In was in 1889 that a band of local football fans decided to run an 
official organized team in the town. This was not the first junior football 
team from the town as records show that Linlithgow Athletic were founder 
members of the East of Scotland junior FA in 1886.
 Donations were collected and with further fund raising the sum of 24 
shillings was raised. With this money a visit was made to Lumley`s in 
Edinburgh and the clubs first strip was purchased in the colours black and 
white. It`s well known that the clubs colours are the famous maroon and 
white but until a few years ago the clubs away strip was still black and 
white. The clubs first ground was known as Captains Park as situated at the 
east end of the town near the boghall area. Many keen and exciting games were 
staged here and it was while playing here that the club won their first 
trophy. The year was 1902 and the club travelled to Tyncastle Park Edinburgh 
to defeat Inverkeithing Thistle and win the Forth League. The players 
returned to a tumultuous reception it appeared that the whole town had turned 
out to greet the team and the local band played them around the town.
 The next trophy to be won was in 1905 when by defeating Vale of Grange they 
won the County Cup. It was around this time that a dispute among the 
committee nearly led to the club folding.
 The story goes that the Rose had been drawn at home to Duns Athletic in the
Junior Cup. On the day of the tie there had been a heavy snowfall, but with
the help of supporters the pitch was cleared allowing the game to go on.
The Duns team had arranged to travel by train to Linlithgow but because of 
the snow the train only reached Philpstoun which meant they had to finish 
the journey to Captain`s Park on foot.
 In a hard fought match the scores finished level which meant the Rose were 
left with a daunting journey to Duns for the replay the following week. 
Disgusted with the teams performance a number of the committee suggested that
they would not travel and the club should withdraw from the cup. This led to 
heated arguments and threatened resignations but in the end the match was 
played with the Rose winning 5-0