Mount Albert Lions

The Mount Albert Lions are a rugby league club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand that plays in the Auckland Rugby League. The Lions’ home ground is at Fowlds Park. Their patron is Helen Clark, a former Prime Minister of New Zealand. In 2008 and 2009 the Lions won the Fox Memorial.

As of 2025 the team is coached by Trent Wallace.

History

The club was founded in 1928, after a meeting was held in April of that year. 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. 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.

2000s

In 2006 the Lions 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. In 2025 they won the Roope Rooster from Ponsonby Ponies at Victoria Park before losing it weeks later to Otahuhu Leopards.

Notable players

New Zealanders

• Des Herring (1938)
• Clarry McNeil (1938)
• Bob Banham (1939)
• Bunty Afoa
• Bert Leatherbarrow (1939)
• Arthur McInnarney (1939)
• Moses Leota
• Ray Cranch (1951)
• Don Hammond (1959)
• Ray Wilson (1969)
• Richard Bolton (1972)
• John Ackland (1983)
• Shane Cooper (1985)

Australians

• Nathan Cleary

Other NZ representatives

Players who represented New Zealand before or after playing for Mt Albert.

• Gordon Campbell
• Claude List
• Wilf Hassan
• Roy Hardgrave
• Cliff Satherley
• Ted Mincham

Auckland Representatives (1935-1945)

• Des Herring (1935-1939)
• Robert Morrissey (1936)
• Clarrie Petersen (1936)
• Joseph Gunning (1937-1939)
• Bert Leatherbarrow (1937)
• William McCallum (1937)
• Clarry McNeil (1938)
• Richard Shadbolt (1938-1945)
• Walter Cameron (1939)
• Bruce Donaldson (1939)
• Bill Walker (1939)
• Jack Tristram (1941)
• Les Clement (1944-1945)
• Ivan Sumich (1944)
• Bob Borich (1945)
• Alan Wiles (1945)
• Selwyn Thomassen (1945)

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.

*Two points for a Bye as the Ngongotaha Chiefs withdrew from the competition

Mount Albert Senior Team Records (1928-1944) & (2022-25)

The season record for the most senior men’s team in the club.

All time top point scorers (1935-1945)

The point scoring lists are compiled from all matches played in matches for the first grade side irrespective of whether they were organised Auckland Rugby League competition games, games against touring sides, or friendly matches outside of Auckland. The matches and point scorers includes the combined Newton-Mount Albert side of 1942.

External links