The club was formed in 1866, and in 1871 they joined the Rugby Football Union, under the name Swinton and Pendlebury FC, playing at the Station Road ground in the town. Their first game was against Eccles Standard.They moved from Station Road in 1873 to a ground known as Stoneacre, and used the nearby White Lion public house as changing rooms. They have been known as the Lions ever since.Swinton were the final team to win All Four Cups; they were also the only side from Lancashire to achieve this feat.
In 1929 the club they moved to a new stadium back at their original home of Station Road. This soon became a favoured ground for major fixtures, with a capacity of 60,000. Station Road played host to 19 internationals, 5 Championship finals, 17 Lancashire Cup finals, 4 Premiership finals and 30 Challenge Cup semi-finals were played on the famous turf.
The Return to Swinton:
On the 9th August 2006 an historic announcement was made by club Chairman John Kidd at the Masonic Halls, Hopsital Road, Pendlebury that the Lions would be returning home. It was announced that on the 7th August 2006, the club acquired land to build a 6,000 capacity stadium, with room for training facilities and community use in Agecroft, Pendlebury
Rugby League Champions: 1926/27, 1927/28, 1930/31, 1934/35, 1962/63, 1963/64Runners Up: 1924/25, 1932/33, 1939/40Challenge Cup Winners: 1899/1900, 1925/26, 1927/28Runners Up: 1926/27, 1931/32Lancashire Cup Winners: 1925/26, 1927/28, 1939/40, 1969/70Runners Up: 1910/11, 1923/24, 1931/32, 1960/61, 1961/62, 1962/63, 1964/65, 1972/73Lancashire League Winners: 1924/25, 1927/28, 1928/29, 1930/31, 1939/40, 1960/61Runners Up: 1892/93 1893/94 (under RFU) 1897/98, 1900/01, 1922/23, 1926/27, 1934/35, 1938/39, 1965/66Second Division Championship Winners: 1984/85Runners Up: 1986/87 1996; Promoted: 1974/75, 1990/91Second Division Premiership Winners: 1986/87Runners Up: 1988/89BBC Floodlit Trophy Runners Up: 1966/67Western Division Championship Runners Up: 1963/64Wigan summer 7’s Winners: 1985/86Alliance Challenge Cup Winners 1985/86
