Founded as Sociedade Esportiva e Recreativa Castelense, the club made its debut in professional competitions in 2010, competing in the Campeonato Capixaba Série B. It reached the promotion playoff semi-finals, losing 1–0 in each leg against eventual champions Aracruz.[2]
Director Pedro Sabonete held talks about Castelense returning to Série B for 2018, providing that sponsorship could be found.[2] The club registered for 2019, but it and Grêmio Esportivo Laranjeiras [pt] withdrew for financial reasons after the fixture lists had been published; the pair were suspended as a punishment, with a return date of 2021.[3]
In May 2021, Pedro Artur reached an agreement with Sabonete to take control of the club for four years, renaming it Forte and relocating it to Rio Bananal due to a deal with municipal authorities.[4] The club was registered to compete in Série B again.[4]
Having returned to Castelo, Forte won promotion to the top-flight Campeonato Capixaba for the first time in October 2025, with a 3–1 aggregate win over Estrela do Norte in the playoff semi-finals.[5] In the final at the Estádio Kleber Andrade, the club lost by a single goal to Serra.[6]
On 15 January 2026, Forte played in the Campeonato Capixaba for the first time, winning 2–0 away to Real Noroeste.[7] The team fell 5–2 on aggregate to Vitória in the quarter-finals, after drawing the first leg 1–1 at home.[8]
