Inter Lions Football Club
Established – 1983
Home grounds – Bark Huts Reserve & St. Lukes (1983- 1985), Concord Oval (2003-2019), Ron Routley Oval (1986 – current), Majors Bay Reserve Synthetic (2020 – current)
Current members – 106
Previous names – Majors Bay Soccer Club, Inter Lions Soccer Club
Inter Lions Football Club (ILFC) is a semi-professional football club based in the City of Canada Bay LGA, that plays in CDSFA and Football NSW competitions.
The club was founded in 1983, originally part of the Western Suburbs Soccer Association, which later merged with the CDSFA.
ILFC had humble beginnings: Commencing with three Junior sides and one senior side.
The first few years were tough, but as the club’s reputation grew, success soon followed and in the ensuing years, ILFC grew steadily to be competitive in all age groups.
The club was ready for its next stage of its growth, which would focus on adding women’s teams and also providing pathways allowing players to compete at the highest possible level.
In 1998, ILFC entered teams into Football NSW Men’s State League competitions. Success followed through the years – with the club claiming four titles over five years
By 2002, ILFC also entered the CDSFA’s competitions for girls and women.
And in 2008, ILFC entered Football NSW Women’s State League competition, making quite an impact by finishing premiers in year two.
The next logical step was to have the club’s boys compete in Football NSW’s Youth League competitions. This was realized in 2010.
Back in the CDSFA competitions, ILFC tasted success, particularly with its over-35 Men’s team which then progressed to over-45 competition and enjoyed an impressive winning streak over two decades.
It won 14 Premierships, 15 Minor Premiers and five Runners Up titles and two Champion of Champions titles, while runners up once.
In the Bill Brackenbury Cup, ILFC has enjoyed a six-year streak, claiming the title in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Some of ILFC players that have gone on to bigger and better things in the world of football include: Patrick Schibilio (Australia U17 Joeys, AIS, Sydney FC); Rami Najjarine (Australia U17 Joeys, U21 Young Socceroos, Western Sydney Wanderers); and Kosta Grozos (U21 Young Socceroos, Newcastle Jets)
In 2018, City of Canada Bay and the NSW Government jointly announced $6.7m in funding for a joint venture by Inter Lions and Concord Soccer Club to build a state of the art, purpose-built synthetic field and amenities in the Majors Bay Reserve precinct.
The project has now been completed and represents the largest single sporting project ever undertaken in Canada Bay LGA.
