The first impact the club made on a wider stage was when beating Aston Villa reserve side 5–1, away from home, in a friendly in late 1882.

The club first entered the competition in 1883–84, losing in the second round to Birmingham Excelsior, and in their next appearance, in 1885–86, at the same stage in a replay to Mitchells St George's.

[5] However, in 1886–87, thanks in part to a kind draw, and to Darlaston All Saints agreeing to replay a match rather than insist on the Eatonites' expulsion for fielding an ineligible player,[6] the club reached the semi-finals.

The tie, against Small Heath Alliance, who had been FA Cup semi-finalists the year before, was played at the Aston Lower Grounds, and ended 2-2, the Rangers coming from 2–0 down at half-time.

[11] The club's first match in the second round was at home to Staveley and attracted a crowd of 3,000, but an injury-hit Rangers were continually hit on the break and lost 4–0.

[14] The Birmingham Senior Cup success was not enough for the Rangers to be one of the clubs invited to form the Football League; it is likely that the founders considered Long Eaton too small a place to attract the large crowds required for an initial franchise position.

Again the regional nature of the draw was unkind to the club, and it was drawn away to Birmingham St George's,[16] losing 3–2 to a team that would reach the quarter-finals.

The Midland League was in its second season and Rangers finished second, two points behind Gainsborough Trinity, in 1890–91,[19] and won the Derbyshire Senior Cup for the first time.