The Lion Richlands was founded by a group of Dutch immigrants in 1957. For two decades teams from Hollandia (as the club was then known) took part in lower and first division competitions in Queensland soccer, playing from our home grounds at Richlands. In 1977, Hollandia received a prestigious invitation to join the National Soccer League (NSL) as a foundation member, which they accepted. The club continued competing at this level until 1988, under the names Hollandia and Brisbane Lions, achieving a remarkable victory in the NSL Cup in 1982.

From 1989 onwards, the club became a prominent force in football within Queensland claiming premierships, grand finals, and cup finals. The club’s focus shifted in 2004 when Queensland Lions made the decision to withdraw from the local Senior Men’s competition. This move aimed to channel the club’s efforts towards securing a place in the new national football competition. Their dedication paid off, and in the inaugural 2005/06 season, the team, now known as Brisbane Roar FC, was accepted into the Hyundai A-League. During this transition, the Premier Youth team remained in the local football league, while Queensland Lions returned to the local Senior Men’s competition in 2008. They fielded teams in the Brisbane Premier League and Reserves, as well as Under 18s.

The Lions FC has consistently strived to play football at the highest level possible. This commitment was exemplified in 2012 when they were accepted into the inaugural 2013 Brisbane Premier League, the top local competition in the Brisbane region. In 2016, they achieved a remarkable feat by securing back-to-back premierships with three games remaining and later emerged victorious in the Grand Final. This double triumph marked the first time in over 12 years that such an accomplishment had been achieved.

Continuing their pursuit of excellence, the Lions FC participated in the National Premier League (NPL) competitions run by Football Queensland in 2018. The Lions FC was represented across various divisions, including U13/U14/U15/U16 Boys, U13/U15 Girls, and NPL Men’s U18/U20/First team & NPL Women’s U17/First team. Furthermore, their application for a SAP (Skills Acquisition Program) license was successful, enabling them to field teams in U9/U10/U11/U12 SAP.

The club’s commitment to youth development is evident through their active involvement in junior football. As of 2023, they boast an impressive roster of 42 MiniRoos teams (aged 6-12), 8 FQ Academy teams (aged 9-12), 7 Divisional teams (aged 13-16) as well as 14 FQ Academy teams (aged 13-18). 

Additionally, the Lions FC administers a thriving master’s league catering to players over 35 and 45 years old. This league comprises of 7 teams based at Lions FC and 97 in total across Brisbane, further highlighting the club’s commitment to promoting soccer at various age levels.

From humble beginnings, The Lions FC has not only excelled on the field but also established The Lion Richlands as a premier hospitality venue in southeast Queensland. With continuous innovations, our licensed club has become a welcoming space for all our members and guests. The Lion Richlands offers state-of-the-art gaming machines, a fine dining restaurant, a café with extended trading hours, a Sports Bar for live sporting action, and a Lounge for relaxation. Furthermore, the venue provides a supervised kids’ room for members and features TAB and Keno facilities. Despite the venue’s ample facilities, it is the friendly and welcoming team at The Lion that consistently attracts members through the door. The club takes pride in its past achievements and looks forward to an exciting future.