Porthleven were established in 1896 and were founding members of the Cornwall Combination in 1959, winning the inaugural league title.

After winning the Cornwall Combination three more times they moved up to the South Western League for the 1967–68 season.

After a poor 1976–77 season the club dropped back down, replacing their reserve side in the Cornwall Combination.

Following Carey's departure at the end of the 2003–04 season the club were forced to rebuild their squad, and consequently finished bottom of the South Western League in 2004–05, with the reserves suffering the same fate in the Cornwall Combination.

Having successfully avoided re-election, Porthleven improved on this performance in subsequent seasons, and in 2006–07 finished 9th, high enough to obtain a place in the Premier Division of the newly formed South West Peninsula League.