forced the club to pull out from the S-League indefinitely much to the dismay of its fans and supporters.

Tatsuma Yoshida

Former Jurong FC Japanese footballer, Tatsuma Yoshida returned to Singapore and he was unveiled as the head coach of the Singapore national team on 30 May 2019. In 2002, he signed for Jurong FC and played under Sundramoorthy, then player-coach for the Cobras. After five appearances, Yoshida retired at the end of the 2002 season.

Team image

Cobra as the new club logo and mascot

In 1997, Jurong Reptile Park sponsored the club in a 1 million deal and Jurong FC set up its first clubhouse at Jurong Reptile Park that year. The club also asked its fans to select a new mascot to associate the club with the new sponsor and the winning mascot was a Cobra. Jurong FC was again relocated to the new 2,700-seater Jurong East Stadium. This season saw the Cobras finish fifth out of eleven teams. Jurong FC's Scottish coach, Jimmy Pearson, left the club at the end of 1998 season due to some coach-player problems.

Jurong FC topscorer Joseph M Pragasam was the first Jurong FC player to represent Singapore National Team ever since they turned professional. Jurong Reptile Park ended their sponsorship mid-season, leading to grave financial problems for the club. The New Paper planned and conducted several fund-raising events which brought the club S$500,000. As Jurong Reptile Park were no longer sponsors of Jurong FC, the clubhouse was relocated to Jurong East Stadium that year. Jurong FC was nominated to represent Singapore to participate in the India Shield Tournament in Calcutta in that year.

Stadium

Back then when they was known as Jurong Town, the club original home ground was based at the old Jurong Stadium from 1975 until 1997.

As the club undergo a full revamp for the new era in their history and also their participation in the newly created S.League, Jurong FC planned to move to a new stadium that serve only as a football stadium but the result of the construction of the new Jurong East Stadium is still incomplete so Jurong FC used Bukit Gombak Stadium as their home ground for the entire of the 1997 S.League season.

Jurong FC left Bukit Gombak Stadium upon completion of their new home ground Jurong East Stadium in 1998. Its one of only three stadiums in Singapore that does not have a running track.

Supporters

Jurong FC gave an attractive offer as part of their sponsor by Jurong Reptile Park and for those who are a Jurong FC Fans Club member can get to enjoy the facilities at the park for free if they paid the $10 annual membership fees. The clubhouse includes unlimited free visits to the park for a year upon their subscription, massage and karaoke at the lounge and also can try their luck on the jackpot machines. Club members will also offered a 10% discount at the various food outlets at the park itself.

Jurong FC also asked its fans to select a new mascot and nickname to associate the club with its new sponsor and was given a four choices; Python, Crocodile, Cobra or Iguana and the winning mascot was a Cobra.

Sponsors

Seasons

* 2003 saw the introduction of penalty shoot-outs if a match ended in a draw in regular time. Winners of penalty shoot-outs gained two points instead of one.

Honours

Cup

* President's Cup
** Champions (2): 1988, 1989

Records and statistics

* Biggest Wins: 5-0 vs Sembawang Rangers (28 April 1999)
* Heaviest Defeats: 0-5 vs SAFFC (14 June 1997)

References

External links

Official club website
(archived 28 August 2005)
*

{{S-League

Football clubs in Singapore
Association football clubs established in 1975
1975 establishments in Singapore
Singapore Premier League clubs
Association football clubs disestablished in 2003