Poole FC were formed on 20th September 1890 by the merger between two local sides, Poole Rovers and Poole Hornets, who can trace their origins back to 1880. Poole do not enter the Dorset League until 1896, where they stay until 1902/03.
In 1903/04 Poole join the Hampshire League for the first time, but only for one season. They competed in the West Division finishing in 4th place with 17 points from 14 games, just above Bournemouth Poppies.

After a year out of league competition, Poole return to the Hampshire League West Division for a longer stay, finishing 5th out of 7 teams in 1905/06. They finished 4th out of 7 in 1906/07, 4th of 8 in 1907/08.

Poole could always rely on success in cup competition, and won the Dorset Senior Cup for the 5th time in 1907, winning the original trophy outright.

Poole's best season was 1908/09 when they finished runners up, just 1 point behind Longfleet St Mary's. Much interest was expressed by football supporters in the outcome of this competition and a crowd of 400 was in attendance at the Sterte ground to see Poole beat Boscombe 3-1, and over 1000 were to see the late season decider between Longfleet St Mary's and Poole. Unfortunately Poole finished 6th out of 7 the following season and drop back into the Dorset County League, their place being taken by Lymington.

Returning in 1911 for a third spell in the West Division of the Hampshire League, but continue to struggle, finishing 6th out of 7, 4th from 8 and 6th from 10, before being halted by the First World War.

Resuming in 1919/20 season, the club were briefly known as Poole & St. Mary's, finished 7th out of 8, with Boscombe as runaway leaders. Reverting back to Poole FC in 1920/21, they were 6th out of 10, above Christchurch on goal difference.

Following League reorganisation, Poole found themselves elevated to the County Division, finishing 12th out of 15, above Thornycroft Athletic and Basingstoke. However, the first team were bottom out of 17 in 1922/23, just behind Winchester City, while the reserves were bottom out of 10 in the West Division.

Although still an amateur club, Poole joined the Western League in 1923 for three years, and were able to restore some success to the club, winning the Dorset Senior Cup again in 1926.

Poole turned professional in 1926 and joined the Southern League, Eastern Division. They were admitted with Sheppey United and Sittingbourne to replace Coventry City Reserves, Fulham Reserves and Nuneaton Borough (then known as Nuneaton Town), while champions Torquay United were replaced by their Reserves.

Although only placed 14th out of 17 sides in 1926/27, the season was distinguished by an excellent FA Cup run, beat Third Division (South) side Newport County 1-0 at Sterte and met Everton in the 3rd Round proper, where they were beaten 3-1 by a Dixie Dean hat-trick at Goodison Park in front of a 65,000 crowd. Poole's left half Dickie is later signed by First Division Everton, who were knocked out in the 4th round by a 2nd replay giant-killing act by Second Division Hull. Everton won the League Championship the following year.

Poole won the Dorset Senior Cup for the second year running in 1927, and reached the FA Cup 1st Round Proper three years running from 1926-29, but were only able to make mid-table finishes in the Southern League.
During the Depression in 1929/30, Poole found it impossible to complete the last 4 games of the season, their record is expunged. At the time they had played 30, Won 7, Drawn 6, Lost 17, Goals for 44, Goals against 81 and 20 points. Poole were not the only side affected, out of the 33 Southern League sides, only 21 formed up for the 1930/31 season.
Poole drop into the Western League, where they remained until 1957, except for one season in 1934/35.
In 1933, they move to Poole Stadium which they built up themselves.
In 1934/35, Poole Town, as they are now known, have their 4th spell in the Hampshire League, finishing 13th out of 16 in Division 1, in between Ryde Sports and Bournemouth Poppies.

Poole Town had a quiet time of it until just after the war, when they resume in the Western League. In 1946/47 season they had an excellent run in the FA Cup, through to a first round match against Queens Park Rangers, drawing 2-2 at Loftus Road, but losing 6-0 in the replay in front of a then, record breaking Poole Stadium crowd of 10,224.

Poole were Western League Runners-up on four occasions, 1946/47, 1949/50, 1953/54 and 1955/56, as well as getting to the final of the League Cup, before winning the Western League championship in 1956/57, and achieved elevation back into the Southern League.

Poole finished 10th in their first season. The following year the Southern League was expanded from 22 to 35 clubs and split into two zones, Poole Town were 8th in the South Eastern Zone and qualified as founder members of the Southern Premier, when the League was enlarged to 44 clubs (to accomodate Kent League clubs who had left it too late to resign the previous season) and split into Premier and First Divisions. However, Premier status only lasted a year as Poole finished 21st and dropped into the First Division.

Runners up in 1961/62 a point behind Wisbech Town only gave Poole another single year in the Premier. Poole had another good FA Cup run in 1962/63, reaching the First Round proper and held Watford to a 2-2 draw at Vicarage Road, but lost the replay at Poole Stadium (in front of 11,155).

In 1964/65 Poole finished 3rd in the First Division, behind Hereford United and Wimbledon and were back in the Premier.

Poole reached the 1st Round proper in 1966/67, and met QPR again at Loftus Road, Rodney Marsh scoring all three as Poole go down 2-1.

Poole enter the Anglo Italian Cup for semi-professional clubs in 1981, and go all the way to the final, losing 4-1 to Modena in Italy.

The FA Cup 1st Round proper is reached once more in 1983/84, holding Newport County to a 0-0 draw in front of 5000 at Poole, but the Welshmen were able to bury the Poole bogey with a couple of goals from John Aldridge to put Poole out 3-1 in the replay.

Poole won the Dorset Senior Cup for the 11th time in 1989 and were runners up in the Southern Division in 1988/89 but survived only two years in the Premier, finishing 17th then 20th in 1991/92.

In 1992 Nicky Dent, bought for a club record fee of £5000 two years earlier, is sold to Dover for £8000, another club record.

In 1994 Poole are forced out of Poole Stadium, their home for 61 years and begin a ground sharing arrangement with Hamworthy United, and just avoid relegation from the Dr Martens (Southern League), finishing 20th out of 22 in 1994/95.

Then the club have it's worst season as they go through 1995/96 without a win, gaining just 1 point from a 0-0 result against Bashley, to avoid the worst ever playing record. Final position was: Played 42, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 41, Goals for 17, Goals against 188, Goal Difference -171, Points 1. The club drop out of the Southern League, and made to leave their Hamworthy Home at the same time. Holt United of Dorset League Division 2 give The Dolphins a home and are accepted into the Hampshire League Division 1.

In 1997 the slide is halted, although only a 12th place finish, the club wins the last 10 games and have hopes of success in the near future.

1997/98 Season. Firstly, Poole win the Dorset Senior Cup for the 12th time, beating their former hosts Hamworthy United 2-1 in the Final. Secondly, Poole win the Trophyman League Cup Final 5-0 against New Street. Finally, finish 3rd in Division 1 and just miss promotion to the Wessex League.

1998/99. Poole become the first team to win and retain the Trophyman League Cup after beating New Street again, 1-0 in the final. The Dolphins finish runners up in Hampshire Division 1, just 3 points behind champions Alton Town. Although runners up, the Hampshire League is restructured and with the creation of the Hampshire Premier League, Poole Town are effectively relegated 'down' to Hampshire Division 1 due to insufficient ground standards.

The playing record speaks for itself over the recent past seasons under Trevor Parker and more recently under Peter Moore / Paul Morrell / Dean Mooney & Brian O'Donnell + Tom Killick's team. Ground problems have seen many knock backs with promotions denied + demotions.

1999/2000 Poole Town gained that much sought after step up to Hampshire Premier. The support both home and away has been tremendous with average gates well over the 100+ mark, with 200+ at times.

General league re-organisation saw Wessex 2 football in 2005 and promotion to Wessex 1 for 2005/06.

PTFC, Oakdale School and Poole Council continue to develop Tatnam as a community project.