Home Ground Review: Watching An FC Jurong Match At Jurong East Stadium
For the second stop in my tour of Singapore football grounds this season, I headed west to Jurong East Stadium.
As a football fan who often plans his holidays around stadium visits, I wanted to experience what matchdays are like closer to home. So, I’m checking out Singapore’s football grounds and rating everything from the tickets and merchandise to the seats, food, and atmosphere.
After beginning the series with Lion City Sailors at Jalan Besar Stadium, it was time to watch their biggest rivals in the league: FC Jurong, formerly known as Albirex Niigata Singapore. The two clubs met at Jurong East Stadium, but there was another big reason to be there: the chance to see Japanese football legend Keisuke Honda in action.
Here’s how I rated the night.
I wonder if you can watch the match for free from the HDB blocks. | IMAGE: NICHOLAS YONG
How much are FC Jurong match tickets?
Tickets for the match were $21, and you have to buy them on Trip.com, where tickets go on sale early in the month. Once you're there, follow the queue on the right to get into the stadium (if you picked the Home South Stand). Take note: there are no seat numbers, it's free seating.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
(1⭐ = Too expensive; 5⭐ = Excellent value)
Actually bought a shirt this time around. | IMAGES: NICHOLAS YONG
What merchandise can you buy at a FC Jurong match?
The first thing I do whenever I visit a stadium is to check out the merchandise. Their selection included the new FC Jurong home and away jerseys for $99 each. For an additional $20, I could get new superstar and Japanese legend Keisuke Honda's name printed on the back. Let's normalise having players' names on the shirts available for fans!
They also had lifestyle t-shirts and scarves available for sale, too.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
(1⭐ = Nothing to buy; 5⭐ = Spoilt for choice)
Where should you sit at Jurong East stadium?
If you're supporting the home team, there's plenty of room on the South Stand. I observed sufficient space between seats, but if you don't get there early, the front rows will be taken (since it's free seating).
I learnt my lesson from Jalan Besar and decided to sit near the top, so I had a good view of the entire pitch.
Spotting HDB blocks just opposite the stadium, I wondered if the residents could watch the match from the balcony. That would be so cool!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
(1⭐ = Uncomfortable, poor view; 5⭐= Comfortable, great view)
Forced to buy beer, but at least I can enjoy Japanese ice cream. | IMAGES: NICHOLAS YONG
What food and drinks are available at Jurong East Stadium?
To be honest, the F&B selection left much to be desired.
I don’t normally buy food or drinks during a football match, but there weren't many options here. Even the vending machine had a long queue. Most of the fans patiently waited to buy $2 drinks and $3 stands from the only food and beverage booth. I saw signs for bento boxes, but those were sold out before the match began. The only offering without a line? Kirin beer for $10.
One plus point: the merchandise booth sold Japanese ice cream at $4 each. This might just be the only stadium in Singapore where you can enjoy Coolish while watching a match.
Rating: ⭐⭐
(1⭐ = Too expensive, barely any choice; 5⭐ = Great selection, affordable prices)
So many families watching the game together. | IMAGE: NICHOLAS YONG
What is the atmosphere like at a FC Jurong match?
There were many families attending this match, which gave it a relaxed, family-friendly feel. That wasn’t a bad thing, but it was quieter than I’d expected, so I didn’t quite feel the intensity or passion I had hoped for.
Two guys played the drums on our side, though they didn't lead any team chants. On the opposite stand, another small group cheered on FC Jurong, but I couldn't hear them from where I was seated. Instead, I heard the Lion City Sailors fans from the away end cheering non-stop from the first minute to the end of the game.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
(1⭐ = Quiet; 5⭐ = Excited crowd
Is watching FC Jurong at Jurong East Stadium worth it?
If you live in the area and want to bring your family to a football match, FC Jurong is a great place to start. I can’t remember the last time I saw so many families gathered in one place to enjoy the beautiful game together. Many were parents of children enrolled in FC Jurong’s football or cheerleading programmes, which made the evening feel less like a typical match and more like a community coming together.
It may not have had the loudest or most passionate crowd, but the laid-back atmosphere gave FC Jurong its own identity. This felt like a club genuinely connected to the neighbourhood it represents.
And of course, there's Japanese football legend Keisuke Honda, playing just metres away from me. His appearance lasted only 10 minutes, but even in that brief cameo, you could see his quality. Some of his touches were simply jaw-dropping.
Would I return for another FC Jurong match? Definitely. Ten minutes of Keisuke Honda simply wasn’t enough.
More importantly, which Singapore football ground should I review next?
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