Late Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona once said, “Football isn't a game, nor a sport — it's a religion.”
For Lee Chern San, also known as San, that devotion has always been draped in red and black. A lifelong AC Milan fan since 1987, his passion for the Rossoneri runs so deep it even took centre stage on his wedding day in 2013, where he wore the club’s iconic gold third kit, flanked by five groomsmen dressed in pristine white away jerseys.
San took it one step further with a Milan-themed honeymoon, heading straight to the San Siro after landing in Italy to catch a league match against Lazio. It ended in a 1-1 draw, but the result hardly mattered.
“My wife, unfortunately, fell asleep at halftime because of the jet lag,” recalled the 47-year-old with a laugh. “Obviously, I couldn’t sleep. I was very excited. The atmosphere was electrifying.”
In 2019, he returned with his wife for the ultimate pilgrimage — the Derby della Madonnina, Milan’s fierce clash with city rivals Inter.
But since then, San has found a more like-minded companion for his AC Milan pilgrimages.
It all began in 2005, during a casual run at his alma mater, the National University of Singapore. There, he bumped into Kevin Ng, a junior from the computer science faculty, competing in the same Inter-Faculty football competition that San once played in.
“I found out they were representing the Computer Science faculty,” he recalled. “After the match, I caught Kevin in the shower room and chatted with him, and that’s also when I discovered he was an AC Milan fan too.”
Kevin started following the team when he was eight after watching Italy’s top players at their home World Cup tournament in 1990, which included club legends like Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi.
Now friends for nearly two decades, the pair — who live close to each other — often meet in the wee hours to catch AC Milan’s matches. Their long-awaited visit to the San Siro finally came during the 2023/24 season, for a monumental showdown against then-league leaders Inter.
“It was a tragic night for us,” San recalled ruefully. “We just needed to avoid a loss to delay their Scudetto.” The 2-1 defeat handed the league title to their bitter rivals, making the experience at the San Siro all the more painful.
“We got taunted along the way back to the hotel,” Kevin, who sports a tattoo of the club crest on his right shin, added.
But that painful loss did little to dampen their passion. The pair continued their late-night rituals, faithfully tuning in to matches, no matter the hour.
There were also fond memories, like in 2022, when they gathered with around 20 fellow fans to watch the season finale, when Milan clinched their first league title since 2011 with a commanding 3–0 win over Sassuolo.
With the Singapore Festival of Football fast approaching, clubs like AC Milan, Newcastle United, and Arsenal are set to face off in preseason showdowns at the National Stadium.
For Kevin, the chance to connect with fellow fans, just like they did in 2022, is an exciting prospect.
“To meet other Milan fans here in Singapore and also fans from around the region, I hear fan clubs from Indonesia and Malaysia will be coming, it’s a great opportunity for bonding and a good chit-chat session,” said the 43-year-old.
Meanwhile, diehard Toon Hairul, who is treasurer of the Official Newcastle United Supporters Club in Singapore, is equally buzzing at the opportunity to meet other hardcore Geordies in the region.
“We’re actually very close with other fan clubs in the region. We call ourselves the Asian Alliance — that includes Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Vietnam,” said the 37-year-old. “We know they’re coming, so we’re in constant communication every day.” He added that plans are already in motion for a regional fan meetup.
Hairul, who was fortunate enough to experience the electric atmosphere of the 52,305-seater St James’ Park during a league match against Stoke City in 2013, is especially thrilled about the chance to bring that same energy to the Singapore Sports Hub.
“We have a lot planned for the supporters coming down,” he said, referring to their collaboration with Newcastle-based fan group Wor Flags, renowned for their elaborate displays at matches. “We’re bringing the (flags) to Singapore. We’ll have massive surfer flags and tifos. We’re hoping to recreate that St James’ Park atmosphere right here.”
Having supported the Magpies since 1995 and joined the local fan club in 2006, Hairul has waited a long time to see his beloved team play on Singaporean soil. Among the players he’s most eager to see are club captain Bruno Guimarães and reported new signing Anthony Elanga.
“I hope they will keep coming back. Our support is such that even if they were going to other countries in the region, we would follow them wherever they go. Don’t count the Toon Army Singapore out,” Hairul said.
For local content creator and Gunner Sean Chan, this year’s Singapore Festival of Football is especially meaningful as it’s the first time his father, a long-time Arsenal supporter, will be seeing the team up close.
Sean, who inherited his love for the Gunners from his dad in 2004, was thrilled to secure tickets for the Arsenal vs Newcastle United match.
“We got him front-row tickets, so he’s super excited,” Sean said. “This will be his first time watching them live. Most fans don’t get that luxury, so I’m really happy to be able to bring him.”
“It feels like everything’s come full circle, like I’m repaying a favour to him,” he added.
Among Sean’s most treasured possessions in his two decades supporting the club is a signed Arsenal jacket from club legend Robert Pires.
“I was working with a media company back then and got the chance to interview him. He was really nice — but meeting your idols is always a bit intimidating, right?” he said with a chuckle.
The digital creator, who also uploads Arsenal-related skits and short videos on his social media for his 24,000 followers, described his love for the club as “a way of life”.
“At this point, it’s no longer just a football team. It’s more than that. It’s a community.”
Like Hairul, San, and Kevin, Sean has also made the pilgrimage to his club’s home ground, the Emirates Stadium. However, as luck would have it, his December 2022 visit coincided with the World Cup break. Instead of a Premier League fixture, he caught a UEFA Women’s Champions League match between Arsenal Women and Juventus Women.
He will finally get the opportunity to watch the men’s team in action come July 23 and 27 when they take on AC Milan and Newcastle United, respectively.
“It’s going to be a good time. There’s something for all football fans,” the 32-year-old said.
Don’t miss the chance to witness footballing giants clash right here at the Singapore Festival of Football 2025. With top clubs like Arsenal, Newcastle United, and AC Milan lighting up the National Stadium, it's more than just preseason. It’s a celebration of the beautiful game.
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