[4] Despite the alleged interest in the club, it did not attract fans, given the existing loyalties within the city, and, as Belfast Celtic had continued playing in the Irish Intermediate League, United did not pick up its supporters.

This did at least help with the team rising from the foot of the table, and in 1917–18 it had its only victories in the Irish Cup, reaching the semi-final.

Such a business model did not prove productive, and the last appearance of the senior XI was in a 2–1 defeat at Glentoran in the first round of the 1920–21 Irish Cup; it took a late Scraggs penalty to put the Glens through, and they went on to win the trophy.

[13] In a bid to avoid disaster, United made a quixotic application to join the Irish League instead, which was admitting two new members.

[22] However, in February 1918 United gave up its lease because of the state of the pitch and played all senior matches away from home; this did not affect its reserve XI.