On the expat football scene in Singapore you will find many Brit's and in the dark ages (before 1997) there were only two teams for the British guys to play for, either the Hotspurs or the Casuals. The cause here that many of the other "national" teams had a large proportion of british players. This was the case in 1997 when the Dutch decided to play pure Dutch, so the brits playing for them joined up with another group of guys playing for TNT (an Italian based team), and one hot evening in Ice Cold Beer, an expat bar on Orchard Road, in the summer of 1997 the Lions were formed.
The first season in the Singapore Cosmo league was hughley successful, winning the league at the first attempt, and by beating the Dutch on the final day of the season which could not have been scripted better. The cup proved a little more demanding and an early exit racked by internal bickering on the pitch was a warning or things to come.
Year 2 of the Lions proved almost successful as the first, whereas many teams in the league saved their better performances for the champions, the cup draw was very kind to us and we ran out winners, once again, by beating the Dutch, a team many of us had so much history with but were now becoming the friendliest grudge matches in the Cosmo. A third spot in the league was also viewed with some pride as the bickering between our own players often threatened us with total disaster. The Dutch also had their day, winning and drawing in the league courtesy of some spectacular own goals.
Year 3 seems to be setting of on the right note, we are a clamer team now and also fitter- the name of the game is to enjoy the soccer, the league position will take care of itself and we'll have a great time getting their. Their is also a distinct gaelic flavour to the team now with half a dozen guys from the Emerald Isle, a few continentals and a whole load of brits. We have taken a few hint s from the Swiss to see how the name of Singapore Expat football can be redeemed after their showing last year and can't wait for the kick off.