Bromley Football Club was founded in 1892 and played friendly games against mainly local opposition sides in its first season. Their first competitive football came in the South London League, which was won at the first attempt. However, they moved frequently between leagues in those early days: two seasons in the Southern Football League were followed by a spell in the London League, winning the Division Two title in 1897.

After a brief interlude in the Kent League, Bromley returned to the London League but were expelled in 1900. They then competed in the Spartan League, and after winning the title in 1908, they had their first spell in the Isthmian League and won the championship in each of their first two seasons. After the First World War they joined the Athenian League, winning the title in 1923. The club then moved into its current Hayes Lane stadium in 1938.

Though the 1930s were successful on the cup front, league honours eluded them until 1949 when they lifted the Athenian League Championship, to go with the FA Amateur Cup. Three years later they rejoined the Isthmian League, and again made an immediate impact finishing runners up at the first attempt, and going one better in 1954, reversing the previous season's six-point margin over Walthamstow Avenue, who were again runners up when Bromley were champions again in 1961.

The following season they had only two clubs below them, and in thirteen subsequent seasons only twice finished in the top half, culminating in relegation in 1975, the second time they had finished at the bottom.

Bromley were promoted back to the newly-named Premier Division in 1980, and during an up-and-down period they were relegated again in 1984 then promoted two years later before finishing runners-up to Yeovil Town in 1988 – the highest league position for over 25 years – and then relegated for a third time two years later.

Regaining Premier Division status at the first attempt under new manager George Wakeling, they remained in the top flight until 1999 when, after their best start to a season for many a year – thirteen points out of the first five games – they only won four of the remaining 37 league games, and as a consequence were relegated for the fourth time since promotion and relegation was introduced.