Original Lions 1984-1995
They were originally formed in early 1984, and after a series of friendlies the 1984/85 season was their first in competition. They competed in Heineken Division 1 where they finished a credible 6th. The next season though the Lions dominated the league along with Solihull and Telford to come an agonising 2nd place on the last day of the season following a 6-7 loss in their final game at third placed Telford but, despite the disappointment the team ended the season on a high by winning the Division One Trophy.
After this narrow failure the Lions never reached the same heights again. Although in 1986 they recorded what probably remains the biggest win in the clubs history with a 3-2 victory over Premier Division Nottingham Panthers in the Autumn Cup.
In 1990 British Engine became the main sponsor of the Lions prompting a change in the teams colours from the original colours of white, green and blue to red, black and white (this remained the team colours until operations ceased in 1995) but the new sponsorship could not change their form as the Lions slowly descended the league tables until they disbanded in 1995 for financial reasons.
Read more about this topic: Lee Valley Lions
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—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928)
“these heroic happy dead
who rushed like lions to the roaring slaughter
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He spoke. And drank rapidly a glass of water”
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