Forest Football Club was founded in 1958 under the name Forest Old Boys. The team was originally for former pupils of Forest Boys' School in Comptons Lane, Horsham.

Matches were played at the school playing fields and the club progressed through the Horsham League and Crawley League into the now-defunct Southern Counties Combination.

From the late 1970s until the mid-1980s Forest were arguably the most successful side in the town with Horsham struggling in the lower reaches of the Isthmian League and Horsham YMCA failing to make an impression in the County League.

1987-88 was a turning point for the club. A move from Forest School to the better facilities at Roffey Social + Sports Club in Spooners Road meant Forest were eligible for promotion to the County League.

During their one season in the Mid Sussex League, the first-team won both the premier division title and the Sussex Intermediate Cup.

Forest's 15 years in county football have produced many ups and downs, but the club remains in division three. The current committee has major plans to upgrade the ground with new fencing, a training area and floodlights. Improved guard rails and hard-standing areas were installed in the summer of 2001.

The club enjoyed its most successful season ever in 2001-02 when finishing in third place in Division Three, just one spot away from promotion to senior football for the first time. An important landmark was reached when the reserve team was elected to the County League's reserve section and the under-18 team re-joined the County League.