PSNI FC was founded in 1928 as RUC, derived from Royal Ulster Constabulary and changed its name in 2002, following the police service's name change to the PSNI.
The club joined the Northern Amateur Football League in 1956 and became one of its leading clubs before being elevated to the Irish League B Division in 1975. The club stayed at this level until failing to gain a place in the reorganised and re-branded IFA Championship in 2008.
Although originally only serving members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland could play for the team, this rule is no longer in effect.
In February 2019, Will Horwood was appointed as PSNI FC manager. Six months later, in November 2019, Horwood appointed 20-year-old Rhys Hadden as the assistant manager.
In January 2020, Glenn Taggart was appointed manager of PSNI FC, with Hadden remaining as assistant manager.
In April 2023, the club finished bottom of the NIFL Premier Intermediate League and was due to drop into amateur league football for the first time since 1973. However the club retained their league status in a new, 14-team PIL, due to issues with finding an appropriate league, and the issues with Warrenpoint Town. The move encored a great deal of criticism due to the move lacking sporting integrity, effectively meaning the club could not be relegated.[2]
The club would finish bottom of the NIFL Premier Intermediate League and be successfully relegated this time, dropping out of senior football for the first time since 1973.
