Stack Of Memories That Seen The Changes ...

When I declared my season was done after the 2019 Singapore Cup final, I realized I amassed a stack of accreditation passes that were essential to work behind the scene from the days it was known as the S.League till two years ago when it was rebranded as Singapore Premier League (SGPL).

My involvement started half way in 1998 (the third season) when I answered a call and turned up at a meeting in the S.League office at old National Stadium to be part of the crew assembled to help the official league website.

Evolution of the passes

The first pass I received was a laminated pass the necessary details besides the photo which I snapped at one of those instant photo booths, on the bottom of the pass listed the league sponsors of that season like Tiger Beer, Pepsi, NTUC Income and Singapore Pools.

NAMECARD SIZE PASS FIT IN NICELY
The following year saw the pass shrunk into a namecard-size made of plastic material by Cardwon from Taiwan and honestly speaking, I like the size of it as it fit in nicely into your wallet that you would not misplace it unless you really did.

In totally, the namecard-size plastic pass were issued for fourteen seasons (utill 2012) before the relevant authority reverted back to those laminated type in 2013.

Total of 14 "namecard" passes were issued

Goal 2010 logo was placed on passes from 2000 to 2003

2014 pass was a multi-functioning pass

Owning to its significance, the pass also made sure we were reminded of that grand "GOAL 2010" project whose logo was prominently placed on passes issued in season 2000 to 2003 (the project was dropped in June 2004).

Besides the S.League matches, the accreditation issued for season 2014 also allowed the pass holder acess to "home" matches of the national team, the Lions XII's home game at Jalan Besar Stadium.

"S.LEAGUE" LAST APPEARED IN 2017
With the exception of 2017 that last saw the name "S.LEAGUE" appeared on the pass, the accreditation issued by the governing body since 2016 is separated into two - one for the domestic league/cup tournaments with the other specifically for matches involving the national team's "home" matches.

"S.League" made its final appearance on 2017 pass

Separate accreditations were issued since 2016 (except 2017)

Following the rebranding exercising that revamped the league to SGPL, the accreditation pass issued from 2018 onwards are clearly defined in line with those used at continental level where terms like PHO (defined as photographer) and PRE (journalist) being inscribed to identify the pass holder's actual role on match days.

It is probably because those terms are printed in bigger and bolder font for better visibility from a distance away which explains why the bigger size of the accreditation pass, I would love to see the return of the namecard-size that fitted into my wallet some days soon though, if I am still allowed to apply for one again.

(P.S: necessary details on cards are blanketed for security reasons)