In the last few years of the 1800’s it was the British soldiers who introduced association football into the Western Province, and consequently South Africa. They were always the winners in those days.

When our club was formed in 1902 only three of the present existing clubs had been established (Caledonians, Park Villa, and Peninsula). The foundation members were undoubtedly the artisans who came to Somerset West on the new project of erecting an explosives factory in that area. In its first year the club topped the second league log and were consequently promoted to the first league where they remained without a break until 1930. During that time they won the first league championship in 1920 and 1919, the O’Reilly or ‘Knock Out Cup’ in 1903 and 1919, and the Hospital Cup in 1910 and 1919.

Names of those years coming vividly to mind are the Robertson brothers, Bell, Stuart, Gaynor, Mason and Jordan. The 1930 season-end saw us at the bottom of the first league with relegation to the second, and in the wilderness we remained until 1939 when we won the competition and were again among the select. Among those prominent at that time were the Thompson, Waring, Northcote, Knott, and Rietoff brothers: the team used to line up with two of each family.

In 1948 we again won the first league, but the end of 1956 season saw us at the bottom of the log and we have spent this season in the second league, but with the tremendous difference that instead of being out nine years we have topped the second league at first try and 1958 will see the old club back in its rightful place in the first league among the friends and foes we know so well.

We feel particularly proud that we have kept the soccer flag flying in the country areas for fifty-five years. In fact we are the only club to do so, and this in a district which is and always has been predominantly rugby-minded. In all these years we have always had junior teams in the field and the policy has always been to provide football for as many players as possible.