The following few seasons saw finishes in the top half of the league including fourth place in 1953–54, however life was always difficult living in the shadow of neighbours Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic, Newtongrange Star and Dalkeith Thistle, and the bottom half of the table gradually became the norm.

Perhaps the club's greatest achievement at that time was reaching the semi-final of the prestigious Scottish Welfare Cup in 1978, where they met Singers F.C.

Their first match was a derby against Whitehill Welfare, where a very respectable performance saw them draw 1–1 thanks to a Davy McWhinnie goal.

Four days later, the first home game drew a large crowd, who witnessed an eventful, but goalless draw with Civil Service Strollers.

The Alex Jack Cup was also won in 1990–91 and began something of a love affair with the trophy, capturing it again in 1998–99, 2004–05 and 2006–07 and finishing runner-up in 1991–92, 1999–00 and 2001–02.

[5] After signing for Lily from Juvenile football and playing the 1951–52 season, Goalkeeper Willie Duff signed for Heart of Midlothian in August 1952 for £200 and went on to win a Scottish Cup and a League Cup winners medal before moving to Charlton Athletic and Peterborough United.

[6] Another goalkeeper, George Ramage signed for Third Lanark in 1957 before moving south to join Colchester United and eventually finish his career in Australia.