In 1892–93, the inaugural season of the Football League Second Division, Small Heath had won the divisional championship but failed to gain promotion via the test match system.

Small Heath played fewer friendly matches than in the previous season, instead competing in a regionally organised supplementary competition, the United Counties League, in which they finished third of four teams in the southern section.

Unsurprisingly the tempo dropped in the second half, but a game played in a "friendly and sportsmanlike spirit" was marred towards the end by Rotherham forward Alf Pickering suffering a fracture of his right leg just below the knee in an accidental collision with Bernard Pumfrey, "the snap of the bone being heard all round the ground".

[12] This was followed by a comfortable 6–1 defeat of Burton Swifts, in which Jolley moved to inside right in Jack Hallam's absence through illness, giving Gilbert Smith his debut at full back.

[13] In the return fixture against Walsall, Charles Izon, a well-built forward who "is quick on the ball, and shoots excellently", scored a hat-trick on his debut as Small Heath again won comfortably.

[14] A visit to Liverpool gave Caesar Jenkyns the honour of scoring the first Football League goal conceded by the home side, but the visitors "fell all to pieces" in the second half, and were decisively beaten.

The young and inexperienced Smith made mistakes that cost two goals, but the forwards "were undoubtedly the weak spot", and the Birmingham Daily Post's reporter suggested they would "have to learn to shoot harder and play with far more spirit if they are to keep up the reputation they gained last season".

[15] After Burslem Port Vale "beat Small Heath on Monday in more decided a fashion than did Liverpool", by five goals to nil,[16] the poor form shown in the previous two matches by the forwards, and by Wheldon in particular, was much improved at Ardwick.

After the referee rejected the Liverpool players' claim that Small Heath's equaliser had entered the goal through a hole in the side netting, their play became rough, culminating in centre-half Joe McQue, a "strapping fellow", kicking Frank Mobley in the abdomen, apparently intentionally.

[18] While most of the Second Division clubs were involved in FA Cup qualifying ties, Small Heath, who had received a bye to the first round proper, lost a friendly match against Everton's reserve team by five goals to nil.

[27] Advertised as a "Grand League Match" in the local paper – vying for attention with the forthcoming Sailors' Bazaar, a Boys' Brigade band concert and a clearance sale of squirrel-tail fur boas[28] – Small Heath's visit to Middlesbrough Ironopolis failed to live up to the billing.

Wheldon scored four and Mobley three in an 8–0 win,[31] and the goalscoring continued in midweek in the fixture postponed because of the snowstorm, as Small Heath beat a Crewe Alexandra side without several first-choice players by six goals to one.

On a heavy pitch, play was concentrated in the midfield area as the strength of both teams lay in their half backs, and Small Heath's winning goal came with ten minutes of the match remaining.

The half-backs were again the backbone of the team, and Wheldon, who produced "a brilliant exposition of dodging and shooting", scored the winning goal five minutes from time in what the Standard's reporter described as a "rattling good game".

Pumfrey strengthened the defence, George Hollis was as usual secure in goal, and the forwards, with the returning Mobley and the introduction of reserve-team player Walter Jackson, "showed better combination and greater dash than they have recently done".

[38] On a day when the hard and slippery surface meant "those teams whose players have the least regard for the safety of their limbs usually gain the victory", Small Heath, without Hallam, who was unwell, and William Reynolds, injured against Aston Villa, defeated a "very indifferent" Northwich Victoria 7–0.

Charles Partridge, making his Football League debut after Hollis was taken ill, played behind an experimental defensive pairing of half-back Ted Devey and reserve-team player George Short.

Despite the scoreline, the Nottinghamshire Guardian described them as "a very useful pair of backs", although not up to the home team's standard, and the Daily Post rated Devey as "easily the best left-back the club have played this season".

[45] Eight Midlands clubs formed a league to be played as a supplementary competition to fill vacant dates in the season without the trouble and expense of arranging friendly matches,[46] later joined by Small Heath and Notts County.

[48] West Bromwich Albion took a 5–1 lead in the first half at Coventry Road, yet in the second, the Small Heath forwards raised their level of performance, scored three times without reply, and were unfortunate not to secure a draw.

[53] Lost gate receipts because of Aston Villa's withdrawal from the United Counties League was decidedly unpopular with the other members,[54] and the Small Heath committee arranged a smoking concert to raise funds.

After the reserves beat Brierley Hill Alliance 3–0 in the Birmingham & District League, Watson made a promising debut at back as the first team played a friendly against a below-strength Nottingham Forest side.

Although the result was rather overshadowed by Aston Villa beating Burnley away from home to be confirmed as First Division champions,[65] the Dart clearly appreciated how Small Heath "in a blaze of glory before the largest crowd ever seen at Coventry Road, gave the English Cup holders a licking".

[67] Expected to join Aston Villa should Small Heath not be promoted, and "thought by many to be the best inside left in England",[68] Wheldon "performed like the clever and finished player he is" as the match was drawn.

The Nottinghamshire Guardian was less critical of the forwards, but took the view that Small Heath were fortunate to catch Darwen "in a very crippled condition", and that goalkeeper Chris Charsley had done the club a considerable service in making himself available for such a vital game.

[72][73] The victorious team arrived back in Birmingham by train, the engine's funnel draped in the players' blue and white kit, to be greeted by 1,000 supporters at New Street Station.

"[74] The season ended with a friendly against newly crowned Football League champions Aston Villa, the visitors giving their services free for the benefit of the Small Heath club.

They pointed out that further expense was necessary both to strengthen the team, "for it cannot be expected that eleven or twelve men will stand the strain of a season's work amongst the first division clubs", and to improve facilities at the Coventry Road ground.

He attempted to dispel suggestions that the city could not support two teams in the top division, and expressed gratitude to the Aston Villa club for their sincere best wishes as demonstrated by their generous donation of the recent benefit match.

[82][83] Walter Jackson, William Reynolds and Gilbert Smith were all released to join Birmingham & District League club Berwick Rangers,[84] and Percy Watson returned to his native Yorkshire.