The club was based at the Hulme Athenaeum, a clubhouse founded in 1860 by William Thackeray Marriott in order to improve the health of the working classes in the district.

[5] Warrington was a gas rental collector, demonstrating that the club membership was working-class, whereas other clubs were based on public school backgrounds; in Manchester, ex-public school pupils played rugby football.

[6] The club played every Saturday for its first five seasons, mostly games within the membership because of the lack of external opposition.

[7] The first match against external opposition was a 2–0 win over Longsight in November 1865, played in Belle Vue, and with 15 per side.

[11] The club originally played at Hullard Hall, a quarter of a mile from Old Trafford railway station.