The Footscray Cricket Club was formed in 1888, its officials being Mr D. Mitchell Snr J.P. (President),    Mr A.E. Bowser (Secretary) Mr G.A. Stables (Treasurer), the club’s auditors being Messrs F. More and   H. Morris. Prominent players of that time were Messrs Fred English, Fred Goodwin, Rusdin Burrows and Nicholson.

In the following season, 1889-90, the team joined up with the then popular Boyle and Scott competition, but three seasons went by before the Club enjoyed a win.

In its fourth season the Club was successful in winning the 'B' Grade Premiership, the following players contributing largely to the success: - F.G. Pitcher. Fred English, C. Molyneaux, Bob Dick, G. Bowser, B.W. and F. Goodwin, Rusden and G. Skinner.

In 1899 Footscray contested 'Capulets' for the Premiership, the game being played at Footscray before a large attendance. The locals, however, were unsuccessful, losing the match by one wicket.

The Boyle and Scott Competition was discontinued after season 1900-01, and the Club entered the Sports Depot Competition, and were runners-up for the 'A' Grade honours in 1903. At the end of this season Mr A.E. Bowser resigned the position of Secretary, after giving the Club 21 grand service. He was succeeded by Mr F. Goodwin, who also did yeoman service whilst in office.

On the formation of the Victorian Junior Cricket Association (V.J.C.A.) about this time, a strong body of clubs entered, and for some years records of the Club are unavailable.

In 1906 the club elected Mr H.J. Plant as President to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mr D. Mitchell, after 18 years outstanding service to the Club.

Continuing in the V.J.C.A., the Club met with varying success during the next few years until 1910-11, when it gained Premiership honours, and being runners up in 1911-12. In these successful years players were under the able captaincy of Frank Simmons otherwise known as 'Stuckey'. Prominent players of this period of the Club’s history were:- Messrs F.G. Pitcher, F. English, C. Molyneaux, Bob Dick, G. Bowser, M. O’Doherty, B.W. and F. Goodwin, G. Skinner and Rusden. Mr Fred Goodwin was Secretary. The Premiership team of 1910-11 included the following players:- F. Simmons, J. Curwood, J. Addison, A. Bell, F. Lohrey, H. Pullar, J. Smith, H. Smith, H. Emmerson, F. Emmerson and Vernon Banbury, who later became the football wizard so well known to 'Footscrayites'.

On 21 June 1912, on the motion of Messrs T. Gough and O. Sauer, the Club’s first application was made to the Victorian Cricket Association (V.C.A.) for admittance as a member.

The application, however, was referred to the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association (V.S.D.C.A.), and on 15 August 1912, The Footscray Cricket Club was admitted to the V.S.D.C.A., under the Presidency of Dr John Box. Mr H.C. Armbruster was Secretary and Mr W. Smith Treasurer, whilst Mr J. Myall had charge of the score-book, Delegates to the V.S.D.C.A. being Messrs Tom Evans and Armbruster. Frank Simmons was again captain of the Club in this season.

Although meeting with little success in the field, the first season was an enjoyable one, except that during the latter part the Club suffered a severe loss in the death of its Treasurer, Mr W. Smith and a few months later the Club Secretary, Mr Armbruster, passed away. The loss of two officers of the caliber of these two gentlemen in its first year of Sub-District cricket was indeed a blow to the Club.

It is regretted that for the next few seasons Club records were somewhat chaotic, and we are afraid that this period of the Club’s history must be passed over, although during the years of the First World War no serious cricket was played.

Season 1918-19 saw the resumption of the game in earnest, and it is interesting to note that during the war years the following players enlisted for service overseas:- Alf. Johannsen, Frank Coppleston, H. McHenry, J. Miller, T. Cooke, Darb O’Shannassey, Jack O’Brien, Harry Spear, W. Porter,. Mr D. Michell, a nephew of the Club’s first President, was President. Mr W. Mason was Secretary and Mr H. Fielding was Treasurer. The players were led by Mr W. Twigg (1st XI) and Mr R. McCoubrie had the honour of leading the Second XI to their first Premiership.