The club was founded in 1987 by Retfordian Brian Jackson to give the town a senior club after Retford Town had gone out of business. The club's inaugural season was in the Gainsborough & District League which was successful so it applied to join the Notts Football Alliance the following season and competed in that league up until 2001, when they joined the Central Midlands League.

The incredible next several years of growth was attributed to local Retfordian Mr Dean Vivian. It was his financial support that built the ground, club house, floodlights, so much more, not to mention funding of the first team that catapulted Retford United's success. Just three years passed before another milestone was reached and the club joined the Northern Counties East League.

The success continued, finishing as runners-up in the Northern Counties East League Division One in 2005–06, gaining promotion to the Premier Division, which they won at their first attempt. They were then promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One South, which they won two years running, gaining promotion to the Premier Division in 2009. In all, between 2000 and 2009, they won a total of six championships, of various leagues and divisions, in nine seasons.

However, at the end of the 2010–11 season they finished bottom and were relegated to the Northern Premier League Division One South. Due to financial constraints, the club opted to resign from the Northern Premier League and to compete in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division where they again won the title in the 2011/12 season but they rejected promotion opting instead to continue in NCEL.

Retford reached the fifth round (last 16) of the FA Vase in the 2006–07 season, while their best run in the FA Cup consisted of one appearance in the fourth qualifying round, in the 2008–09 season, where they were defeated 3–1 by Alfreton Town. Their first season in the FA Trophy in 2007–08 took them to the first round where they were defeated 5–2 by Histon. Retford were relegated from the 1st division of the NCEL at the end of season 2017-2018.

The club has been taken over by Nik Springthorpe. Bringing a lot of change to the club with a refurbished clubhouse, changing rooms and various outside areas of the ground. After two incomplete seasons due to Covid, the Badgers won the only silverware available as they won the Chairman’s Cup in 2021 and then in the 2022 season they lifted the Notts Senior Trophy.

In June 2022, former player and Badgers legend Ryan Hindley took the reins and at his first attempt took the Badgers back up to the NCEL after winning the Central Midlands League by 17 points, only losing one league game! The Badgers reached the Play Off Semi-Final in their first season back in step 6 but fell to Beverley Town. We were moved sideways to the United Counties League for the 2024/25 season. Once again reaching the Playoffs but this time lost to Blackstones FC. Would things work out better for the Badgers come the next season...

The 2025/26 season marked one of the most memorable chapters in Retford United’s history, as the Badgers finally secured their long-awaited return to Step 5 football. Ryan Hindley’s side enjoyed an outstanding league campaign, accumulating an incredible 103 points. Despite that remarkable total, automatic promotion remained just out of reach, meaning the Badgers would have to earn their place through the play-offs. After overcoming Staveley Miners in the semi-final, Cannon Park was chosen to host the play-off final against Coalville Town on 2 May 2026. It was one of, if not the biggest, matches in the club’s history, and those in attendance witnessed an unforgettable afternoon of drama.

Retford went into half-time with a 1–0 lead following a superb finish from Oliver Wilson. A trademark Ross Duggan goal in the 53rd minute then doubled the advantage, putting the Badgers within touching distance of promotion. However, the match was turned completely on its head when the Ravens scored twice in the space of two minutes to level the score. With the game finishing 2–2 after 90 minutes, the final headed into extra time. Just one minute into the second period of extra time, Coalville completed the turnaround and moved 3–2 ahead.

Retford’s hopes appeared to be slipping away, but in the 112th minute substitute Lewis Chambers produced a powerful finish to equalise and take the contest to penalties. Goalkeeper Harvey Woodward became the hero of the shootout, saving two Coalville penalties before Chambers stepped forward to score the decisive spot-kick. A jubilant pitch invasion followed as players, staff and supporters celebrated a truly historic promotion long into the night.

On 14 May 2026, it was officially confirmed that Retford United would return to the Northern Counties East League, competing in the Premier Division during the 2026/27 season.