Queensland Lions Football Club, known asLions FC, is asoccer club based inBrisbane, Australia. Founded in 1957 asHollandia Inala Soccer Club, the club currently competes in theNational Premier Leagues Queensland.
Chart of yearly table positions for Brisbane Lions inNSL
The club was founded in 1957 asHollandia-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 nameBrisbane Lions.
In 1977 the Lions were invited to play in theNational Soccer League and played in the league asBrisbane Lions until the end of the 1988 season. Former Manchester United and Northern Ireland legendGeorge Best made four appearances for the team during the 1983/84 season. Notable players around this time include:Bob Latchford from Everton in 1981,Col Bennett,Jim Hermiston, Ron Millman, Nigel Lowndes, Steve Jackson, Danny Wright,Steve Hogg,Alan Niven, Russell Stewart.From 1989 the Brisbane Lions played in theBrisbane Premier League. After coming to an agreement with the newly formedBrisbane Lions AFL club,[1] they changed their name to the currentQueensland Lions.
In 2004 it was announced that the Lions had won the right to compete in the newly formedA-League. Operating asQueensland Roar the club was once again represented in an Australian national league.
Subsequent changes to the ownership structure of the Roar allowed theQueensland Lions to re-enter the Brisbane competition inPremier 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 theNational 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 toOlympic FC in the semi-final.[6]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Players who have been featured in a first-team matchday squad for Lions in a competitive match
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Darren Sime
