The club was formed by C. H. Quilter, the owner and operator of the Lower Grounds amusement park and gardens, out of players from the Aston United cricket club,[3] in part as an extra attraction for visitors, and having been persuaded to do so by "a Sheffielder called Webster";[4] many of its players were Quilter's employees at the Lower Grounds.

experimented with playing under floodlighting in 1878, by hosting a match at the Lower Grounds against Nottingham Forest illuminated by "Jablockoff Electric Lights".

[12] The crowd of 4-500 was considered "very small" and blamed on the "intense cold",[13] as it contrasted with the 6,000 at the Lower Grounds the previous week for the match between the Birmingham Football Association and Scotland.

[19] This may have been connected with financial difficulties for the Quilters, requiring a benefit event in October to make up for the "very considerable loss".

[20] The club's colours were described red, or scarlet, and blue jerseys and stockings, which probably refers to the design being hoops.