Lions Gibraltar F.C.

Lions Gibraltar is a professional football club in Gibraltar. They play in the country's top-level league, the Gibraltar National League.

Lions Gibraltar
Full nameLions Gibraltar Football Club
Short nameLions
Founded1966
GroundVictoria Stadium,
Winston Churchill Avenue Gibraltar
Capacity5000
ChairmanMark Palmer
ManagerAdrian Parral
LeagueGibraltar Football League
2023–2410th
WebsiteClub website

They were created by a merger of Gibraltar United F.C. and Lions FC in 2011.[1] Aside from their first team, they also run an intermediate (under-23) team, several youth teams, futsal teams and a women's team.

History

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.

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.[2] 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.

On 31 May, the board announced former national team coach David Wilson as their new manager for the 2016–17 season. However, after the collapse of the club owners' other companies left Lions' future uncertain, Wilson resigned before the beginning of the season to take over at FCB Magpies and the previous season's co-caretaker Rafael Bado was announced as manager. A season spent primarily in the bottom two ended in safety, however, after an upturn in form from the beginning of 2017 despite only winning one game in the first 4 months of the season.

On 28 January 2024, it was announced that Solihull Moors CEO Mark Palmer had purchased a controlling stake in the club, becoming owner and chairman.[3]

On 5th June 2024, Lions Gibraltar FC announced The Online Betting Guide, OLBG as their lead partner and front-of-shirt sponsor on a multi-year deal.[4]



Seasons (since UEFA acceptance)

SeasonDivisionLeague recordRock Cup
PWDLGFGAPtsPos
2013–14Premier144282333146thSemi-final
2014–15Premier21151594888thQuarter-final
2015–16Premier27143104944454thSemi-final
2016–17Premier2749141754218thQuarter-final
2017–18Premier2765162763238thSecond round
2018–19Premier273024177799thQuarter-final
2019–20National2044121333166th[a]Quarter-final
2020–21National2044121333166thFirst round
2021–22National1815121345811thQuarter-final
2022–23GFL185492537198thFirst round
2023–24GFL20341316501310thQuarter-final

Current squad

First team

As of 17 September 2023[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
15MF  GIBBen Seaton
21MF  GIBJayce Consigliero
22DF  GIBLeon Payas
24DF  GIBThomas Hastings
28MF  GIBHatim Smith
30MF  GIBAlan Parker
31DF  ESPKarim Piñero
33GK  GIBJohn Paul Hernandez
38MF  GIBDennis Bautista
41DF  CANJamieson Parchment
FW  AUTMilan Ziric

Intermediate League squad

Players below are registered to play in the Gibraltar Intermediate League. Players from the first team may also appear for this team. Correct as of 17 December 2020.[6]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
35MF  GIBJohnpaul Balloqui
36MF  GIBSebastian Yeats
39FW  GIBJayvan Figueras
40MF  GIBNaseem Ben Youssef
43MF  GIBRichie Parral (player-assistant manager)
FW  GIBPaul Francis

Club staff

PositionName
Club Management
Manager Scott Wiseman
Assistant coach James Gibbs
Physiotherapist Luke Henshaw
Team delegate Mason Vizcarra
Board
Chairman Mark Palmer
Sporting Director Neale Marmon[7]
Club Secretary Kadrian Bugeja

See also

Notes

References