The club was founded on 16 October 1878 as an amateur side known as Ipswich A.F.C., under the presidency of local MP Thomas Cobbold who had played football at Charterhouse School [REF].
The club won their first trophy in the 1886-87 season, triumphing 2-1 against a team representing Ipswich School in the final of the Suffolk Challenge Cup [REF].