In 1869, 90 members from King's College formed a football club representing faculties including the Medical Department.

On 26 January 1871, they sent representation in the form of CM Madden and CE Pope to a meeting of twenty-one London and suburban football clubs that followed Rugby School rules assembled at the Pall Mall Restaurant in Regent Street.

A president, a secretary and treasurer, and a committee of thirteen were elected, to whom was entrusted the drawing-up of the laws of the game upon the basis of the code in use at Rugby School.

Although King's College was considered prominent enough to have been invited, they did not gain any of the thirteen places on the original committee.

[1] The team played in every competition until they became an open club in the mid-1990s, and although they reached the final four times, they never once lifted the trophy.

The club's move away from its direct association with the Hospital means that it is no longer eligible to enter the tournament.

"[1] It appears that such was the nadir the club was in at this time that it was no longer recognised by the Rugby Football Union, the organisation it had been a founding member of.

[1] During the 1920s and 1930s a number of international players played for King's among them being the England and 1924 British Lions captain, Dr Ron Cove-Smith, as well as the 1927 British Lions captain and Scotland International Dr D J Macmyn (who later became President of the Scottish Rugby Union).

[1] The 1940s, '50s and '60s were undistinguished for the club and it is notable that a single victory in the 1965 Hospital's Cup championship match was the first in seven seasons.