Eren Serpin would pass the reins over to understudy Hilal Bakhtiar after three unprecedentedly-great seasons comprising two S-League titles and two national cups, and Bakhtiar wouldn't miss a beat in managing what Serpin hadn't: defending the league championship. This made a third S-League for the Birds, which leaves them behind only Isle of Flames, Herron, Be Champions FC, Parkway Paladins and Sarcastic Fringeheads in the all-time stakes, and all while cultivating a record unbeaten streak. This last went on for twenty-two competitive games stretching from last season, and would be broken only by former Hattrick Masters champions Dandy de Tazmania 2, in that tournament.

True, it was by only a point at the end, but the truth was that it wasn't as close as all that. Sølve Lunde would be the only big addition of the previous season, and Bakhtiar would add another top defender in Douglas Carapaica midway through, likely advised by Serpin. Neither were actually needed all that much, as Grilled Birds never fell behind any competitor on points, and led the table from the fourth week onwards, right until the conclusion.

This was achieved largely thanks to a near-perfect home record at Fortress Cooking Pot, where the only blemish came against Robbie Football Club, who managed to hold on to a two-all draw. In contrast, there would be three away losses - one also to RFC - but such was the club's consistency that two of them came when the title was all but within grasp, and they could afford to plan around the situation.

Cup-wise, Grilled would be knocked out in the sixth round by a very impressive Villains F.C., before slipping against St. Xavier's FC in the Emerald Challenger Cup. Bakhtiar and the players didn't appear too rattled, however, with their main goal never in doubt. The invitational Bovag Cup would make for a nice replacement, as the Birds found themselves in the position of requiring only three points from their last three games. They tanked at the first hurdle, but went on to defeat -= Manchester United =- 4-1, to raise the S-League trophy before their adoring fans.

This season would also spell the last for Wu Jinglong - who had perhaps not been expected to stay for as long as he did - and Kalle ter Berg, who was. Transfer dealings have as ever proven challenging for the Birds, but the continued influx of prize money suggests that Bakhtiar will be able to splurge - S$14 million for Carapaica aside - if he identifies the right targets. Grilled International for their part entered dangerous territory for a couple of weeks no thanks to their burgeoning wage bill, a sad state of affairs that could only be resolved by the prompt flogging off of Italian stallion Fausto Perono.

International did at least have the excuse of contesting seriously for the IV.54 title, though they eventually finished a ways behind The International Raven Team in second place. That could not be said for the Farmer Bunnies, who must surely want to strike the year from their records, if possible. Their annus horribilis had them manage just a single victory in the league, as the dying legs of what had been proud internationals, could not be disguised for any longer. It could end but one way - exceedingly poorly - and the end of an era would be marked by Tham Leng Teck, Kwek Yun Jie and Wong Ting Yew giving up their jersey numbers to the younger generation, with an increasingly banged-up Vivian Grubenmann leaving the club besides, together with Lau Chang Wan and Nurlan Ablaev at least.