The 1996 S.League season was Geylang United's 1st season in the top flight of Singapore football and 21st year in existence as a football club. Geylang emerged the winner of Series 1 (Tiger Beer Series) and finished fifth in Series 2 (Pioneer Series). It qualified for the Championship Playoff and won the inaugural S.League season. It also won the inaugural Singapore FA Cup.
Review Geylang United was selected as part of the eight teams to participate in the inaugural S.League season. Fandi Ahmad returned as team captain.
Geylang won the Series 1 (Tiger Beer Series) and qualified for the Championship Playoff at the end of the season. However, Geylang finished fifth in Series 2 (Pioneer Series). During the Championship Playoff, Geylang defeated Singapore Armed Forces Football Club (SAFFC) 2–1 to emerge champions of the inaugural season of S.League and qualified for the 1997–98 Asian Club Championship.
In the inaugural Singapore FA Cup, Geylang defeated SAFFC again, 4–2, in a penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw in normal time and extra time.
Squad
Sleague
No. Name Nationality Date of birth (age) Previous club Goalkeepers 1 David Lee Singapore FA Shahri Rahim Defenders 5 Borhan Abu Samah Singapore FA 7 Mohammad Khakpour Persepolis F.C. 12 Zulkarnaen Zainal Youth Team 13 Kamaruddin Ismail 16 Kadir Yahaya Singapore FA 18 Robin Chitrakar Balestier United R. Sasikumar Midfielders 10 Syed Faruk Singapore FA 14 Hamid Estili Qadsia SC Chris Riley Strikers 17 Fandi Ahmad Singapore FA 23 Zlatko Vidan Mohsen Garousi PAS Tehran F.C.
S.League
Tiger Beer Series
Pioneer Series
S.League Championship play-off
References