For fear of transgressing the FA's rules on player eligibility, Bolton's reserve side took part in the Cup, while the Wanderers indulged in lucrative friendlies.

After the game ended 3-3, Bolton put in a successful appeal, on the basis that, not only was the pitch too small, but Rawtenstall had played five ineligible professionals.

[5] The club's best run in the Lancashire Senior Cup came in 1884–85, reaching the quarter-finals (fifth round), where the club earned a startling 2–2 draw with Blackburn Rovers, albeit Rovers being weakened by having three men playing in the North v South representative match the same day; it could even have been a shock win but for a late own goal.

[7] In the 1886-87 FA Cup, Rawtenstall held Church to a surprising draw in the first round, but, forced to play the replay at Haslingden Association, went down 7–1.

This caused serious problems for the club, as the Football Association refused permission for the League to affiliate to the Lancashire Football Association; as a result, Rawtenstall, affiliated individually to the Lancashire FA, was temporarily unable to play League matches after November 1897.