Queensland Lions FC
Queensland Lions Football Club, known as Lions FC, is a soccer club based in Brisbane, Australia. Founded in 1957 as Hollandia Inala Soccer Club, the club currently competes in the National Premier Leagues Queensland.
| Full name | Lions Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Lions | ||
| Founded | 1957 | ||
| Ground | Lions Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 5,000 | ||
| Head Coach | Darren Sime | ||
| League | NPL Queensland | ||
| 2023 | 5th of 12 | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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History
The club was founded in 1957 as Hollandia-Inala Soccer Club by Dutch immigrants. From the start they were based at grounds in the Brisbane suburb of Darra and then moved to Pine Road, Richlands, where they play today. In the early 1970s, all clubs were required to abandon 'ethnic' names and they then adopted the name Brisbane Lions.
In 1977 the Lions were invited to play in the National Soccer League and played in the league as Brisbane Lions until the end of the 1988 season. Former Manchester United and Northern Ireland legend George Best made four appearances for the team during the 1983/84 season. Notable players around this time include, Bob Latchford (1981, from Everton ), Col Bennet, Jim Hermiston, Ron Millman, Nigel Lowndes, Steve Jackson, Danny Wright, Steven Hogg, Alan Niven, Russell Stewart. From 1989 the Brisbane Lions played in the Brisbane Premier League. After coming to an agreement with the newly formed Brisbane Lions AFL club,[1] they changed their name to the current Queensland Lions.
In 2004 it was announced that the Lions had won the right to compete in the newly formed A-League. Operating as Queensland Roar the club was once again represented in an Australian national league.
Re-formation
Subsequent changes to the ownership structure of the Roar allowed the Queensland Lions to re-enter the Brisbane competition in Premier Division 1 in 2008.[2]
In 2012, Lions FC was accepted into the inaugural 2013 Brisbane Premier League, the top local competition in the Brisbane region.[2] In 2016, the club went back-to-back claiming the premiership and Grand Final.[2]
When the National Premier Leagues Queensland expanded in 2018, Lions FC were one of the clubs to join the competition. In its first season in the NPLQ, Lions won the league and grand final double.[3][4] In 2019, the club followed it up with a back-to-back premiership, winning the league with 2 games to spare.[5] However, in the finals series, Lions went down 2–1 to Olympic FC in the semi-final.[6]
Current squad
- As of 30 June 2023[7]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Youth
- Players who have been featured in a first-team matchday squad for Lions in a competitive match
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Club officials
Honours
- National Premier Leagues Queensland **Premiers 2022
- National Premier Leagues Queensland **Champions 2018, 2020, 2021
- Brisbane Premier League
- Premiers 1968, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1996, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2013, 2015, 2016;
- Champions 1967, 1969, 1987, 1991, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2016, 2017
- Queensland State Cup – Winner 2004
- Brisbane Premier Cup – Winner 2002, 2003
- Canale Cup – Winner 2012, 2015
References
- "Brisbane wins right to keep Lions name". The Age. 18 February 1997. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
- "About Us – Lions FC". Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- "Ladder for NPL QLD". SportsTG. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- "Football Queensland - NPL Match Centre". SportsTG. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- "Ladder for NPL QLD 2019". SportsTG. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- "Results for NPL QLD 2019". SportsTG. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
- "Competition Stats".