Cricket was played by the new influx of workers (particularly Yorkshire) and a winter alternate was needed, so a 'Football club' was formed in 1876.

From 1979, with Scottish internationalists Derek White and Peter Dods in the team, Gala won the Division 1 title three consecutive seasons.

In 1999, inspired by a young Chris Patterson at Stand-off, Gala won a treble of medals, the Division 2 title, the Scottish Cup, and Melrose Sevens.

This gave the club the chance to clear out the dead wood and the team bounced back into Division 2 at the first time of asking.

[2] In February 2017 the club launched a rugby academy, despite the realisation that they would be relegated from the premiership at the end of the season.