The club was founded in 1869 and its first match, against Forest School at the start of 1870, was played to a modified rugby code.

[6] The following year saw the club's best FA Cup run, beating High Wycombe[7] and Southall to reach the quarter-finals, losing to Shropshire Wanderers in a replay.

The initial tie (at the Kennington Oval) ended 1–1 after the sides agreed to play the optional 15 minutes of extra-time.

[9] The club's final FA Cup appearance was in the 1875–76 tournament, losing to Panthers in the first round at the neutral ground of Winchester College.

[10] Woodford Wells' final reported match was a 3–0 defeat to the Royal Engineers in March.