Sunbury Football Club was formed in 1879 when it was known as the Lions, They were a founding club and continued playing in the Riddell District Football League until 1996.
With the depth of football standard in the RDFL on the decline, together with considerable opposition from former second division clubs on the formation of one division, the club voted to make the move to the highly rated Ballarat Football League with Melton, Darley and Melton South clubs for the commencement of the 1997 playing season.
