Lions Profile: Andrew Ogborne
Posted on April 7, 2013
In what will hopefully be the first part in an ongoing series, we plan to look at different members of the Lions family, and give you a little more information about them.
A fitting place to start any conversations about the Lions would involve Andrew Ogborne. Although there have been many people who have given much of their time and energy to the club, both on and off the field, it would be a fairly unanimous decision that Andrew has given more to the club than any other individual. There would be very few players in the long history of the club who would not have been involved with Andrew.
Andrew played quarterback for the Lions from 1984 to 1987 and made a comeback in 1995. The astute amongst you will notice that 1984 was the foundation year for the club: Andrew was the club’s first signal caller. More of an option quarterback compared to modern day pocket passers, Andrew was able to use his shifty athleticism and keen mind to diagnose a defence and take it apart.
He led the Lions to the 1984, 1985 and 1986 grand finals, where he won MVP in 1985, and with the 1985 and 1986 teams being undefeated. The 1986 offence in particular was a strong one, setting many records that are still held to this day, with Andrew designing and installing the scheme. After a brief hiatus, he came back in 1995 and lead the team to another championship, before hanging up the cleats. His number 7 jersey is the only one to be retired from use by the club.
His coaching career has spanned all levels of competition, from juniors to the Australian team. He was the Head Coach of the Cubs from 1994-1996, winning every championship on offer with a record of 22-2-2. He was the defensive co-ordinator in 2009, when the Cubs won the state championship.
For the Lions, he was Head Coach from 1989 to 1996 and 2012, winning the state championship in 1992, 1995 and 2012, with his teams coming runners up in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1996. His record stands at 89-16-2. He was defensive co-ordinator for the 2004 Lions team which conceded only 12 points in 10 regular season games, and the 2010 defence which shut out UTS in the Waratah Bowl. He was an assistant coach in 2003, 2005-2009, as an integral part of the Decade of Dominance, acting as defensive co-ordinator in the Waratah Bowls of 2005 and 2006.
He was Head Coach of the NSW teams of 1989, 1990, 1993 and 1995, and coach of the Australian Outback team which competed in the World Cup in 2011.
With a record that would make any coach jealous, Andrew has been the foundation stone of the club. There is not a role in the club that he hasn’t fulfilled, and has always been available to mentor younger players and executive members, passing on his valuable knowledge.
Andrew has accepted the role of Head Coach for the 2013 team, and will continue to bring his competitive coaching, attention to detail and brilliant schematic mind to the sideline this year. There is not a more experienced, smarter and more meticulous coach on any other sideline, and the club is excited to show the rest of the league what we have been working hard on in the offseason.