Mt Albert Lions
Encyclopedia
The Mount Albert Lions are a rugby league
club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand
. The Lions home ground is at Fowlds Park. Their patron is the former Prime Minister of New Zealand
, Helen Clark
. In 2008 and 2009
the Lions won the Fox Memorial.
In 2010 the team is coached by Steve Buckingham
.
. In the early 1930's the club moved to its current location at Fowlds Park in Morningside
. They gained senior status from the Auckland Rugby League
in 1935.
The club has won the Fox Memorial trophy fifteen times; in 1939, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1968, 1969, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2009. In 1984 the Lions won the National Club Competition and in 2002, 2004 and 2005 they won the Bartercard Cup
.
In 2006 they defended the Roope Rooster Challenge trophy in all eleven of their games and went on to win the Fox Memorial. In early 2007 they lost the trophy to the Te Atatu Roosters
.
competition. Under the guidance of Brian McClennan
they were the most successful club in the competitions history, being champions three times and twice winning the minor premiership. However the club had a slow start to the competition, not making the playoffs in the first two years. Their place in the Bartercard Cup was taken over by the Auckland Lions
, an entity which represented Mount Albert as well as other neighbouring clubs. In 2007 the Auckland Lions also competed in the NSWRL Premier League
but they were replaced in 2008 by the Auckland Vulcans
.
*Two points for a Bye as the Ngongotaha Chiefs withdrew from the competition
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand
Mount Albert, New Zealand
Mount Albert is a volcanic peak and suburban area in the city of Auckland, New Zealand. The suburb was Auckland's second, after Remuera, and was mostly settled by well-off families in the late 1800s and early 1900s...
. The Lions home ground is at Fowlds Park. Their patron is the former Prime Minister of New Zealand
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
, Helen Clark
Helen Clark
Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
. In 2008 and 2009
2009 Auckland Rugby League season
The 2009 Auckland Rugby League season was the 2009 season of senior rugby league in Auckland. The Auckland Rugby League ran the various competitions. The season commenced on the 14 of March with the start of the Phelan Shield and ended on the 5 September with the Fox Memorial Grand Final...
the Lions won the Fox Memorial.
In 2010 the team is coached by Steve Buckingham
Steve Buckingham (rugby league)
Steve Buckingham is a New Zealand rugby league coach and player. His position of preference is at Halfback. He is currently the head coach of the Mount Albert Lions.-Early years:...
.
History
The club was founded in 1927, splitting from the Marist clubMarist Saints
The Marist Saints is a rugby league club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand. They regularly feature in the Fox Memorial, the premier division in Auckland Rugby League...
. In the early 1930's the club moved to its current location at Fowlds Park in Morningside
Morningside, New Zealand
Morningside is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It lies four kilometres south-west of the city centre, close to Eden Park and Western Springs....
. They gained senior status from the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
in 1935.
The club has won the Fox Memorial trophy fifteen times; in 1939, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1968, 1969, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2009. In 1984 the Lions won the National Club Competition and in 2002, 2004 and 2005 they won the Bartercard Cup
Bartercard Cup
The Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...
.
In 2006 they defended the Roope Rooster Challenge trophy in all eleven of their games and went on to win the Fox Memorial. In early 2007 they lost the trophy to the Te Atatu Roosters
Te Atatu Roosters
The Te Atatu Roosters is a rugby league club based in Te Atatu. The Roosters compete in the Fox Memorial, the premier division in Auckland Rugby League...
.
Bartercard Cup
Between 2000 and 2005 the Lions competed in the national Bartercard CupBartercard Cup
The Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...
competition. Under the guidance of Brian McClennan
Brian McClennan
Brian "Bluey" McClennan is the head coach for the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League . He was previously the head coach of the New Zealand national team and then England's Leeds Rhinos club...
they were the most successful club in the competitions history, being champions three times and twice winning the minor premiership. However the club had a slow start to the competition, not making the playoffs in the first two years. Their place in the Bartercard Cup was taken over by the Auckland Lions
Auckland Lions
The Auckland Lions were a rugby league club that had teams in both the New Zealand Bartercard Cup and the NSWRL Premier League. They were mostly based around the Mt Albert Lions Rugby League club...
, an entity which represented Mount Albert as well as other neighbouring clubs. In 2007 the Auckland Lions also competed in the NSWRL Premier League
NSWRL Premier League
The New South Wales Cup is a rugby league competition for clubs in New South Wales previously known as the NSWRL Premier League. It has a history dating back to the NSWRFL's origins in 1908, starting off as a reserve grade competition. It is now the premier open age competition in the state...
but they were replaced in 2008 by the Auckland Vulcans
Auckland Vulcans
The Auckland Vulcans are an Auckland based rugby league club that participates in the New South Wales Cup. They are administered by the Rugby League Development Foundation. The team is selected from the Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial Competition and also uses Warriors squad members not...
.
| Season | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Position (Teams) | Finals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 22 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 593 | 584 | 9 | 25 | Sixth (Twelve) | N/A |
| 2001 | 21 | 8 | 0 | 13 | 414 | 630 | ||||
| 18* | Tenth (Twelve) | N/A | ||||||||
| 2002 | 16 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 620 | 270 | 350 | 30 | Minor Premiers (Twelve) | Champions |
| 2003 | 16 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 530 | 328 | 202 | 26 | Second (Twelve) | Defeated in Preliminary Final |
| 2004 | 16 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 522 | 378 | 144 | 24 | Third (Twelve) | Champions |
| 2005 | 16 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 570 | 326 | 244 | 24 | Minor Premiers (Twelve) | Champions |