The club was formed at a meeting at the Compleat Angler Hotel on 22 November 1870. In 1871–72 they competed in the first-ever FA Cup, losing 2–0 to Maidenhead in the first round; one of their players was Cuthbert Ottoway, who went on to captain England in their match against Scotland the following year, the first-ever recognised football international. In 1881–82 the club reached the FA Cup semi-finals, losing 5–0 to Old Etonians. During the 1890s the club was also known as Great Marlow. They joined the Western Section of the Spartan League in 1908. However, the club resigned midway through the 1910–11 season.