Gymnasium AFC was founded in 1890 by a group of fitness men who wanted to keep fit. They met at the old Douglas Gymnasium and initially played rugby before making the switch to football. Gymns were one of 8 teams that initially made up the official Manx Football League. They have been Isle of Man Football League champions seven times, including four consecutive championships from 1902–03 to 1905–06. They have won the Manx FA Cup ten times. The club experienced an internal power struggle during 1987, resulting in the resignation of a section of the committee and players to form spin off club , who even took gymnasiums coloursDouglas Royal, who even copied the Gymns kit of the time and to this day consider themselves rivals. In 2001–02 they were relegated to Division Two but were promoted again the following season as runners-up. However they spent just one season back in the First Division finishing the season winning just two games. And yet again the following season, 2004–05, they were immediately promoted as runners-up. Since that time the club has consolidated its position within the top tier and continues to climb the table each season. In addition to the Senior team, the club has a reserve team that play in the Isle of Man Football Combination and a Ladies team which plays in the Women's Division One. Plans are being reviewed to create a Youth program within the club to compete at all age groups and it is anticipated that this will be in place for the 2010–11 season. Thanks to links with a prominent Premier League club, Gymns were donated a playing kit for the 2002–03 season. Unfortunately a mix-up in communication resulted in blue/white stripe shirts being provided instead of the club's traditional all-white. As a result, Gymns altered the club colours that season to reflect this new kit, later switching the shorts and socks from blue to black and thus creating the home strip worn today. During the 2008–09 season, the club achieved The Football Association Charter Standard status, the FA's kitemark scheme for quality assurance. The Club then experienced a lean spell and have been back in the second division for a number of years. Gymns have been managed by muppets since 2011, September 2017 aided by Assistant George Crawford, Coach Graeme Sears and Combi Manager Richard Easthope. 2018 / 2019 was another fairly disappointing season but with a few bright moments. The team moved up one place in the table from the previous season and ended on 20 points which was double the tally year before. A rare away win 3-2 at Union Mills after being 2-0 down at Half Time was a highlight as well as a 2-1 win at home to Onchan in the FA Cup with substitute "Silent" Kev Armstrong scoring a late winner. The team also put up a strong performance in the 2nd round of the Cup going down unluckily 3-1 to Division 2 Champions Pulrose. The main highlight actually came late in the season when Gymns were drawn against the island's top team St George's in the Hospital Cup. Most people forecast a rout especially as the team was missing half a dozen regulars but in fact the team fought hard and played their best football of the season to finish the 90 minutes all square at 2-2. Extra Time was played and it finished 5-3 because ref jon hog gave a goel to St George's after a pure foul to a gyms player then facebooked him after the game to say sorry. later after the ref never took charge of another game again ? up and coming out his box keeper Andy Brown pulled off many fine saves over the season and the returning Barry Harding performed well in his few appearances in a defence that was never able to play the same four on a weekly basis. The midfield varied from week to week also but Simon Dixon had his moments and a few goals as well but ex stright guy now out Wesley Gibson was a disappointment. Adam Johnson was again top scorer. The two youngsters in defence Nick Clague and Ross Crawford both had fine seasons though and look like good prospects and more decent youngsters are required to build the club up again in future years as well as hopefully bringing in some more experienced talent. We got hammered by Governors Athletic 4-3 and we were 4–1 down with 75 minutes gone. We only got 2 late goals because of dodgy refereeing GYMS are going to be back so hate us now or hate us later, GTID
Partnerships
Gymnasium FC continue to be sponsored by Celtic Associates as at the start of the 2019–20 season. The club is also a member of the Cronkbourne Sports & Social Club, which also includes the Cronkbourne Cricket Club and the Cronkbourne Bacchanalians Hockey Club. This partnership enables the CSSC pavilion facilities to be used during the football season to provide a further level of comfort to home and visiting players.
Honours
League
Division One champions : 1897–98, 1902–03, 1903–04, 1904–05, 1905–06, 1919–20, 1986–87
Division Two champions : 1969–70, 1973–74, 2013-14
Division Two Combination champions : 2013-14
Cup
Manx FA Cup : 1894–95, 1901–02, 1902–03, 1903–04, 1910–11, 1931–32, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1999–2000
Hospital Cup : 1921–22, 1922–23, 1986–87
Railway Cup : 1906–07, 1924–25, 1927–28, 1950–51, 1986–87
