Tranmere Rovers Football Club was founded by two cricket teams - Belmont CC and Lyndhurst Wanderers - forming together, initially as Belmont FC. They played and won their opening match 4-0 against Brunswick Rovers on November 15, 1884. The next year they re-named themselves after the district of the Wirral in which they played - Tranmere. Under this title they played games at Steeles Field on Borough Road, Birkenhead, in the stripes of blue shorts and white shirts. In 1887 they had a new ground from Tranmere Rugby Club, Ravenshaws Field, also on Borough Road. This was then changed name to Prenton Park, although it was not until March 9, 1912 that the club moved into the current stadium of that name.

The club had by this period joined the West Lancashire League in which they competed for 30 years, winning it in 1908. TRFC nearly folded in 1899 when most players elected to join the rival Birkenhead FC, and the team had to rent out the ground to Bikenhead Warriors Rugby Club - who did at least bring a 250 seat stand with them. Tranmere were eventually promoted to the Central League in 1919 (tho not by 'normal' means - Leeds City Reserves were expelled for overpayment of wages, Tranmere took both their place and their points!), and then to the Third Division North in which they starred their debut match against Crewe Alexandra at Prenton Park on August 27, 1921. At this time the team were managed by Bert Cooke - who did so for 23 years in total.