Elgin City Football Club was formed on the 10th August 1893, when Elgin Rovers and Vale of Lossie amalgamated to form the new club. The club played it's first competitive match on the 7th October 1893, defeating another Elgin side, Rangers Athletic 4-2 in a North of Scotland Cup 1st round tie at Association Park, Elgin, vice-captain John Christie scored the first goal for the new team.

On the 31st July 1895 the club was admitted to membership of the Highland Football League, and on the 28th September 1895, played it' s first match in the Leaaue, defeating Citadel 7-2 at Milnfield Park, Elgin, when Bob Hamilton netted four goals!

On the 2nd August 1898, the club joined the SFA, and on 10th December 1898, they became the first club outside Inverness to capture the North of Scotland Cup, when they defeated Clachnacuddin 2-1 at Kingsmills Park, Inverness.

In March 1899, former City player R.C. Hamilton (Rangers) won the first of his eleven Scotland caps. Over the next ten years City struggled in the Highland League, and actually resigned in 1900, but returned in 1902 (after two years in the Banffshire League!), the only successes were in the Elgin District Cup, which was won in 1904, 1906 and 1908.

The club qualified for the Scottish Cup three seasons in a row 1908, 1909, 1910 (the first Highland League club to achieve this) prior to World War I, but went out in the first round to Dunblane (3-8), Motherwell (1-6) and St. Mirren (0-8) respectively.

In 1909 a new ground - Station Park was opened, and that 1909/10 season saw the club come so close to their first Highland League title, but went down 2-1 to Inverness Thistle in a championship play-off(Replay) at Mosset Park, Forres, (after a 1-1 draw).

Up to 1915 the club had produced a number of players who had gone on to professional clubs in the Scottish and English Leagues such as R. C. Hamiiton (Rangers, Fulham, Morton, Hearts & Dundee), James Miller (Rangers, Port Glasgow, Middlesborough, Bradford City & Aberdeen), James Gray (St. Mirren & Celtic), John MacLachlan (Dundee & Aston Villa), Harry Anderson (Morton & Swindon), Billy Farquhar (Sunderland), Jimmy Low (Hearts), John Mackenzie (Rangers & Cowdenbeath),

With the resumption of football in 1919, the club had no ground, (as Station Park had been ploughed up for the war effort!) and only £14 in the bank, but were given use of the Cooper Park till a more suitable field could be found.

On 20th August 1921, Borough Briggs was opened, a a 3-0 win over Citadel in a Highland League fixture was recorded.

In the 1920s the club had a better record in the Highland League, Runners-Up in 1922/23, and third in seasons 1923/23, 1924/25, 1925/26 & 1928/29. The Club qualified for the Scottish Cup four times, The City' s first home tie with St. Mirren in 1923 attracted a crowd of over 5,000. In 1927 Scottish Second Division side, Albion Rovers were beaten 1-0 in the first round, but Elgin went down 4-2 to Clyde in the second round. The North of Scotland Cup returned to Elgin after a 25 year wait in March 1924, when Inverness Thistle were defeated 3-2, with goals from skipper George "Rocky" Munro, and a brace from 16 year old Harry Bremner.

The 1930s provided Elgin with Highland League success at long last with titles in 1931/32 under the guidance of Bert MacLachlan and 1934/1935 with Lachie McMillan as player/coach, they were also 2nd in 1930 & 1933, 3rd in 1937, 1938 & 1939. The Scottish Qualifying Cup was won twice in 1935 and 1937 with City defeating Blairgowrie on both occasions, the North of Scotland Cup was won in 1937 when Clachnacuddin were defeated 3-2.

After the 1939-45 conflict, it was to be as good losers that Elgin were noted for being, particularly in 1948/49 season, losing three major finals - League Cup, Qualifying Cup and North Cup, they finished 3rd in the League, a trip to Ibrox in the Scottish Cup resulted in a 6-1 defeat against Rangers before a 29,000 crowd.

Elgin were back at Ibrox again in 1952, and again lost 6-1 to the "Gers", this time the crowd was over 36,000. The Highland League title returned to Elgin in 1952/53 season, and again in 1955/56 (after a 3-2 play-off win over Buckie Thistle), North Cup wins were also recorded in 1955 and 1956 beating old rivals Caledonian on both occasions.

The 1960s provided Elgin City with seven Highland League titles, two League Cups, three Scottish Qualifying Cups and four North Cups as well as Scottish Cup glory never known by a Non-League club since before the first World War. The Scottish Cup runs of the 60s are still spoken about yet in the Laich o` Moray! 1960 - when Forfar were crushed 5-1, then only two late goals denied City a famous win over Celtic before 11,207 fans at Borough Briggs. 1961 - After a thrilling 2-2 draw with Airdrie before 7,800 crowd, City went down 2-0 under the floodlights at Broomfield Park.

1967 - 9,500 see First Division, Ayr United beaten 2-0 at Borough Briggs, but the City went down 7-0 to eventual European Champions - Celtic - before 34,000 at Parkhead. 1968 - wins over Albion Rovers 3-1, Forfar 3-1 and Arbroath 2-0 (before 12,650 crowd) see City in the Quarter finals, only to go down 2-1 at Cappielow to Morton.

The early 1970s also provided silverware aplenty, League Champions in 1970 and 1974, Scottish Qualifying Cup winners in 1970, North Cup winners in 1971, 1973 & 1976. Scottish cup runs also continued in 1971 - wins over Stenhousemuir and Berwick, before a 5-0 exit at Aberdeen. 1972 - wins over Stenhousemuir, Burntisland and Caledonian before a crourd of 10,500 saw a 4-1 defeat by Kilmamock. 1977 - Wins over Forfar and Stirling Albion, led to a third visit to meet Rangers at Ibrox, this time 3-0 defeat before 18,000 fans. 1979 saw the departure of Ian Wilson to Leicester City for a £20,000 fee, he was later capped by Scotland.

The 1980s saw a decline in Elgin's fortunes, Runners-up in the Highland League in 1983 & 1986, third place in 1981 & 1987. League Cup winners in 1982, Runners-up in 1985. Scottish Qualifying Cup Runners-up in 1981 and 1983, North of Scotland Cup winners in 1983 & 1989, Runners-up 1980. Alan Main went to Dundee United for £8,000.

1989/90 saw a major Elgin revival, treble of League title, Scottish Qualifying Cup and North Cup won, a Scottish Cup win over Arbroath, then defeat by Brechin. 1990/91 League Cup winners. 1992/93 League championship was stripped in the club' s centenary year. Four barren years were ended in 1997 with a League Cup success, this was followed by North of Scotland Cup wins back to back in 1997/98 and 1998/99 seasons. Transfers took John McGinlay (£25,000) to Shrewsbury Town and Mike Teasdale to Dundee (£32,000).

In 2000, saw Elgin City win election to the Scottish Football League, joining the 3rd Division along with Peterhead. The team struggled in their first few seasons in the SFL and the club was badly hit by the Moray floods of 2001, couple that with the flood of 1997 and it nearly saw the club disappear altogether with a crippling debt.

All of this culminated in a failed takeover bid by Kenny and Cindi Black in December 2005. In an eleventh hour bid, the majority shareholding was bought by local sponsors Robertson Group to keep the club afloat and to keep it in the hands of it's shareholders.

Since that point, the fortunes of the club have turned around, with a new board and a new management team. Hopes are high that success on and off the pitch will soon return to Borough Briggs.

Overall: 14 times Highland League Champions, Highland League Cup Winners - 5 times (from nine finals), Scottish Qualifying Cup Winners - 7 times (from 15 finals) and North of Scotland Cup Winners - 17 times (from 26 final appearances).

By Robert Weir, updated by Jason Bochel