The Ramblers entered the competition for its third instalment, being drawn against Irwell Springs in the first round, and surprisingly losing 6–3 having been 3–0 up.
Their entries in the next two years saw them eliminated in the first round, although they were unlucky in 1883–84 to be drawn against the holders.
[8] The club remained prominent on the local scene in 1882–83 and 1883–84, including Preston North End among their opponents,[9] and sent a representative to the Football Association AGM in 1883.
[10] The club also finally won a tie in the Lancashire Cup, beating Blackburn West End in the first round in 1883–84, but a sign of the distance between the club and the professionals was demonstrated when they lost 4–0 in the second round to a Blackburn Olympic reserve side, as the Light Blues' first team was on a Scottish tour, playing Edinburgh University F.C.
[12] The club did not pay its subscription to the Lancashire FA for the 1886–87 season and seems to have been wound up.