Lion City Sailors was first called Police Football Club. It was first founded in 1995, a year before the formation of S. League in 1996. The following year, the name; Police Football Club was changed to Home United Football Club to reflect the fact that the team represented not only the Singapore Police Force, but also other Home Team departments of the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs such as the Singapore Civil Defence Force and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. The team’s nickname was the “Protectors” and its mascot, a dragon. The team’s home ground is Bishan Stadium.
On 14 February 2020, the club was privatised for the first time in its history, when Singaporean billionaire Forrest Li announcing that he had purchased a 100% stake in the club. The club was officially renamed as Lion City Sailors Football Club and its signature red colour was replaced with white and blue. LCS’ main aim following its rebranding was to boost professionalism in Singaporean football, with becoming a Southeast Asian super club its long-term goal. The new name, Sailors, was a homage to the country’s maritime heritage.