The club competed in the first ever FA Cup in 1871 and were involved in the first ever competitive replay in association football.

The match finished in a 1–1 draw after being stopped by bad light, the Heathens being handicapped by playing with only 10 men.

Whilst Hitchin and Crystal Palace had both been sent through after having a goalless draw in the first round, Heathens and Barnes were forced to contest a rematch, as the match had not played to time.

The club did play one subsequent match a week later—a rain-sodden 3–0 defeat to Wanderers, for which the team was unable to supply a full complement of players.

[11] There is little record of the club after this match: the Heathens did not enter any subsequent competitions, nor did they contest any of the leagues which began to appear nearly two decades later.