East End Lions F.C.

East End Lions

Full name	East End Lions
Nickname(s)	Red Roaring Lions, The Killers
Founded	1928; 97 years ago (1928)
Ground	Trade Center Field Freetown, Sierra Leone
Capacity	5,000
Chairman	Amb. Anthony Navo Jnr
Coach	Isaac Sarfo[1]
League	Sierra Leone National Premier League
2022–2023	3rd
Home colours

East End Lions is a Sierra Leonean professional football club based in the capital Freetown. They play in the Sierra Leone National Premier League, the top football league in Sierra Leone. East End Lions represents the East End of Freetown, and play their home games at the National Stadium.[2] The head coach, appointed in 2018 is John Keister.[3]

East End Lions are one of the two biggest and most successful football clubs in Sierra Leonean football history (along with their main rivalry Mighty Blackpool). The club was founded in 1928 and is one of the oldest football clubs in Sierra Leone.

Rivalry

East End Lions have an intense rivalry with fellow powerhouse Mighty Blackpool who have won the National League 10 times. When these two clubs play each other at the national stadium in Freetown, tickets are often sold out; there is usually a heavy police presence to prevent clashes between their supporters,[4]

Achievements

• Sierra Leone League
  • Champions (12): 1977, 1980, 1985, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2019[5]
• Sierra Leonean FA Cup
  • Winners (3): 1973, 1980, 1989.[6]

Performance in CAF competitions

• CAF Champions League: 4 appearances

1998 – Preliminary round

2006 – Preliminary round

2010 – Preliminary round

2011 – Preliminary round

• African Cup of Champions Clubs: 3 appearances

1981: First Round

1986: withdrew in preliminary round

1994: First Round

• CAF Cup: 1 appearance

1992 – First Round

• CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 1 appearance

1990 – Second Round

Former managers

• Victoria Conteh

References

1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2024-02-22. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
2. "Sierra Leone Sports: East End Lions appoints 10-man executive". Awoko Newspaper. 2018-10-29. Archived from the original on 2018-11-07. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
3. "Sierra Leone Sports: Keister becomes East End Lions coach". Awoko Newspaper. 2018-10-29. Archived from the original on 2018-11-07. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
4. "SOCCER INFERNO IN FREETOWN TODAY, as Arch -rivals Mighty Blackpool and East End Lions clash to open Sierra Leone Premier League – Cocorioko". Archived from the original on 2024-06-11. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
5. "Sierra Leone – List of Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2023-02-07. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
6. "Sierra Leone – List of Cup Winners". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2019-03-09.