There is evidence of a football club in Little Oakley just before and after the First World War, when an informal team played friendlies on a field behind the village school. However, the current club was formed at the Memorial Club, as Little Oakley War Memorial in 1947, the main instigators being Nat Seaborn, Ted Messenger, Bill Wright, the AA man, and Arthur Rush, the Club's first Secretary. In those early days the teams changed in Bank Manager, Mr. Ingle's barn behind Foulton Hall, accessing the pitch via a gate in the top left hand corner of the field.

They joined the Harwich & District League Junior League in '49-50, and entered a Reserve side in the B Section of that League a year later. After two seasons in the Tendring Hundred League, from '53-54, they were elected into Division One of the Colchester & East Essex League, when the 1st Team's place in the THL was taken by the Reserves. Topping the Colchester table, in '56-57, the 1st Team were promoted to the Premier Division, but although they dropped back to Division One in 1960, they finished third two seasons later.

On the strength of this, and their facilities at the War Memorial Sports Ground, they were accepted into the Border League Division One in '63-64, lifting the Divisional Knock-Out Cup, that very season, when they beat Brightlingsea United 5-1. The season was completed when they also took the Harwich Junior Charity Cup with a 5-2 win over Ramsey War Memorial.

A year later, they were, once again in the Division One Knock-Out Final, losing 4-3 to Clacton North End and saw another Harwich Junior Charity Cup Final appearance but losing this time 3-2 to Parkeston Railway in '67-68. The Reserves had reverted to the Harwich League in 1957-58, but they returned to the THL in '62-63, also competing in the North East Essex Coastal League between '65-66 and '68-69.

The Club withdrew from the Border League and in '69-70 they replaced the Reserve Team in the Coastal League with just the one team for more than a decade. They won the Coastal League in '72-73, and regained their Division One slot in the Border League the following season.

Shedding the 'War Memorial' bit, in '74-75, they took a gap year in '78-79, returning to Division Three in '78-80. It was during the '80's that Little Oakley FC really came to the fore! They won the Harwich Junior Charity Cup in 1982, and in 1983 beating Dedham Old Boys on penalties and then Lawford Lads 3-2. Two Tommy Thompson Cup Finals brought victory over Parkeston Railway Reserves, in 1984, but saw a defeat against Donyland Swifts a year later.

Their Reserve side reformed in the Colchester League Division Four in '81-82 but joined the Border League in '82-83 after the 1st Team were promoted to Division Two. After three seasons in Division Two, the 1st Team were promoted to Division One in '84-85 and this saw the start of the Jim Warnes era. His team won Division One and the Premier Division title in '87-88. The Reserves were promoted in '87-88, they also won the Area pennant of the Essex Junior Cup.

A 3-1 against Stanway Rovers gave the Seniors the Essex Intermediate Cup in '89-90, and further League Championships, this time under Manager, Mick Felgate, followed in '92-93 and '93-94. There were also four back-to-back Harwich Intermediate Charity Cup successes between '89 and '92.

Having escaped relegation in 2002-03, Nigel Box was appointed as Manager for the '02-03 campaign, and his side winning the Championship for the fifth time that season.

A few dry years followed and with the appointment of Sean Tynan and Paul Sadler they won the Premier title in '16-17 after ending season '15-16 in second place. Season '15-16 saw the 1st Team reach the Essex Premier Cup Final but lost to 4-1 to Frenford Senior at Thurrock, but went on to winning the Essex and Suffolk Border League Knock-Out Cup in '16-17.

During '16-17 they applied to join the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League. Their application was granted and by the end of August 2017 the Club would have invested around £300k in their facilities at the Memorial Ground. This included installing new floodlights, fencing, two 50 standing spectator stands, a small all-weather 3G pitch with floodlighting and access paths.

As part of the Football Association's League pyramid restructuring for Step 6 they moved across to join the new Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior League First Division South from Season 2018/19.

In early November 2018, with the resignation of Sean Tynan as the First Team Manager the Club appointed Matt Carmichael who had previously been at Brantham Athletic and Harwich & Parkeston, as his replacement and they also took the opportunity to appoint Mark Sharp as the Football Club's Head Coach. Sean went on to manage Harwich & Parkeston in Season 2021/22.

Season 2021/22 saw the Club get promoted to the Essex Senior League Premier Division as part of Football Pyramid rationalisation, where they finished a very commendable 6th place.

At the start of Season 2022/23 the Club saw some movement in the Management team, when Michael Brothers moving to the Club Head and First Team Coach's roles, after a short period at the end of the previous season as a player, joining once again, Matt Carmichael, as they both previously had been at Brantham Athletic. Unfortunately the club saw Mark Sharp standing down as Head Coach due to other commitments.

Like most grass roots clubs they are totally dependent on volunteers. They are a large part of the local Harwich and Dovercourt community and are now well established as a much admired club. They have thriving Youth, Ladies and Junior sections, catering for all ages including the introduction of walking football into the Harwich area for the over 50’s during 2016.

But it does not stop there!

The Club launched a Full-Time Football Academy for 16-19 Year Olds starting Season 2019/20 from August 2019 and as from June 2019 the Club introduced Walking Netball sessions.

During Season 2021/22, they increased their 50-seater stand to a 100-seater, they installed a further 50 standing spectator stand, a vimeo video system and a matchday public address.