[2] The club became founder members of the Northern League in 1889–90 and moved to a new ground at Normanby Road.

They established themselves in the Northern League, finishing runners-up in 1894–95, 1895–96 and 1906–07 before finally winning their first title in 1907–08 after a play-off against Darlington St.Augustines.

They also achieved the largest win ever recorded in the Northern League on 29 April 1895 when they hammered North Skelton Rovers 21–0.

Four more runners-up spots in the league (1909–10, 1910–11, 1911–12, 1913–14)[6] were matched by success at national level, finishing runners-up in the FA Amateur Cup of 1909–10 (losing 2–1 to RMLI Gosport) before winning the same trophy in 1912–13, beating Oxford City 1–0 in a replay.

A second Northern League title, which had eluded the club before hostilities, was secured in 1919–20 after a three way play-off with Crook Town and Bishop Auckland.

The following two decades resulted in two more runners-up spots in 1926–27 and 1935–36,[6] as well as the Bankers an appearance in the First Round Proper of the FA Cup in 1925–26 when they were beaten by Stockton 4–1.

[6] In 1980, the club played their first match at home under floodlights and improved their league fortunes, finishing third on three occasion in the early 1980s.

Disaster struck the club in 1991, when an arson attack gutted the main stand and dressing rooms.

Worse was to come at the turn of the year as the thriving social club at Normanby Road was destroyed in a further arson attack.

The club name was kept alive and in 1995 they joined Wearside League Division Two, playing their games at Mannion Park.

[1] A team bearing the name South Bank FC now play in the Stockton Sunday League.