The club is nicknamed the Magpies after its black and white playing strip, and was originally known as New Town Football Club (wearing a green and white strip) when it started out as a member of the Tasmanian Football League in 1919.

After some political maneuvering within football circles, Glenorchy were admitted to the Southern Football League, but at a high price from a traditional standpoint, with the club being forced, as a condition of entry to the League, to give up its black-and-white playing strip as well as its Magpies emblem, as it clashed with former Southern Amateur club Claremont Magpies, who were already a member of the SFL.

This was not popular with fans, many of whom drifted away from the club, and its membership and support base decreased rapidly.

There was to be considerable rejoicing amongst its fans in 2004, after persistent pressure from the club, and the fact that Claremont were now playing in the SFL Regional League, which resulted in Glenorchy being granted the return of its black-and-white strip, and the Magpie emblem.

2000 non-paying juniors: 2011 TSL Round 1 vs Clarence Roos at KGV Oval TFL 34.21 (225) vs Hobart 18.14 (122) at KGV Oval Round 22, 1983. Notable players that went on the play in the VFL/AFL who started at Glenorchy: Players who came to Glenorchy post-career:[2] (Best and fairest player – TFL and SFL premier senior football) (Best and fairest player – TFL reserves football) (Best and fairest player – TFL thirds football) (Best and fairest – TFL fourths football) (Best and fairest – Tasmanian state team) (Best on field in the Premier League Grand Final)