Jurong FC
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| Full name | Jurong Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Cobras |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Ground |
Jurong East Stadium Jurong, Singapore |
| Capacity | 2,700 |
| Chairman | - |
| Head Coach | - |
| League | - |
Jurong Football Club was a professional football club, based in the Jurong area of Singapore. The club played in Singapore's S.League 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 in 1975, and prior to 1997 was known as Jurong Town Football Club. The team won Singapore's President's Cup (now known as the Singapore Cup) in 1989, and were runners-up in the Singapore Cup in 1999 and 2002.
History
Pre S-League Era
Jurong Football Club (formerly known as Jurong Town FC) was formed in 1975, the registration date was 25 July 1975. The purpose of forming the club was to serve those thousand employees and 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 amount of workers in Jurong, 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 was once again selected to be in the Premier League. In that year, Jurong 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, ARJ Mani K Kannan, D Tokijan and Lim Chiew Peng. Two youngsters Nasri Nasir and Lim Tong Hai who joined the club at the age of 17. Jurong gave both these young players $3000 scholarship. Jurong FC also signed a Brazilian, Manalton Santos and Jurong won the President's Cup in that year. D Tokijan was awarded the top scorer for the year.
Sundram did not start the season because he had good offer from Switzerland. He had this golden opportunity and Jurong do not want to be an obstacle in his career even with one year contract with Jurong FC, the club happily released him to pursue a better future.
In 1989, David Lee and Auyeong Pak Kuan joined Jurong FC and the team won the President's Cup, Singapore Pool's Cup and finished runners-up in the Premier League. Jurong FC 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 FC. 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 International.
In 1991, Jurong FC was relegated to Second Division.
In 1992, Jurong FC 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 FC 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 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 FC to come back, he engaged Mr Jimmy Pearson to be the coach for 1996 team and with two signings from Ghana and one from Nigeria. It worked as Jurong were the group Champion in its group and earned a place in the S-League 1997.
Inception into the S-League
In 1997, it was a big year for Jurong FC; it changed its name from Jurong Town to Jurong FC. The mascot was also changed from Dragon to Scorpion as Police FC mascot was also Dragon at that time. Jurong FC was allocated in Bukit Gombak Stadium instead of the original base, Jurong Stadium, and finished seventh out of nine teams in its first S-League season. Jurong FC created upset along the season by ending Geylang United's unbeaten runs in the league and also scored the fastest goal of the season. Jurong FC set up its first clubhouse at Jurong Reptile Park that year.
In 1998, Jurong FC once again changed its mascot to Cobra as it was a significant of the club sponsor, Jurong Reptile Park. Jurong FC once again was relocated to the new 2000 seats Jurong East Stadium. In 1998 the club finished 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 Jurong FC turned professional. Jurong Reptile Park pull out in between the season and there is a financial crisis in the club and facing a gravely financial problems, The New Paper planned and set up a "SAVE JURONG CAMPAIGN", "SAVE JURONG LIFE-LINE", "Walkaton", Golf Tournament" and a "Gala Dinner & Dance" in order to raise a fund of $500,000,00 which was achieved. That year, Jurong Club House was relocated to Jurong East Stadium due to the pull-out of the sponsorship. Jurong FC was nominated to represent Singapore to participate in the India Shield Tournament in Calcutta in that year.
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.
The year was also the first time Jurong FC came so close for a trophy since they played in the S-League three years ago as they reached the final of the Singapore Cup. The club's captain, Jason Ainsley, was the top scorer for Jurong FC with a goals tally of 19; he was the third top scorer in the S-League in 1999. But Jurong FC's main sponsor WSA Lines became the second sponsor to pull out from Jurong. Dalis Supait was recalled back to the national team after a superb performance showed in that season.
Pulling out from the S-League
And finally in 2003, Jurong FC's financial problems caused the club to hit root bottom, thus, the club pulled out from the S-League indefinitely much to the dismay of fans and supporters.
Record
S.League Record
- 1997 - 7th place
- 1998 - 5th place
- 1999 - 6th place
- 2000 - 6th place
- 2001 - 5th place
- 2002 - 7th place
- 2003 - 6th place
Singapore Cup Record
- 1997 - First Round
- 1998 - First Round
- 1999 - Runners-up
- 2000 - First Round
- 2001 - First Round
- 2002 - Runners-up
- 2003 - 3rd place
Cup wins
- President's Cup: 1989
External links
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