The club was formed in 1882, and played their first match on the 7th October – beating Harley Street F.C. by 4-0. This opening game was played on “Mr Hartridge’s Meadow” in Gillingham but, owing to their strong Army connections, Chatham soon moved to a regular home on “The Lines” – where they were to remain until 1889. The following season saw them move to “Alderman Winch’s Enclosed Ground” – or as it is now known, the Maidstone Road ground.

In 1894 Chatham were founder members of both the Southern League and the original Kent League – becoming the first winners of the latter competition. They were also Winners of the Kent Badge in each of the three seasons that it was contested – and the first club to win the Thames and Medway Combination – predecessor of the present Winstonlead Kent League – in 1897. Between the two World Wars – in a run of success unequalled until the 1970’s – Chatham won the Kent Senior Cup, Kent Senior Shield, Kent League (twice) and the Chatham Charity Cup, all in the space of just ten years. They also reached the second round of the F.A. Cup in 1926/27, losing to Norwich City – who were to beat them again, this time in the First Round, two seasons later.

Post-war, Chatham won the premier division of the Kent Amateur League In 1946/47, their last honour under that name. On the 7th January 1947 they had merged with Shorts F.C., the combined Club taking the name Chatham Town – and a place in Division One of the Kent League the following Season.

There they were to remain until the League disbanded in 1959, whereupon they moved to the newly formed Aetolian League. During this period they appeared in the Aetolian League Cup Final in each of the five Seasons that it was contested – though winning only once in 1963.

The following year they finally captured the League Championship – and then, when the Aetolian League merged with the London League, moved on to the Metropolitan League in search of stronger opposition.

Although the Club were drawing crowds of up to 1000, they lost no time in returning to the Kent League when it reformed in 1968. Up until their brief return to the Southern League in 1983, they had won the Kent League on a further four occasions – completing the League and Cup “double” in 1971/72 and 1977/78.

For a brief period during the 1970’s they changed their name to Medway F.C. at the request of the local council, but reverted to Chatham Town in 1979. In 1980 they achieved their highest post-war success to date – winning the Eastern Professional Floodlight League, playing against some of the strongest opposition in Non-League circles – and defeating Chelmsford City in the Final, over two legs.

In 1983, Chatham returned to the Southern League for the third time, remaining there until 1988 – when they failed to gain re-election, and were relegated back into what was by now the Winstonlead Kent League. The real turnabout in the Club’s fortunes came with the appointment of one-time player John Adams as First Team Manager. However, despite taking Chatham to the Final of the Plaaya Kent Senior Trophy and finishing in the top three of the League for three consecutive seasons he was to be dismissed by the Club after a disastrous start to the 1996/97 Season.

The 1997/98 season was one of the most difficult in the Club’s history. Problems with a new drainage system meant that only a handful of games were played at Maidstone Road, with venues as diverse as the Garrison Ground and Priestfield Stadium used for home games. However, the club returned home for the 1998/99 season under new manager Carl Laraman. Fortunes improved immediately, but in January 1999 Laraman left to take up a coaching appointment at Charlton Athletic. Steve Hearn was then appointed player manager and last season led the club to then championship of then Bass Brewers Kent League and promotion to the Dr Martens League. The reserve team continues in Division 1 of the Kent League and teams at Under – 18, Under – 16, Under – 15, and Under 14 levels compete in the MUSH Kent Youth League. This coupled with links forged with a number of local boys clubs will ensure a steady supply of top-class players for the future.