Based: Shaw Field Stadium, Rutherglen Road, Glasgow (also played at Helenvale Park, Helenvale Street, Parkhead, Glasgow, Scotland)
Colours: Blue, green, white (also played in Silver/Silver & Light blue, and originally played in Black/Yellow/Red)
Honours: SGA champions 1996, 1995. British runners-up 1993, 1986. NDMA Division Two champions 1992. Conference champions 1996, 1995, 1993, 1992, 1986. British Youth Kitted runners-up 1992
Photo gallery: http://istoricalallery.fotopic.net/c1132606.html

Senior Kitted

1996 SGA 9-0-0*
1995 SGA 7-1-0*
1994 BAFA Division One 6-4-0*
1993 NDMA Northern Conference 6-0-0*
1992 NDMA Division Two Northern Conference 7-1-0*
1991 NDMA First Division Northern Conference 9-1-0*
1990 NDMA Northern Conference 8-2-0*
1989 Budweiser League Northern Conference 4-5-1
1988 Budweiser League National Division Northern Conference 6-8-0*
1987 Budweiser League National Division Northern Conference 3-7-0
1986 BAFL National League Northern Conference 7-4-1*
1985 AFL Northern Division 7-4-1*
1984 Merit Table 1-3-1

Youth Kitted

1993 BYAFA Northern Division 4-1-0* Lost 20-6 to Southend Sabres in Semi-Final
1992 BYAFA Northern Division 8-0-0* Lost 28-8 to Southend Sabres in Final
1991 BYAFA Northern Conference 2^nd* Lost 26-12 to Leeds Cougars in Quarter-Final
1990 NDMA Northern Conference 3-3-0* Lost 54-0 to Northants Storm in Semi-Final
1989 BYAFA Northern Conference 5-3-0

Team notes: The history of the Glasgow Lions has been taken from the excellent Scottish American Football webiste, Under Center, with permission from it's webmaster. Under Center's site can be found at http://www.undercenter.f9.co.uk/

For 12 years, one name dominated the game in Scotland, and became an important catalyst for the golden age of Scottish American Football: the Glasgow Lions. The team that started it all in 1984 by providing both teams in Scotland's first game was just too tough an ask for many an opponent at home, and held their own more than adequately as one of Britain's top teams.

The Lions were formed through an advert placed in the Glasgow Evening Times and first took to the gridiron at Firhill Stadium in Maryhill, Glasgow in a winning effort against their own second-string unit, nicknamed the Glasgow Gladiators (whether the Gladiators ever played another game is unclear)under the tutelage of co-coaches Bob Alston and Jim Orazzio. Significantly, not only did the game bring American Football to Scotland, but it established what would be a fact of the Scottish scene - the Lions would win, and win often.

In the absence of a British or Scottish League, Glasgow joined the circuit of British teams playing exhibition games. They lost their first game to the Manchester Spartans, but tied with the Tyneside Trojans in their next game and then chalked up their first victory in the return game with the Trojans. By 1985 it was time for some serious business, with the launch of the American Football League UK, and a new local rival - Jim Orazzio and numerous Lions players split from the team to form the Glasgow Diamonds. But the players who remained with the Lions were to have the last laugh, when they swept the Diamonds en route to a 7-4-1 record, having already secured victory in the inaugural Capital Bowl. The Lions were invited to the playoffs as stand-ins for Tyneside, but lost to the Birmingham Bulls. Glasgow played in the first ever competitive American football game in the UK when they hosted the Edinburgh Eagles in week one of the AFL UK.

1986 saw the Lions join the British American Football League, which was created by the merger of the AFLUK with the British American Football Federation. When the Musselburgh Magnums defeated the Lions 18-16 in a pre-season game, little did anyone realise at the time that it would be the only occasion where the Lions ever lost to another Scottish team on the field of play(more on that later!). Other than that a remarkably similar season to 1985: 7-4-1 record and Capital Bowl victory. This time around, the Lions contested a British championship game for the first time, but lost to Birmingham in Summer Bowl II. 1987 was a different story altogether: the Lions once again won the Capital Bowl, but now in the Budweiser League slid to a 3-7 record.

A 14-game regular season in 1988 made it impossible for the Lions to defend their title in Capital Bowl IV which was eventually won by - wait for it - the Glasgow Diamonds! Nonetheless the playoffs once again beckoned. After a disappointing 1989 season, 1990 heralded returns not only to winning ways but the Capital Bowl as well, with the Lions picking up their fourth win.

In 1991 the Lions moved to the Coca-Cola League, AKA the NDMA National Conference, and racked up a 9-1 record, but they were demoted to division 2 after fielding players who weren't properly registered. More disappointment followed with the cancellation of the 1991 Capital Bowl. It was hardly surprising that the Lions' season in Division 2 ended in the division title - as well as Capital Bowl VII - but the infuriation of registration difficulties reared it's ugly head again in the Lions' opening game which was awarded to the Edinburgh Phoenix - the first and only time Glasgow were 'defeated' by Scottish opposition in a competitive game. The Lions still won the Division 2 Bowl where they defeated the Kent Mustangs, then they trounced the Blackpool Falcons 48-0 in a promotion-relegation playoff to regain their Division 1 status.

1993 was the tenth anniversary campaign of the Lions, and a memorable year all round as the team bagged it's third consecutive Capital Bowl, followed by a 6-0 regular season and an appearance in the NDMA Bowl, losing to the London Olympians.

But there was trouble round the corner. In 1994, the Lions were expecting to play two regular season games in the British National Gridiron League against the London Olympians and Thames Valley Aces in neutral Manchester, but the league switched both games to Burton-on-Trent in Derbyshire, an hour from London but eight from Glasgow. Grudgingly the Lions fulfilled the trip to play Thames Valley (and won), but were not prepared to do it again for the London game and, in protest, forfeited. One week later Glasgow won at home against the Leeds Cougars to compile a 6-4 record, but the league ruled the Lions ineligible for the playoffs. BAFA chairman Doug McClean said, "The BAFA League board discussed at length the Glasgow issue of Glasgow's failure to fulfill their fixture against the Olympians as agreed at the start of the season. We decided they should be dropped from the playoffs." Veteran player/coach Darryn Trainor announced his retirement at the end of 1994 holding all Division One passing records, but did return along with Erdman in 1995.

It was the last slap in the face they were prepared to take, and they quit the BNGL. Other Scottish teams followed suit in solidarity with the Lions and in 1995 Scotland was to go it alone as the Scottish Gridiron Association was formed.

The Scottish Claymores announced their national players for their inaugural 1995 season and the Lions provided the core of the unit. Wide receiver Scott Couper, defensive lineman John Letham, and linebacker Paul Balfour made the roster at some point of the season while offensive linemen Steve McCusker (now the Claymores' national coach), Pat Shields and also Gary McNey were victims of notorious then-Claymores head coach Lary Kuharich. A former Lions RB, Mike Kenny, was appointed National coach on the Claymores' staff. McCusker, Shields and McNey returned to the Lions in time for their first SGA campaign to kick off, with the Capital Bowl as a curtain-raiser. Glasgow won the tenth - and final - Capital Bowl, their seventh triumph in the competition. The Lions sent the tournament out in style with a 34-0 semi-final victory over the Fife 49ers and 31-8 in the final against the Clydesdale Colts, as QB Darryn Trainor connected on 10 touchdown passes.

When the Lions joined the SGA, they were probably victims of their own success. Sure the Lions won the league in '95 and '96 with overwhelming SGA Bowl wins over the Granite City Oilers (76-0) and Stirling Broncos (60-6) respectively, but blowout wins week after week didn't provide a great deal of incentive for players to continue. With the level of competition not what they were used to, the regrettable decision was taken not to go on. Players moved on to other teams, most of them to East Kilbride, based a few miles south of Glasgow. For the record, the Pirates went on to win the two remaining SGA Bowls and now compete at Britain's top level, the BAFA Senior League division 1. While the Glasgow City Lions hope to compete on youth kitted terms soon, it looks unlikely the Glasgow Lions' senior team will ever return to action.