The Lions have a long history dating back to their foundation in 1909 by local enthusiast. Their first successes came in the West Riding County Amateur Football League with a hat trick of league championships achieved in the 1930s as well as runs to the last 16 of the FA Amateur Cup losing to South Bank at that stage in 1930 and then to Cambridge Town (now Cambridge City) two years later. The Lions lifted their fourth league time just before the outbreak of World War II but then a hiatus set in before title number five was claimed in 1956.

A switch to the West Yorkshire League followed and though league success was limited, in the local Wharfdale Challenge Cup Guiseley proved almost all conquering claiming that trophy on 9 out of 10 occasions in the 1960’s. Another move saw the Lions join the Yorkshire League in 1968, runners up in 1980 & 1982, a period that would see the club reach a second zenith. Founder members of the Northern Counties East League in 1982-1983, it was on the national stage that Guiseley would now come to prominence at the start of the 1990s reaching the FA Vase Semi-Final in 1990. The following season would be the greatest in the club’s history as the Lions lifted the FA Vase beating Gresley Rovers 3–1 in a replay at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane after a 4–4 draw at Wembley Stadium. Making it a double Guiseley also claimed with the Northern Counties East League title and with it promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One.

Guiseley reached the FA Vase Final again in 1992 this time beaten by Wimborne Town before winning the Northern Premier League First Division in 1994. On the national stage the cup fighting pedigree continued to show as the reached the FA Trophy semi-final appearance before going down to Runcorn.

Narrowly missing out on a playoff place in 2008, the Lions made amends two seasons later when, in the club’s centenary year, they clinched the Northern Premier League title on a dramatic final day of the campaign. With Guiseley making sure of a 2-0 win against Ashton United, the players and fans had to wait on the result of Boston United’s encounter with Marine. Had Boston United managed a win then they would have clinched the title on goal difference but to much celebration amongst the Nethermoor faithful world came through that their rivals could only draw.

That debut season exceeded expectations as the Lions competed amongst the promotion pack, finally finishing fifth to earn a spot in the playoff. In the semis they beat Boston United in a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw on aggregate but the final brought heartache as they let slip a 2-1 lead at AFC Telford United with just 12 minutes remaining to lose 3-2. Elsewhere they reached the First Round proper of the FA Cup before going down 5-0 to Crawley Town and battling to the quarter finals of the FA Trophy, narrowly losing by a single goal to Luton Town.

No second season hangover as the Lions again reached the playoffs in 2011-2012 finishing runners-up. The first leg at Nuneaton finished 1-1 and it was the same score at Nethermoor Park after 90 minutes meaning extra time but once again it would be heartbreak conceding the killer goal in the 118th minute. Lightning struck twice next season as the Lions again finished runners-up, this time to Chester City but again lost out in the playoffs semi-finals this time to FC Halifax Town (3-1 on aggregate).

A change of management after a poor start 2013-2014 but the Lions recovered to make the playoffs for a fourth straight season but still the hoodoo could not be lifted. Though Guiseley battled past North Ferriby United in the semi-final, Altrincham proved too big an obstacle in the final. However last season, after so much playoff pain, promotion was at last realised. Finishing 5th, Guiseley put out AFC Fylde in the semi-final before facing Chorley in the final. Down 2-0 it seemed as if the gods were against them but the Lions rallied and three goals later the game had been turned on its head. At last Guiseley had ascended the summit of the Non-League Pyramid and would take their place amongst its elite in the National League.