After playing at different home grounds in the early years,[1] the club moved to Gradski Stadion Kavadarci on 19 March 1950 and have remained there since.

Tikvesh was founded on 21 December 1930[2][3] by a group of young enthusiasts who held their meeting in the Balkan restaurant in Kavadarci.

Slavcho Temkov became the first president of the newly formed club, Todor Janakiev was chosen as secretary while Aleksandar Hadzhivasilev was the first main sponsor.

[9] In 1948–49 Tikvesh achieved a 6th-place finish in the Macedonian Republic League, level on points with 5th placed FK Shar Tetovo but weaker goal difference.

[16] Tikvesh won the Shtip Division in 1952–53 but lost in the play-off finals[17] and missed out on a chance to be crowned champions for the first time.

Consistency followed in the next season, as the side led in attack by Vuko Karov and Blazho Malinkov finished as runners-up to Belasica Strumica in the Shtip Division only on goal difference.

In 1968–69 Tikvesh avoided relegation from the Yugoslav Second League – East[22] and finished one point ahead of Ei Mladost Niš, securing survival with one game to go after a late run of good results.

Angel Kimov scored 34 goals in 34 matches, which made him the league's top goalscorer, the only player to earn the honour in the club's history.

After a promising start to the season including wins over Teteks (1–2), Dubočica (5–0), Jedinstvo (1–0), Sutjeska (3–0) and draws against Liria (2–2), Budućnost (0–0) their form dipped drastically and they were relegated to the Macedonian Republic League, Vardar Skopje were promoted as champions to the Yugoslav First League, a recurring scenario of 1955–56 season.

[31] In the meantime Petar Angjushev (Macedonian: Петар Анѓушев) guided FK Bor Kavadarci to back-to-back promotions.

[32] In their title run in 1982–83 FK Bor won 3–1 and drew 2–2 against Tikvesh, the only time in which two teams from Kavadarci faced each other in any of the top two football divisions.

[33] Over the next few years, their form fluctuated greatly, 5th in 1983–84, 9th in 1984–85, rising to 4th in 1985–86 before dropping to 17th two seasons later in 1987–88 which meant another relegation to the Macedonian Republic 2nd division.

With a drastic improvement in form the following season Tikvesh made an immediate return to the top-flight by winning the Macedonian Second League.

Despite promising performances during the first half of the season Perica Gruevski resigned as manager on 8 November 2002, citing the bad financial situation at the club as the main reason for his departure.

On 16 January 2003 Tikvesh announced that they had appointed Blagoja Kitanovski[39] as new head coach, who only held the position for three months and resigned in April 2003.

They finished the 2004–05 season in 10th place (3rd from bottom) but lost the relegation play-off game to FK Karaorman Struga played at a neutral venue at Philip II Arena on 19 June 2005.

[46] After a below-average start to the 2012–13 season, 1 win-3 draws-2 losses, Tikvesh dismissed manager Nikola Gligorov[47] on 25 September 2012 and Blagoja Kitanovski was appointed as his successor, but he stayed only until the winter break and left the club.

With the lack of experience in the squad Tikvesh were unable to secure survival and were relegated to the Macedonian Third League – South.

[49] The 2012–13 season also saw the supporters' campaign (For better Tikvesh; Macedonian: За подобар Тиквеш)[50] against the club's board of directors.

[52][53] After a tumultuous summer and a newly assembled board of directors, Tikvesh begun the 2014–15 season competing in the lowest rank of Macedonian football.

On 2 June 2019, in heavy rain, in a match played at Gjorche Petrov Stadium in Skopje, Tikvesh defeated FK Labunishta 6–3 in the play-off semi-final and reached the final.

[56] But on 5 June 2019, with only 3 days for recovery while having an extended injury list Tikvesh narrowly lost (3–2) the play-off final to FK Sileks Kratovo.

They finished the season in 10th place, and on 22 May 2022 defeated Voska Sport 4-1 in the final played at Blagoj Istatov Stadium in Strumica.

On 22 May 2024, for the first time in its history Tikvesh won the Cup,[59] defeating Voska Sport 2-1 in the final, and qualified for the 2024–25 UEFA Conference League.

Tikvesh's organized supporters are known as Lozari (Winegrowers; Macedonian: Лозари), they were formed in 1991 and traditionally occupy the East Stand at the stadium.

The matches between the two clubs are known as the Winegrowers Derby,[69] and they are keenly contested affairs with considerable pride at stake that goes far beyond football.

[71][72] In many seasons Tikvesh have been in a superior division to their neighbours, and statistically are by far the more successful of the two clubs who have still not faced each other in the Macedonian First League.

Despite numerous previous "friendly" encounters, the first official league meeting between the clubs took place on 22 March 1953 in Negotino, which ended in a 1–1 draw.

The first Vuko Karov Tournament took place on 27–28 February 1993, first teams to participate were Tikvesh, Vardar, Pobeda and SAK Klagenfurt.