Honoring the past.

Over the past three years, the support and buzz generated around Orlando City SC has certainly shown that the City Beautiful has welcomed the beautiful game with open arms.

The club’s average attendance has increased each year since moving from Texas, and the environment created by the supporters mimics the atmosphere of many European and Major League Soccer (MLS) stadiums.

However, despite the intensified passion recently occurring in Central Florida, Orlando has been a soccer community for many years now, and the Orlando Lions of the 1980s are remembered by many enthusiasts as the group that kick-started the soccer culture currently engrained in Orlando’s roots.

Although the Lions and Orlando City SC hold no official ties, reflecting upon their journey as the first professional team in Orlando is an important step as OCSC continues to progress forward. The 1980s Lions were comprised with many standouts from local universities such as Rollins College and the University of Central Florida, and played many memorable matches against prominent sides such as Hamburg SV and Bayern Leverkusen.

Various players from the original team have remained in the Orlando area upon commencement of their playing careers, and as a result, Orlando City will honor and recognize 14 former Lions before their match against the Charlotte Eagles on Saturday.

Honoring those 14 players is a special moment in the club’s history, as the Lions of the 80s were not only instrumental in developing Orlando’s soccer culture, but have also been key figures in maintaining it since their retirement.

Among the players who will be recognized before kickoff are several current college and youth coaches, whose zealousness for the game has created many avenues for budding young players in the area.

“Over the years the community has shown its passion for soccer and at the same time appreciation and participation has grown tremendously,” said former Lions’ Midfielder Ian Gill in an interview with OrlandoCitySoccer.com. “Many former Lions are now coaches and continue to be a part of the local soccer community, which is developing young soccer talent in Central Florida.”

The original Lions cultivated a buzz and excitement for soccer in Orlando that has now translated into the younger generation who venture to the Florida Citrus Bowl to support their team each week.