Colchester Football Club was established in October 1873 and were founder members of the Essex FA in 1882. They were the first winners of the Essex Senior Cup, defeating Braintree 3–1 in the final. In 1890 Colchester Excelsior merged into the club. The club played in the Colchester Borough League, which they won in 1894–95 but then withdrew at the end of the season. In 1899 the club was renamed Colchester Town and entered the North Essex League, in which they played for two seasons, winning it in both. They returned to the Borough League in 1901.