During the 1940s and 1950s the team played in Division 2 but would enjoy greater success in the 1950s. Örgryte attracted record crowds despite the low status in the second division. The team recruited Gunnar Gren and in 1956 he becomes the player-coach for the offensive teams that attract large crowds to ÖIS matches. In 1958 the team is becoming more competitive. A young player in the team of this era was Agne Simonsson who later will go on to play in the Swedish National Football Team.