As the rules at the time did not stipulate a maximum number of players, the clubs agreed that the match should be 13 per side; despite the praise for the "A.C.C.F.C.

Attercliffe reached the quarter-finals in the first year and the final in 1877–78, losing to The Wednesday at Bramall Lane in the latter year, in front of 4,000 spectators; the atmosphere of the match was subdued as most of the crowd considered Attercliffe to have no real chance of winning, as Wednesday had not conceded a goal in the entire competition.

The Attercliffe club had the consolation of receiving new jerseys as runner-up prizes from the Sheffield Association president.

The club first entered the FA Cup in 1886–87, losing 7–0 at Staveley in the first round, the seventh goal being an overhead kick from Hay.

Attercliffe was one of the founder members of the Sheffield & District Football League in 1889–90,[16] finishing third in 1892–93, just 2 points behind champions Wednesday Wanderers, but the following season only 5 clubs took part.