For this season only, Albion played their home matches at their third ground, Bunn's Field, which became known as The Birches.

[3] 1881–82 was Albion's first season of competitive football: the club entered the Birmingham Senior Cup for the first time, reaching the semi-finals.

Albion took part in the Birmingham Senior Cup for the first time and were drawn away from home in the first four rounds.

The club played their first recorded competitive match on 12 November 1881, winning 3–2 against Calthorpe.

Albion then defeated Elwells and Fallings Heath, though the goalscorers for the first three rounds were not recorded.