Their most successful period was in the 1930s where they won Division One of the Southern Amateur League on four occasions, plus the Sussex Senior Challenge Cup twice.

The club was founded in 1893 as Rock-a-Nore and played their home games on the East Hill in Hastings Old Town.

[12][5] However, ahead of the 1948–49 season, the club lost their home ground at the Pilot Field to newly formed professional team Hastings United.

[15] The club's ambition was the win promotion to the Premier Division of the Southern League, but would go onto play several frustrating seasons of top-half finishes.

Peter Sillett took charge of the club and built up a side that eventually won promotion, winning the league in 1991–92.

Even with the healthy budget available, the club found themselves in the bottom half of the table despite the signing of former football league players including Mark Morris and the goal scoring exploits of Stafford Browne.

The summer ahead of the 2003–04 season saw many changes at the club, with most of the squad leaving, losing many players to Eastbourne Borough and Folkestone Invicta; Dave Walters taking over as chairman and new manager Steve Lovell,[16] having to build a squad that eventually escaped relegation to the county league.

The side went onto beat Dover Athletic in the semi-finals and Tooting and Mitcham United in the final to win promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division.

[15] The club started off the 2007–08 season well; however a loss in form saw the side fall into the relegation places and the departure of Nigel Kane.

However, shortly after the end of the season Dolby and Rutherford announced their departures from the club, with several key players also leaving.

Hopkinson's stay at the club was disappointing and short-lived after he departed in November 2011 and replaced by Sean Ray.

The tie at Harrogate ended 1-1, setting up a replay at the Pilot Field which was televised live by ESPN Sports and witnessed in front of a sell-out crowd.

[24] Maggs only lasted five months and was replaced by Terry White, who took the club the play-offs, losing to Folkestone Invicta in the semi-final.

Players with Football League experience such as Lenny Pidgeley, Matt Bodkin and Frannie Collin, who scored a record equalling 32 goals, joined the club.

After a fifth-place finish in the league, the club lost in the play-off semi-finals to Dorking Wanderers and Hare departed as manager shortly after.

[30] Former Brighton & Hove Albion player Adam Hinshelwood took over as manager, also signing a two-year deal, who alongside his assistant Chris Agutter, would work full-time at the club, also overseeing the academy setup.

In 2020 the club's crest changed to one of a Lion symbolising the three on the coat of arms coming together to show the bond between the staff, the players and the supporters.

In 1985 the club moved back to the Pilot Field,[13] which since 1948 had seen the construction of two new stands behind one goal, floodlights and additional catering facilities.

[37] There had been proposals previously to give the Pilot Field a major upgrade which never came to fruition; however in 2007 the idea of building a new stadium was first mentioned by chairman, Dave Walters.

[42] The club had plans to move to a new sports complex named the Tilekiln Football Park located in Hollington, which would have seen the main stadium, two 3g pitches and a multi-use games area being constructed in phase one.

[43] In March 2022, Hastings Borough Council announced they would not proceed with the sale of the land to the football club and so the plan was terminated.

[46][47] A new home league attendance record was set during the 2021–22 season for their fixture against Hayward Heath Town.

[48] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.