Lions were founded in 1986, joining the British Collegiate League in 1990, and going 6-1-1 in their first season. Ranked 5th overall nationally, they narrowly failed to win College Bowl IV by 21-20 against a strong Teeside Demons. Four lean years followed, as the team attempted to rebuild. Only in the 94 - 95 season under Coach Graham Clamp did Lions find success, going 5-3-0, but losing to Beau Riffenburgh's Cambridge Pythons in the first round of the playoffs.

The 95 - 96 season offered even more success, and under Coach Clamp, Lions went 7-0-1, again losing to Cambridge at a critical phase in the first round of the playoffs. Coach Clamp was named Coach of the Year. That phase of the team's development is shrouded in mystery, and for some reason never explained, the Lions and Coach Clamp parted company.

The following year, a regular season record of 6 - 2 - 0 in an expanded League of 31 teams found Lions yet again losing in the first round of the playoffs, this time to a strong Aberystwyth. An undistinguished 4-4-0 season followed, as Lions fought to overcome the disadvantage of playing on a glue-like field at Wast Hills, a vast, wind-swept area some six miles from the main university campus. Practice facilities were even orse, a triangular grass area at the front of the University campus that became unusable with the first rains of November.

A move to the Eastern Road playing field at the rear of the BBC Pebble Mill Studios raised morale and playing standards somewhat. In 98-99 Lions went 7-1- 0 in regular season, losing yet again in the first round of the playoffs to a rampant Cardiff. For the following year, newly appointed head coach Wayne Hill fought to overcome the loss of many veteran players. A promising opening two wins contrasted with a shutout loss to a powerful Loughborough under the League's winningest coach Andy Sweeney, and Lions struggled to regroup, going 3-4-1.

From then on, progress was steady and impressive. A 6-2-0 New Millennium year saw Lions fighting it out in round three of the playoffs, finally going out 8-18 to Phil DeMonte's resurgent Oxford. Regular access to proper training surfaces in the form of floodlit astroturf, and the provision of a dedicated Gridiron field was beginning to produce results. The two following seasons saw 6-2-0 and 5-2-1 records. In 2002 - 03, another 6-2-0 season found Lions again fighting it out with Oxford, beating the Cavaliers 10 - 6 in the first round of the playoffs, only to fall to Jim Messenger's Hertfordshire Hurricanes in the second round.

In 2003-04, the steady progression was maintained, and a perfect 8-0-0 and a points tally of 286 for and only 31 conceded found Lions ranked equal first with Hertfordshire. Lions progressed through the playoffs, only to be beaten by Hertfordshire in the Southern Conference Final. Herts went on to decisively win College Bowl XVIII (18) by 27-7 against Staffordshire.

Coach Hill would achieve, by the end of the 2003-04 season, an overall record of 28-10-2, together with a tremendous contribution to the improvement of coaching standards generally. With the assistance of Offensive Co-ordinator Tony Athersmith, Coach Hill led quarterback Stewart Ennis to a record breaking season and 26 touchdown passes in 8 games. The organisational credibility of the team is well established, with team funding, playing, practice, equipment and office facilities second to none. The British American Football Coaches Federation Award
of Coach of the Year in 2004, was therefore much deserved.