Page "Harlow Town F.C." Paragraph 4

It is unknown how Harlow Town was formed.

Records exist, however, of the club's first match ; it took place on 18 October 1879 against Saffron Walden, with Harlow winning 1 – 0.

Since there were few teams in Essex at the time, Harlow found themselves playing Bishop's Stortford several times each season ; this sparked their long rivalry.