Mount Albert Lions
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.
 | |
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Mount Albert Rugby League |
| Founded | 1928 [1] |
| Current details | |
| Ground(s) | |
| Coach | John Ackland |
| Competition | Auckland Rugby League |
| Records | |
| Premierships | 1939, 1947, 1950, 1951, 1968, 1969, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012 |
| Minor premiership | 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1970, 1981, 1983, 1992, 2006, 2012 |
| Bartercard Cup | 2002, 2004, 2005 |
| National Club Champions | 1984 |
| Stormont Shield | 1939, 1947, 1948, 1964, 1969, 1970, 1981, 1985, 1987, 1993 |
| Sharman Cup | 1980 |
As of 2019 the team is coached by John Ackland.[2]
History
The club was founded in 1928, after a meeting was held in April of that year.[3] They fielded teams in the 3rd and 4th grades. In the early 1930s the club moved to its current location at Fowlds Park in Morningside. In their initial seasons they had trained on Springleigh Avenue at what is now Phyllis Street Reserve. Up until 1934 the club had played in mauve colours but in April of that year they applied to the junior management committee to change their club colours to blue and gold.[4] 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.
Bartercard Cup
Between 2000 and 2005 the Lions competed in the national Bartercard Cup competition. Under the guidance of Brian McClennan they were the most successful club in the competition's 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.
| 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 | -216 | 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 |
*Two points for a Bye as the Ngongotaha Chiefs withdrew from the competition
Mount Albert Senior Team Records (1928-1942)
The season record for the most senior men’s team in the club.
| Season | Grade | Name | Play | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Position (Teams) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | 3rd Grade | Mount Albert United | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2nd of 13 |
| 1929 | 2nd Grade | Mount Albert United | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 teams, position unknown |
| 1930 | 3rd Grade Intermediate | Mount Albert United | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7 teams, position unknown |
| 1931 | 2nd Grade | Mount Albert United | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 teams, position unknown |
| 1932 | 2nd Grade | Mount Albert United | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 9 teams, position unknown |
| 1933 | 2nd Grade | Mount Albert United | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7 teams, position unknown |
| 1934 | 2nd Grade | Mount Albert United | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3rd of 6 |
| 1935 | 1st Grade (Fox Memorial) | Mount Albert United | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 184 | 148 | 36 | 19 | 2nd of 7 (+ lost Phelan Shield final 8-11 v Ponsonby) |
| 1936 | 1st Grade (Fox Memorial) | Mount Albert United | 13 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 155 | 149 | 6 | 15 | 4th of 8 |
| 1937 | 1st Grade (Fox Memorial) | Mount Albert United | 14 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 219 | 124 | 95 | 20 | 2nd of 8 (+ lost Phelan Shield final 18-22 v North Shore) |
| 1938 | 1st Grade (Fox Memorial) | Mount Albert United | 16 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 277 | 205 | 72 | 22 | 2nd of 9 |
| 1939 | 1st Grade (Fox Memorial) | Mount Albert United | 16 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 284 | 165 | 119 | 27 | 1st of 9 (+ lost Roope Rooster final 11-13 v Marist, won Stormont Shield 21-9 v Marist) |
| 1940 | 1st Grade (Fox Memorial) | Mount Albert United | 16 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 285 | 206 | 79 | 20 | 3rd of 9 (+ lost Phelan Shield final 14-20 v Manukau |
| 1941 | 1st Grade (Fox Memorial) | Mount Albert United | 15 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 187 | 238 | -51 | 10 | 8th of 9 |
| 1942 | 1st Grade (Fox Memorial) | Newton-Mt Albert | 15 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 160 | 208 | -48 | 12 | 4th of 6 (combined side with Newton due to WW2 weakening senior playing numbers) |
| 1928-42 | TOTAL | 132 | 76 | 6 | 50 | 1751 | 1443 | 308 | 158 |
References
- "Club Formed at Mt Albert". Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 80. 4 April 1928. p. 14. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
- "John Ackland returns to lead our Premiers".
- "Club Formed at Mt Albert". Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 80. 4 April 1928. p. 14. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
- "Board of Control Affairs/Unemployed Concession Retained". Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 97. 26 April 1934. p. 18. Retrieved 3 December 2019.