In February 1879, the Irish Rugby Football Union was formed, and listed Portadown as an affiliated club, with Thomas John (TJ) Collen as the honorary secretary.

The first recorded captain was Arthur Farrell, who was the son of the proprietor of the Portadown News.

The first recorded Portadown match took place at Ormeau on 11 December 1879 against Ulster F.C.

Although Jimmy Chambers played occasionally until 1948, the dominant personality in the club was Thomas Charles Wells, who joined in 1948 and remained until his death in 1976.

On Wednesday, 4 September 1963, several hundred spectators turned up to see the local side take on Ulster in the first match on Chambers Park, the town's new playing fields on the Lurgan Road.