On Wednesday, November 3rd, 1869, in a room above George Lee's Fruit Store, the Hamilton Football Club was formed. Hamilton Football Clubs have captured the Grey Cup in every decade of the 20th century, a feat matched in pro sport by only one other franchise, the Montreal Canadiens. In 1908, the Tigers won the Dominion Championship, a year before the Grey Cup was presented.

Prior to World War II, the football team of the City of Hamilton was known as the Tigers. The colours of yellow and black were well represented and the present philosophy of tough football was established in those early days. The only time that football was interrupted in Hamilton as a spectator sport was during the First and Second World Wars.

After World War II the Tiger Football Team started competition once again. At the same time a new group in the City was formed and they became known as the Hamilton Wildcats. As it can well be imagined, competition was high on and off the field. The Hamilton Tigers were able to induce players like Frank Filchuk and Merle Hapes in the late 40's to come up and play for no more than simple athletic awards.

The competition for fan participation was so great that both teams were unable to operate on a sound financial basis. Under the guidance of Mr. Ralph W. Cooper, Mr. F.M. Gibson and many other prominent Hamilton citizens, including the late Mr. C.C. Lawson and the late Mr. Sam Manson, it was decided that the two Clubs should amalgamate and form one representative team for Hamilton.

The present name, TIGER-CATS, and what is known as the modern era of football started in 1950. In order that the two groups could work favourably together they selected Mr. Cooper as President to bring these two factions to work under one roof.

The first action taken by the new amalgamated group and Mr. Cooper was to select Mr. Carl M. Voyles as Coach and General Manager of the football team. This man had a successful background as a Coach, but, more important, was known for his organizational ability. Working under a limited budget, Coach Voyles was able to entice some outstanding American players such as Mazza, Jones, Carpenter, Sazio, Gregus, Heath, and Scott to come to Hamilton and form the nucleus of a solid football team. The height of Coach Voyles' career and the rebuilding of a new football team was reached in 1953 when the Tiger-Cats appeared in the Grey Cup game and defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

With the retirement of Coach Voyles at the end of the 1955 season, a new Head Coach, Jim Trimble and new General Manager, Mr. J.G. Gaudaur, were appointed. Coach Trimble and Mr. Gaudaur continued the winning ways of the Tiger-Cats, appearing in five Grey Cup games in the years 1957, 1958, 1959, and 1962.

The above facts are from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Organization.