It participated in the National Soccer League in 1996–97, lasting only a solitary season.

[4] The home strip was of a shirt with black and white stripes resembling the Australian rules club, with streaks of yellow resembling Heidelberg, with black shorts and white socks.

[6] In the pre-season the club recruited Zoran Matic who had previously taken Adelaide City to two NSL championships and signed multiple experienced players leading to high-anticipation for the season.

The Warriors defeated Marconi-Fairfield 1–0 in the last NSL Cup[7] Despite a strong start to the season in which the team went seven matches without defeat, Collingwood's form slumped and it ended up finishing second from bottom on the table.

Throughout this period, Heidelberg maintained a separate team in the Victorian Premier League.