After collecting enough money to buy their first ball, a rarity in those days, the next main problem was to find a proper pitch to play on.

The decision was made that Radnički's first pitch was going to be in Bara Venecija, a Belgrade urban neighbourhood located on the right bank of the Sava river.

In the 1955–56 Yugoslav First League the club achieved its biggest success by finishing in 3rd place, behind only the Belgrade giants Red Star and Partizan.

The team that season was coached by former Partizan coach Illes Spitz and among the best players were Zlatan Ljujić, Blagoje Vidinić, M. Petrović, Radmilo Ristić, Đura Čokić, B. Pavlović, M. Ljubenović, Milorad Diskić, Pflander, Pašković, Zoran Prljinčević, Aleksandar Petaković, Ljuba Ognjanović, Josipović, Jovan Jezerkić, Tihomir Marković Marcel Žigante and Bozidar Mladenovic.

That final is remembered as one of the craziest ever, because in the second half Partizan turned the match around and in the end won 5–3 with goals from Valok, Mesaroš and Kaloperović.

[4] In the 1957–58 Yugoslav First League Radnički finished 3rd again, behind Dinamo Zagreb, Partizan and in front of Red Star with equal number of points but better goal difference.

The rise begins in 1986 when Radnički wins the regional Belgrade Cup, further being confirmed by the promotion in 1991 to the First League of FR Yugoslavia with Dejan Gluščević scoring 15 goals in 28 appearances.

Radnički continued to struggle in the lower ranks of Belgrade football, lost the sponsorship from Jugopetrol by 2008 and eventually fell down the ladder to as low as the 5th competition level in 2011.

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While playing with Radnički, Zoran Prljinčević became Yugoslav First League topscorer in the 1960–61 season, sharing the title with Todor Veselinović (FK Vojvodina), both with 16 goals.