The club was founded in 1878 as part of the sports and recreational provision of Pilkington Glass. Initially the side played rugby union, and sometimes association football. However, on 14 June 1913, to settle the future of the club, it was announced that it was to abandon association football to concentrate on rugby football. After considerable discussion, it was unanimously agreed to join the constitution of the Northern Rugby Football Union. The Recs, still officially known as the St Helens Recs, were based at City Road and played their first game on 6 September 1913. To bolster the ranks of the war time league, St Helens Recreation along with Brighouse Rangers and Featherstone Rovers were promoted from district leagues to join the senior clubs for the duration of the conflict. St Helens now had two professional rugby clubs, with the St Helens R.F.C. being the other professional club. During the 1920s, and 1930s, the Recs played at every level of competition, hosting visiting Australian touring sides and gaining honours in the game, including; winning the Lancashire league in the 1926–27 season, winning the 1923, and 1930 Lancashire Cups, and being runners-up in the 1924, 1926, and 1933 Lancashire Cups. Despite their success on the pitch, they played their last game on 29 April 1939. The game was away at Hull Kingston Rovers, and Recs lost 25-12. The club had been suffering for a while on falling attendances and the economic depression, it was not possible for the town to sustain two teams. Upon the termination of Recs as a professional entity, many fans and employees of Pilkington Glass declined to support the great rivals St Helens R.F.C. They instead switched allegiances to Wigan Warriors. Many families across St Helens continue to support Wigan Warriors to this day.
Players earning international caps while at St. Helens Recs
F. Albert Bailey won caps for England while at St. Helens Recs
Oliver Dolan won caps for England while at St. Helens Recs
Albert 'Alec' Fildes won caps for England while at St. Helens Recs, and won caps for Great Britain while at St. Helens Recs. While at St Helens R.F.C. he was again an international
John "Johnny" Greenall won caps for England while at St. Helens Recs 1923 Wales, and won caps for Great Britain while at St. Helens Recs 1921-22 Australia
James "Jim" Owen won caps for England while at St. Helens Recs 1921 Wales, Other Nationalities, Australia, 1923 Wales, and won caps for Great Britain while at St. Helens Recs 1921-22 Australia
James "Jimmy" Pyke, won a cap for England while at St. Helens Recs in 1892 against Wales
James "Jim" Wallace won caps for England while at St. Helens Recs 1925 Wales, 1926 Other Nationalities, and won caps for Great Britain while at St. Helens Recs 1926-27 New Zealand
