 The club was founded in 1908 in Paddington , Sydney , under the name Eastern Suburbs ; in 1995 the club 's marketing brand name was changed to the Sydney City Roosters and , in 2000 , to simply the Sydney Roosters . The Bondi Junction and Moore Park @-@ based Roosters have a long @-@ standing and fierce rivalry with other Sydney @-@ based clubs , especially the South Sydney Rabbitohs , a fellow foundation club based in neighbouring Redfern . Notwithstanding its branding as the Sydney Roosters , the official name of the club , holder of the NRL licence , remains the Eastern Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club , the same name it has had since 1908 . As such , much of the club 's merchandise and paraphernalia , especially those marketed directly to long @-@ serving and dedicated members , includes the insignia ESDRLFC . 
