Explicitly, the football stakeholders in Medan began the first general meeting to form the union on 7 July 1907 (see De Sumatra post, 08–07–1907).

Football organizations of the State of East Sumatra during the Dutch population, Rumah Susun Football Club (RSFC) and Oost Sumatra Voettbal Bond (OSVB), which had been founded since the early 1930s and then in 1950 changed their name to the Persatuan Sepakbola Medan dan Sekitarnya or were shortened to PSMS.

However, there is no clear evidence that MVC, DVB, OSVB, VBMO, RSFC and other football clubs that were founded during the Dutch colonial period were PSMS embryos.

The 6 figures are Adinegoro (Al Wathan), Madja Purba (Sahata), Sulaiman Siregar (PO Police), TM Harris (Medan Sport), dr Pierngadi (Deli Matschapij) and Tedja Singh (India Football Team).

PSMS Medan is known for its typical type of rap-rap game, namely football which is hard, fast and insistent but still plays clean and upholds sportsmanship.

At that time, PSMS were often invited by teams from overseas such as Grazer AK, Kowloon Motorbus (Hong Kong), Grasshopper, Star Soccerites (Singapore) and others.

Their dribble expertise made PSMS and North Sumatra often won several tournaments and sports leagues.

In 1953 and 1957 PSMS players who defended the North Sumatra Team at the Pekan Olahraga Nasional presented the gold medal.

Ramli Yatim managed to polish the figures of Ronny Pasla, Sarman Panggabean, Wibisono, Tumsila, Nobon etc.

In addition to Sarman and Ronny Pasla in the Final, the young striker Tumsila also started as a starter.

When returning to Medan, the group was greeted by Pangdam II/Bukit Barisan Maj. Gen. Sarwo Edhie Wibowo and this is where Sarwo Edhie gave the nickname "Golden Head" to Tumsila because of his capable ability to score goals with headers and since then the nickname "Golden Head" has stuck with Tumsila both in PSMS and the national team.

The contracted players include Soetjipto Soentoro, Sinyo Aliandoe, Iswadi Idris, Judo Hadianto, Muliyadi (Persija), M. Basri (PSM), Abdul Kadir, Jacob Sihasale (Persebaya), Anwar Udjang (Persika), Max Timisela (Persib), plus there are 3 stars of PSMS Medan, namely Sarman Panggabean, Sunarto and Aziz Siregar.

The 7 teams that competed in the final round of the PSSI National Championship were PSMS Medan, Persija Jakarta, Persebaya Surabaya, PSM Makassar, Persib Bandung, PSKB Binjai and Persipura Jayapura.

[3] In September 1969 the PSMS squad, which succeeded in becoming the PSSI National Championship Champion, defended the banner of North Sumatra (Sumut) in PON VII which took place in Surabaya.

In this PON, the North Sumatran squad, which was managed by Ramli Yatim and EA Mangindaan, performed brilliantly and brought North Sumatra to win the Gold Medal after the final which was marked by scuffles between players, defeated DKI Jakarta 2–1 through goals scored by Iswadi Idris and Soetjipto Soentoro.

Ramli Yatim also succeeded in becoming the first person to win the PON Gold Medal as a Player and Coach.

And with Persija Jakarta, they became joint champions in the 1973–1975 season due to excessive protests to the referee in the 40th minute that caused the match had to be stopped.

The match was played at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, and was witnessed by 150.000 spectators of 110.000 seating capacity, which made a highest attendance record in the history of Indonesian football.

[2] During this glories eras, PSMS were strengthened by many quality players such as Yuswardi, Muslim, Sunarto, Sukiman, Ipong Silalahi, Wibisono, Tumsila, Sarman Panggabean, Suwarno, Tumpak Sihite, Nobon Kayamuddin, Zulkarnaen Pasaribu, Ismail Ruslan, Parlin Siagian, Sunardi B, Marzuki Nyakmad, Zulham Effendi Harahap, Sunardi A., Bambang Usmanto, Musimin, Sakum Nugroho M. Siddik, Ricky Yacobi, Abdul Kadir, Jacob Sihasale, Ronny Pasla, Yudo Hadianto, M.Basri, Taufik Lubis, Pariman, Iswadi Idris, Abdul Rahman Gurning, Anwar Ujang, Ponirin Meka, Jaya Hartono, Zulkarnaen Lubis, Sakum Nugroho, Soetjipto Soentoro and others.

The fierce competition ensued at the top of the league, and finally PSMS ranked 2nd and ensured their promotion to the Liga Indonesia along with Persebaya.

Before entering the new season, they won the second edition of Bang Yos Gold Cup, a pre-season competition initiated by Sutiyoso, the governor of Jakarta at that time.

In the last game in the western region, PSMS lost against Persijap Jepara 0–1 at home, while Persekabpas won 3–2 against Sriwijaya FC.

With their successful to retain their title in the fourth edition of Bang Yos Gold Cup that made them the immortal owner of Bang Yos Gold Cup, they believed they could won their first title in Liga Indonesia since the era of Perserikatan ended.

Their ambition was almost achieved after they were in 3rd position in the western region under Sriwijaya FC and Persija, who made them qualify for the last 8.

Starting from the massive exodus of star players who came out because of unresolved salary issues, then Teladan Stadium did not pass the stratification of Indonesia Super League which makes PSMS must move their home base, until the problem of disunity in the body of the club.

Looking at these achievements, Iwan Setiawan eventually sacked and replaced by New Zealander coach Eric Williams.

Eric Williams could not lift PSMS into a better position, so that he also sacked at the end of the first round and was replaced by Brazilian coach Luciano Leandro.

Even in the AFC Cup 2009, PSMS made a record as the first Indonesian football club who reached the last 16 after being the runner-up of Group F under South China, although they were later defeated by Chonburi FC 4–0 in the last 16.

In 2015, PSMS ended their dualism and started their campaign by winning Kemerdekaan Cup and also participated in the Indonesia Soccer Championship B.

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