Gombak United Football Club was a professional football club based in Bukit Gombak , Singapore that competes in the top tier of Singapore football league system . The club took part in S.League from 1998 to 2002, and from 2006 to 2012. During the early years of the S. League, Gombak United played their home games at Bukit Gombak Stadium . They have won the Singapore League Cup once.
37-587: The Singapore Premier League , commonly abbreviated as SPL , (officially known as the AIA Singapore Premier League for sponsorship reasons), is a men's professional football league sanctioned by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), which represents the sport's highest level in the Singapore football league system . The competition was founded as the S. League on 14 April 1996 after
74-414: A 45-yard screamer from the half-way line to give Hougang a 3–2 victory against Geylang International AIA Group AIA Group Limited , often known as AIA ( Chinese : 友邦保險 ; pinyin : Yǒubāng Bǎoxiǎn ; Jyutping : Jau5 bong1 bou2 him2 ), is an American-Hong Kong–based multinational insurance and finance corporation. It is the largest publicly traded life insurance group in
111-477: A bid to strengthen the national side; this, in effect, has resulted in a number of senior as well as local and foreign stars being purchased by overseas clubs. Singapore Premier League clubs can sign a maximum of four foreign players in the 2020 season , up from three as compared in the 2019 season . In the 2022 season , All eight team will play a four-round format for the first time in its entire league history. The 2024–25 Singapore Premier League season will be
148-615: A cash consideration of €1.336 billion (US$ 1.73 billion). On 21 December 2012, AIG sold all of its 13.69% shareholding in AIA. Since 2 June 2013, AIA has had an exclusive bancassurance agreement with Citibank that encompasses 11 AIA markets in Asia-Pacific, namely Hong Kong, mainland China, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, and India. Gombak United FC Prior to joining
185-476: A maximum of five players aged 30 and above and a minimum of three under-25 players for clubs with a 22-man squad, a maximum of four players aged 30 and above and a minimum of two under-25 players for clubs with a 20-man squad – was later reversed. The league was rebranded as the Singapore Premier League on 21 March 2018. Further revamps were also made to see a greater emphasis on local youth players in
222-433: A place after three seasons following attempts to convert into a team of local players. Chinese Super League clubs Liaoning (2007), Dalian Shide (2008) and Beijing Guoan (2010) entered their feeder clubs in the S.League. All three clubs each lasted one season before being pulled out of the league due to poor performances and disciplinary issues. Bruneian club DPMM joined the S.League in 2009 before being pulled from
259-510: The 2004 S.League . The club became the most established foreign side in the S.League, drawing on the support the Japanese expatriate community and some local fans. As of 2023, they are the foreign side with the longest involvement in Singaporean football. The league took on a number of changes for the 2015 season to increase its competitiveness. The number of clubs was reduced from 12 to 10, with
296-490: The AFC Champions League Two . SPL currently does not practice promotion and relegation . Since the league's inception in 1996, 7 clubs have been crowned champions. Warriors FC have been the most successful club with 9 titles, followed by Albirex Niigata Singapore (6), Tampines Rovers (5), Lion City Sailors (3), Geylang International (2), DPMM (2) and Étoile (1). The current champions are Albirex Niigata,
333-662: The Asia-Pacific region. It offers insurance and financial services, writing life insurance for individuals and businesses, as well as accident and health insurance, and offers retirement planning, and wealth management services, variable contracts, investments and securities. AIA is headquartered in Central, Hong Kong , with a presence in 18 markets in Asia-Pacific, with wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, Macau, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia,
370-693: The Federal Reserve Bank of New York to reduce its debt by US$ 25 billion. AIA had planned to be listed company in Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Securities and Futures Commission on 3 April 2010. However, on 2 March 2010, Prudential PLC , a UK-based financial services and securities company, announced that it would buy AIA for US$ 35.5 billion. The purchase later fell through, and AIA held an IPO in October 2010, raising approximately HK$ 159.08 billion (US$ 20.51 billion), which at
407-487: The ICA . NFL side Jurong Town, who renamed themselves Jurong FC , joined the competition taking the number of participating clubs to 9. The league switched from its previous format to a round-robin competition. Singapore Armed Forces won their first title. Gombak United and Marine Castle United joined the S.League in 1998 , further taking the number of clubs to 11. Tiong Bahru United renamed themselves to Tanjong Pagar United at
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#1732848630910444-499: The S.League , the club was known as Redhill Rangers FC . The club than changed its name to Gombak United in 1998. From 1998 to 2002, the club played their S.League home games at the Bukit Gombak Stadium before pulling out of the S.League at the end of the 2002 season due to financial difficulties. Gombak United rejoined the S.League in 2006 and moved their home games to Jurong West Stadium , but they pulled out of
481-562: The AFC Cup qualification spot. Foreign clubs are ineligible to represent the Football Association of Singapore in AFC continental competitions. The qualification spot is given to the next best-placed local club in the league if a foreign club wins any of the two competitions. The league has seen seven clubs win the title since its inception. Warriors FC (formerly Singapore Armed Forces FC) hold
518-503: The FAS announced its intention to promote and expand the growing local football community by having a top level domestic league. As of 2022, the league comprises eight clubs, consisting of three rounds in which each team plays every other team once. Seasons run from late March to October, with teams playing 21 matches each, totalling 147 matches in the season. Successful SPL clubs gain qualification into Asian continental club competitions, including
555-567: The Japanese satellite team, having won their fifth S-League title in the 2023 season. Singapore had been represented in the Malaysia Cup through the Singapore Lions since 1921. The Lions were one of the most successful teams in the competition, having won it 24 times from 1921 to 1994. Following a dispute over gate receipts between the FAS and FAM after winning the league and cup double in 1994,
592-573: The Lions withdrew from the Malaysian competitions. Subsequently, the Football Association of Singapore decided to build a professional league system. However, as it was estimated to take about a year to put in place the structure of a professional league, the Singapore Lions were given match practice in what was then the top level of domestic football, the semi-professional FAS Premier League . This team won
629-527: The Philippines , Indonesia, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and a 49% joint venture in India. Since 2013, AIA has had an exclusive bancassurance agreement with Citibank that encompasses 11 AIA markets in Asia-Pacific. In August 2013, AIA became the official shirt partner of the English Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur . AIA's contract with Tottenham
666-472: The S.League again during the 2013 season after seven seasons due to reduced takings. At the end of 2017, Chairman John Yap applied to the Football Association of Singapore to return to the Singapore Premier League for the 2019 season but the application was not successful. En route to the League cup final, Gombak United has beaten favourite to win the cup, Home United in the quarter-final and Young Lions in
703-484: The S.League following an agreement between the Football Association of Singapore and the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to send their representative sides into their respective domestic competitions. Singaporean side LionsXII returned to the Malaysian competitions in 2012. Echoing the former Singapore FA , the LionsXII quickly became a successful force in the Malaysian league system during its short stint, winning
740-588: The Singapore Premier League – Albirex Niigata (S) is a satellite team of the Japanese club of the same name and DPMM of the Brunei. Balestier Khalsa, Geylang International and Tampines Rovers are clubs that have played in all 28 seasons of the Singapore Premier League as of 2024. Years indicates seasons active in the league. – Malacca (2015) – Hang Jebat Stadium Years indicates seasons active in
777-415: The amateur National Football League – Police SA , Singapore Armed Forces (SAFFC), Tampines Rovers , Tiong Bahru United , Wellington (renamed Woodlands Wellington ) and Sembawang Rangers (merger of Gibraltar Crescent and Sembawang SC) – for the inaugural edition of the S.League. The season was split into the two series. Tiger Beer Series winners Geylang United defeated Pioneer Series winners SAFFC 2–1 in
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#1732848630910814-575: The end of season championship playoff to be crowned the 1st S.League champions. The 30,000 crowd at the playoff remains the record attendance in the S.League. Police FC renamed themselves as Home United for the 1997 season to reflect their representation of not only the Singapore Police Force , but also other HomeTeam Departments of the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs such as the SCDF and
851-500: The first foreign club to participate in 2003 . Chinese nationals Shi Jiayi and Qiu Li went on to become naturalised Singapore players. Sporting Afrique , a club made up of African players, and Super Reds , a side comprising South Korean players, became the third and fourth foreign clubs to join the competition in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Sporting Afrique were refused entry into the 2007 S.League due to off-field controversies and poor performance. In 2010, Super Reds were denied
888-459: The first season to have a two-year schedule in the league history. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference , and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned league champion. If the points, goal difference, goals scored, and head-to-head results between teams are equal, head-to-head records between
925-480: The last FAS Premier League title, finishing the season unbeaten. The S.League was founded in 1996 . The FAS invited applications for clubs to compete in the newly formed league. Eight successful applications were made. Two clubs from the Premier League – powerhouse Geylang International (renamed Geylang United; 6 consecutive Premier League titles) and Balestier United (renamed Balestier Central – joined six from
962-613: The league Domestic based are foreign clubs which are based in Singapore. After an inaugural season with no sponsorship, the league was sponsored by Great Eastern from 2009 until 2018 where Yeo's and Hyundai become the joint sponsorship, during which time it was known as the Great Eastern - Yeo's S.League and the Great Eastern-Hyundai S.League. In 2019, Hong Kong-based multinational insurance and finance corporation sponsored
999-428: The league as a result of a FIFA ban. They re-entered the league from 2012 . They were the first club to base themselves outside of Singapore. In 2010 , French club Étoile became the first foreign side to win the S.League. Etoile pulled out of the S.League prior to the 2012 season to focus on grassroots football and youth development. In 2012, Malaysia national youth sides Harimau Muda A and Harimau Muda B joined
1036-522: The league as their main sponsor. For the 2018 season, the league was rebranded as the Singapore Premier League. – Great Eastern-Hyundai Singapore Premier League The league's winners qualify for the AFC Champions League , while Singapore Cup winners qualify for the AFC Cup playoff spot. In the event of the same club winning both the S.League and Singapore Cup, the runners-up of the league takes up
1073-459: The league since its inception in 1996. The table that follows is accurate as of the end of the 2023 season . Teams in bold are part of the 2024/25 season. As of 8 July 2024 As of 8 July 2024 Following his retirement from football Holt became a professional wrestler , signing with the World Association of Wrestling . He also notable scored a goal from the whistle of the kick off, with
1110-677: The league title in 2013 as well as the FA Cup in 2015 . However, on 25 November 2015, the FAM decided not to extend their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the FAS. This automatically disqualified LionsXII from further entering any football tournament in Malaysia. Similarly, Malaysia's squad Harimau Muda did not participate in the Singapore League from then onwards. J.League club Albirex Niigata entered their feeder club Albirex Niigata Singapore in
1147-472: The most titles at nine. In 2010, Étoile became the first foreign side to win the competition. * The inaugural season of the S.League was split into two series. The winners of each series completed in a championship playoff in which Geylang United defeated Singapore Armed Forces to claim the first S.League title. The all-time Singapore Premier League table is a cumulative record of all match results, points and goals of every team that has played in
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1184-486: The start of the season. Singapore Armed Forces won their second consecutive title. Clementi Khalsa joined the S.League in 1999 as a representative of the Sikh community in Singapore. The league took on 12 teams for the next five years. Home United won their first title. During the 2000s, the FAS decided to invite foreign clubs to the league to increase league competitiveness. Sinchi , a side composed of Chinese players became
1221-467: The teams are used, followed by a better fair play record. There is no relegation or promotion system in the league. Clubs enter the Singapore Premier League by invitation of the Football Association of Singapore . A total of 25 clubs have played in the league from its inception in 1996 up to and including the 2022 season. The following 9 clubs are competing in the league during the 2023 season . There are two non-Singaporean clubs that currently compete in
1258-563: The time was the world's third largest IPO ever (currently sixth as of June 2023). On 11 September 2012, AIA acquired a 92.3% stake in Sri Lankan insurer Aviva NDB Insurance from British insurer Aviva and Sri Lanka's National Development Bank (NDB). AIA also entered into an exclusive 20-year bancassurance agreement with NDB, one of Sri Lanka's largest financial conglomerates with a nationwide bank branch network. On 7 October 2012, AIA acquired ING Group 's Malaysian insurance subsidiaries for
1295-450: The withdrawal of Tanjong Pagar United due to financial problems, and the merger of Woodlands Wellington and Hougang United . The league returned to a three-round format used from 2001 to 2011. The foreign player quota remained at five per club, but incentives were given to those who signed an under-21 player. The passing time for the mandatory 2.4 km fitness test was lowered from 10 mins to 9 mins 45 s. A new rule on age restrictions –
1332-553: Was renewed in May 2017 to extend through the 2021–22 Premier League season, and again in July 2019 to extend that date to the end of the 2026–27 season. In February 2019, AIA signed a two-year deal to become the main sponsor of the Singapore Premier League . The arrangement was later extended to the end of the 2022 season , with an option for another three years. AIA traces its roots to 19 December 1919 when Cornelius Vander Starr founded what
1369-794: Was then known as American Asiatic Underwriters in Shanghai , China (later American International Underwriters). Starr eventually expanded his business throughout the world. On 21 January 1939, Starr relocated his head office from Shanghai to New York City after the Japanese invasion of China and again on 5 April 1949 with the communist takeover of mainland China, and the Chinese AIA became a subsidiary of New York-based American International Group (AIG). On 1 December 2009, AIG sold preferred equity interests in two newly formed international life insurance subsidiaries, American International Assurance Company, Limited (AIA) and American Life Insurance Company (ALICO), to
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