[7] The club's first Cup run ended in the fifth round with a 4–1 home defeat to Cambuslang, the Athletics having one goal disallowed and having hit the bar with the game scoreless.

[11][12] The regional nature of the Scottish Cup draw was unfortunate for the Athletics, as every final from 1881 to 1888 featured one of the three main Dunbartonshire clubs (Renton, Vale of Leven, and Dumbarton), all of whom were heavily backed by local factories.

[15] The club at least could avoid Renton in the Dumbartonshire Cup, as the Dark Blues did not play in the competition for much of the 1880s owing to a dispute with the local FA.

The club did however win one competition of note; the Greenock Charity Cup, in 1887–88, beating St Mirren F.C.

[20] The club was prominent enough to be invited to take part in the 1888 Glasgow Exhibition Cup; its defeat to Celtic F.C.

"[22] Later in the year Bailie Denny, honorary president of Dumbarton, advised the clubs to "sink all differences...to bring honour to the town.

"[23] With only moral, rather than financial, support from the Dennys, the Athletics were in debt to the tune of £168; a mammoth sum in those days, higher than any player transfer fee until the mid-1890s.

in August 1889, only one of the Athletics players turned out for the Sons - goalkeeper John M'Leod, who was having to play as full-back owing to the non-appearance of a defender.

The best of the Athletics, Alex Latta, decided to eschew the new club and instead signed professional forms with Everton.