The club was formed in September 1880, at a meeting at the Cricketer's Arms in High Town Road.

[1] The first reported game for the club was against Luton Excelsior in December 1881, played to Association laws but with 15 men per side.

[2] The first Cup tie the club played, in 1884–85, was against the Old Etonians, and proved such an attraction that a crowd of nearly 2,000 attended.

Spratley attended the meeting, to no avail, and was offered a place on the new club's committee as recompense.

[7] Originally the club played on the People's Park, but, when entering the FA Cup, the club moved to an enclosed ground on Dallow Lane, with the Cricketer's Arms providing changing facilities.