Five years ago the Fitzroy Football Club was being compared with some of the worst teams in the then 100-season history of the VFL/AFL.

How things have changed.

This year two teams that retain strong Fitzroy links claimed premiership cups in their respective competitions - the Brisbane Lions in the AFL and the Fitzroy Reds in Section D3 of the VAFA.

Many Fitzroy supporters severed ties with ties with the Lions after Fitzroy merged with the Brisbane Bears to become the Brisbane Lions in 1996, but the FFC was determined the FFC to be recognised.

To the die-hard fans who needed a team to go and watch every week, Brisbane Lions just wasn't the same.

Enter Fitzroy Reds, known before 1998 as University Reds, who play their home games at the Lions' spiritual home, as Brunswick St Oval.

FFC Secretary Bill Atherton said a mark of Fitzroy fans' acceptance of both teams came at a match this year.

"There was a (Reds) game in August against Uni High that coincided with an evening (Brisbane) game at Colonial, when at three-quarter-time half the crowd left to go to Colonial.

"I think that sort of proved that there's that lovely link between following the AFL Lions and the grass roots footy at Fitzroy, " he said.