They are traditionally the strongest team from the city, and played in the top flight of New Zealand football in both league and cup competitions.

Athletic played in the 1993, 1994, and 1995 regional superclub championships, reaching the national league stage in 1993, where they finished seventh.

In 2009 the team entered a partnership with local rivals Wanganui City to form a top-level team, Wanganui United, with both clubs feeding the squad.

The idea was short-lived; after the 2010 season Wanganui United disbanded, with the players released back to their respective clubs.

This article about a New Zealand association football club is a stub.