Lions Gibraltar FC
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| Full name | Lions Gibraltar F.C |
|---|---|
| Short name | Lions |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Ground |
Victoria Stadium, Winston Churchill Avenue Gibraltar |
| Capacity | 5000 |
| Chairman | Andrew Flowers |
| Manager | Rafael Bado |
| League | Gibraltar Premier Division |
| 2015–16 | Gibraltar Premier Division, 4th |
| Website | Club home page |
Lions Gibraltar is a professional football club in Gibraltar. They play in the country's top level league, the Gibraltar Premier Division.
They were created by a merger of Gibraltar United F.C. and Lions FC in 2011.
Lions Gibraltar was founded as Lions Football Club in 1966 when a group of friends decided to take up a team after the euphoria of England winning the 1966 World Cup, thus the three lions on its club badge. After a quiet 45-year history, the club merged with league giants Gibraltar United in 2011 to create a much stronger side. After 3 years, however, Gibraltar United broke away to form their own side once again in 2014.
Their time together saw the side consistently compete in the Gibraltar Premier Division, and the side continued this upon the GFA's admittance to UEFA in 2013. The 2013-14 season, their final season united with Gibraltar United, saw them narrowly avoid a relegation playoff with a 6th place finish. After this, Gibraltar United joined the Gibraltar Second Division and Lions restructured, with English coach Jeff Wood appointed manager with ambitions to challenge the top sides and qualify for the UEFA Europa League. In February 2015 the club announced plans to become a feeder club with Premier League club Swansea City, although these plans eventually fell through.
However, after a disappointing season in which the club finished bottom of the league (avoiding relegation due to the league's expansion), the club announced in July 2015 that it was to be taken over by Hercules Sports Promotion, Ltd, headed by Andrew Flowers (who had previously attempted to purchase Leeds United in 2013). Significant investment by the new ownership meant that Lions would now become a semi-professional club with the aim of toppling Lincoln Red Imps' dominance. The following season saw immediate improvement, with the club finishing 4th, however they remained significantly off the pace compared to the region's top two sides Lincoln Red Imps and Europa FC.
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