[2] The first published evidence of a club meeting was in 1871, to arrange a local football match on the Queen's Birthday holiday.

[5] In May, 1878, Carlton Football Club played a match against a North Eastern Victorian team at Benalla.

In 1896, club patron's included John Alston Wallace (MLC)[15] and Thomas Kennedy (MLA).

[26] In June, 1925, Benalla FC offered Cyril Gambetta their coaching job, but St.Kilda refused to clear him[27] In 1927, the club's colours were altered to red and white and Mr. J Skelton was elected a life patron.

In 1940, Benalla 16.16 - 106 defeated Rushworth 11.16 – 82 to win their first senior Goulburn Valley Football League premiership in their first year in the GVFL.

Former 1930 and 1931 Benalla Junior premiership player,[36] Jim Howell died in a Japanese Prison Camp in 1945.

Charlie Chiswell was a former club President in the early 1960s and was instrumental in funding the building through a debenture scheme.

These clubs formed a valuable part of the local grassroots football history of the Benalla region.

The Benalla Half Holiday FC was formed as a junior club in May, 1899, wearing a blue jumper with a yellow sash.

[46] The club played in the Benalla Wednesday (Half Holiday) FA and wore maroon jumpers with white knicks in 1908.

[60] Benalla Rovers FC won the 1920[61] and 1921[62] premiership in the North East Line Football Association.

Benalla Rovers lost the 1922 Yarrawonga Line Football Association grand final to Devenish.

[64] Remarkably, Benalla Rovers went through the 1923 season without a defeat to claim the Yarrawonga Line Football Association premiership.

[75] They changed their name to the Benalla Imperials FC in 1932 and joined the Euroa Line Football Association.