The Dearborn Lions is one of two franchises in the city that are administered by the Dearborn Youth Football Association (DYFA). The other franchise is the Dearborn Tractors.

The DYFA was created in 2001 to offer football and cheerleading opportunities to Dearborn youngsters ages eight through 13.

At one time, the city had three youth football teams—Lions, Thunderbirds and Mustangs—but one by one the teams disbanded, the last being the Mustangs some 30 years ago.

As a result, for the next 20 years, Dearborn children had to join football and cheerleading teams outside of the city.

Eleven years ago, however, a new generation of parents and community activists came together to create the DYFA, bringing youth football and cheerleading back to Dearborn.

Originally, the DYFA created two franchises—the Blue Lions and the Silver Lions—based upon the idea that kids destined to play their high school football at Fordson would be part of the Blue Lions and those headed to Dearborn High or Edsel Ford would be members of the Silver Lions.

In 2001, the Blue and Silver Lions joined the Downriver Junior Football League (DJFL) and played their inaugural season.

During the subsequent nine seasons, 250-260 children participated annually in the program, and each franchise enjoyed its share of success on the field, winning at least one DJFL championship.

The ultimate goal of the DYFA is to have three franchises, each serving as a feeder program to one of the city’s public high schools.

Toward that end, the Blue Lions have become the (Fordson) Tractors.

Eventually, a third franchise—the Thunderbirds—will be created to feed into the Edsel Ford program. At that point, the Silver Lions will become the Pioneers, and serve as a feeder franchise for Dearborn High.

The DYFA Board of Directors oversees the registration procedure and major financial aspects of both franchises.

Each of the two franchises, however, has its own Board of Directors and exercises a considerable degree of autonomy while administering its own operation.

The President of each franchise, along with the Treasurer, make-up the four-person DYFA Board of Directors.

The Lions Board of Directors is currently composed of nine members, each elected for a three-year term.

The current members of the Dearborn Lions Board of Directors are listed below.

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