The club's followers had rightly become cynical after several false dawns over the past several seasons, but this particular vintage managed to inspire some hope in even the most jaded. Three youngsters made the forward line of the national U-20 side, while the defence largely held up, with Valdir solid as always.

It didn't start out looking like that, as a preseason marked by the much-ballyhooed signings of three former full internationals and 18 year-old prodigy Chow Ying Lee was followed by straight defeats against CharlesCheesePie, Arrogancae and Edbe FC, without a single goal being scored by the Birds.

Coach Han Lik Tsun's head was well and truly on the chopping block, and it would certainly have rolled had Grilled not demolished Sentosa sonics; admirable victories against soccerid, seluraralc and newbies are newbies followed, with the 4-1 result against seluraralc to stop their eleven match winning run likely the high point of Grilled's campaign.

Grilled slowly and surely continued their climb up the league table, and but for a return defeat to seluraralc and the bump against Sentosa, could have put in a serious bid for the title. Still, ending up second after such a poor start must be a seldom-seen achievement.

As if that wasn't enough, Mohd Safri bin Mohd Kassim continued on his upwards trajectory, bagging his first goals for the U-20 team, and was declared as its top performer on several occasions. Chow Ying Lee too won his place back after a time in the wilderness following his transfer, while Safrinho was given his international debut.

Longtime fans could not remember such a sense of anticipation since the days of Quah Han Kok and Hidde van Liere's emergence, and with Grilled's finances getting sorted out, they could well be in for a treat when the youngsters mature in a couple of seasons.