CFL B.C. Lions

BC Lions Unveil Retro Uniforms for 50th Season

June 12, 2003 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
B.C. Lions News Release


VANCOUVER, B.C, JUNE 12, 2003 – BC Lions President and CEO, Bob Ackles, today unveiled the team's 2003 season "retro" uniform that will be worn by the players for the 50th Season regular-season home opener against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on June 20th.

"The modern rendition of our 1954 uniforms really stand out," said Ackles. "The orange jersey pays tribute to our great on-field tradition and history of 50 seasons. The uniform features the all-orange jersey fitted with the 50th Season crest on the chest and the pants are all black. The helmet carries the Lions "claw" logo used by the club during their first Grey Cup victory in 1964.

Replica orange jerseys will be sold beginning June 20th at BC Lions home games throughout the concourse. Several members of the Meralomas Football & Rugby Club were influential in the procurement of the BC Lions professional football franchise and its subsequent administration. Harry Spring, Meraloma Club president in 1937-38, served as chairman of a committee in 1951 that laid the groundwork for a franchise in the Western Conference of the Canadian Football League. Vic Spencer was enlisted by Spring, who, along with Orville Burke put the finishing touches on the franchise application before sending the papers in time for the January 1, 1953 deadline. The application, of course, was approved and the BC Lions fielded their first team in August of 1954. The presence of a number of Meralomas on the application committee may have accounted for the fact that the Lions adopted the Club colours of orange and black. The Lions continue to wear orange and black to this day.

The name BC Lions was selected because of the two famous mountains that tower over the City of Vancouver and bear the name "The Lions". The indigenous British Columbia mountain lion also had an influence on the name because it was renowned for its speed, strength and courage. The current BC Lions logo depicts the eponymous head of a British Columbia mountain lion.

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