[3] The club's first FA Cup campaign ended in acrimony, with the Rangers' half-back Knight suspended for the season for insulting the umpire after the loss to Notts County.

[5] The club had previously recorded a 14–0 win over Castle Rovers in the fourth round of the Notts Cup in 1885–86.

[10] The club also won the Nottingham Senior Cup twice, although after the introduction of professionalism this was not a competition of great prestige (the runners-up both times was the obscure Ruddington side).

[11] There were however ominous signs as the club was struggling to attract decent crowds (even the 1887–88 Notts Cup semi-final with Mellors had a mere 600 in attendance)[12] and, with two bigger, older, and more prestigious clubs in the town, the Rangers did not apply to join the new Football Alliance,[13] instead joining the Midland League for 1889–90.

[19] In 1886 the club changed to black and white stripes[20][21] (at which time Notts County were still wearing chocolate and blue).