Warley amateur swimming club was founded with the opening of Rolfe Street Baths on 7th May 1888 and following a public meeting that month, Smethwick swimming club was formed and the first general meeting held on June 18th 1888.

Smethwick Swimming Club quickly became an important part of the sporting scene within the area and by 1900 had become part of the Smethwick Recreative and Athletic Association (SR & AA).

The water polo section was formed in 1895 and by the end of the century was winning honours in the newly formed Birmingham and District Water Polo League.

In the early years, Smethwick Swimming Club was strongly connected with Mirchells and Butlers whose own swimming club functioned as a sub-section of Smethwick Swimming Club. Both Mr Mitchell and Mr Butler were active members of the Smethwick Club Committee.

Initially, club membership was open to men only but membership was soon open to ladies as well, although it took until 1911 for the first mixed swimming gala to be held.

An extract from the original rules of Smethwick Swimming Club gives its objective as being "to promote the art of swimming, floating, diving and plunging." Smethwick Swimming Club always took seriously its responsibility for providing swimming opportunities for its members and a professional instructor, Mr A Sheldon, was first engaged in 1903.