Unity's best run in the Senior Cup, at the time the second-most prestigious tournament for football clubs in the Midlands, came in 1879–80, the club beating Small Heath Alliance and St George's (the latter 9–1 away from home), before losing to Villa at the Aston Lower Grounds in the third round (in that year's competition, the last six).

The club's only final came in the Wednesbury Charity Cup in 1882, Unity losing to the defending champions Wednesbury Old Athletic, in a replay held in torrential conditions;[7] Unity had come within three minutes of winning the original tie, only to concede a late equalizer in the final after a defensive mis-kick.

The club beat St George's in the second but lost to Villa in the third at the latter's Wellington Road ground, in front of a crowd of 3,000.

[9] However, as the season progressed, the now-professional Aston Villa had built up a squad made of the strongest players in the district, while Unity stayed within the FA rules on amateurism.

Ten of the goals were scored by Arthur Brown, who had left Unity for Villa the week before, and had persuaded a number of team-mates to join him.

At length they have grown tired of acting the lion's [Aston Villa's] provider...most of the Unity football members have joined that club with the object of playing for the reserve team".