Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Northern Derby History and Summary

Sembawang Rangers vs Woodlands Wellington

Sembawang Rangers were the product of 2 football clubs – Sembawang Sport Club and Gilbraltor Crescent Football Club. Sembawang Sport Club was formed in 1966 while Gilbrator Crescent Football Club was formed in 1981.

Woodlands Wellington had a history later than any of the 2 clubs that merged to form Sembawang Rangers as Woodlands Football club was constituted only in 1988 but it rises was rapid.


In 1991 it won both the Sembawang Group League and Island-wide League to win promotion to the National football League. The club was playing in the National Football League for the first time playing and yet in 2 years time they were crowned champions of Division 2 and in a year time they were Division 1 champions as well as being FA Cup runner-up.


The impressive performance along with success won the club a place in the S-league despite being a lower division club.


The club moved to Woodlands with the formation of the S-league but with it origin in Sembawang, there were always an intense rivalry with Sembawang Rangers to be supreme in the North.


Woodlands Wellington was the early pacesetter even if it was for a short period as the club was runner-up in the 1996 Tiger Beer Series and 1997 FA Cup while Sembawang Rangers slumped in the bottom half of the League.


All that changed with Sembawang Rangers impressive Cup run in 1998 in both the League Cup and FA Cup as Sembawang Rangers finished fourth in the League Cup and runner-up in the FA Cup.


With that, Sembawang Rangers not only finished the League above Woodlands Wellington for the first time ever in a run that lasted for 4 straight years (even if both clubs were going tough times) until 2002 when Woodlands Wellington regained their supreme position with the coming of their Big-time sponsor SembCorp Power and Gas.


But Sembawang Rangers will never guess worse was to come in the year ahead as it meant the forced end of the club in 2003 as the S-league decided to downsize.


It ended one of the most intense derby of the S-league for even in years when both clubs were in the doldrums both clubs never wished to finish below the other and one can only hoped for the return of the Northern Derby in the not far away future ahead.

Northern Derby Results



All-time Sembawang Rangers vs Woodlands Wellington record - 24 meetings

Sembawang Rangers win

Draw

Woodlands Wellington win

8

6

10

All time Sembawang Rangers vs Woodlands Wellington goals record

Total goals scored

Sembawang Rangers goals

Woodlands Wellington goals

71

31

40



Sembawang Rangers vs Woodlands Wellington League record – 21 meetings

Sembawang Rangers win

Draw

Woodlands Wellington win

7

6

8

Sembawang Rangers vs Woodlands Wellington League goals

Total goals scored

Sembawang Rangers goals

Woodlands Wellington goals

60

27

33



Sembawang Rangers vs Woodlands Wellington Cup record – 3 meetings

Sembawang Rangers win

Draw

Woodlands Wellington win

1

0

2

Sembawang Rangers vs Woodlands Wellington Cup goals

Total goals scored

Sembawang Rangers goals

Woodlands Wellington goals

11

4

7

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great write up happy.
Very detailed look at the formation of the 2 northern giants and despite not attending the derby itself despite living around the vicinity for the past decade or so.
But I heard the intensity was electrifying both on the pitch and in the stands.

The Stallions' management have to foot the biggest blame for their demise

happy said...

A derby that saw a fan hit the manager, call in the police to control the crowds, saw the pom pom girls etc

Too bad it is unlikely to return as Sembawang Rangers management have gone on to other S-league teams