Founded in 1985, the club was known as Hailes United, Edinburgh Star, Tynecastle, Bonnyrigg Rose and Whitehill Welfare over the first twenty years of its existence.

While operating as Whitehill Welfare the club was promoted to the Scottish Women's Premier League in 2004.

[2] Having won the Scottish Women's Premier League Cup as Edinburgh Ladies in 2006–07, Spartans lost a further five League Cup finals in 2008–09, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013[3] as well as the final of the 2014 Scottish Women's Cup, all by heavy margins and at the hands of Glasgow City on four of the six occasions.

They finished as Premier League runners-up behind Glasgow City in 2008–09 and 2011.

[4] As of 28 Aug 2022[5] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.