[5] The club played in the first Lancashire Senior Cup, losing 5–4 at home in the first round to Great Lever.

For the start of the 1881–82 season, the club moved to Dark Lane in Newchurch and changed its name to Rossendale.

It won a tie in the Lancashire Cup for the first time under the new name that season, beating the obscure Barrow Rangers and Back-of-Bank (from Bolton) to reach the third round.

[6] Two years later the club made its FA Cup debut, losing in the first round to Irwell Springs.

It lost in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup to Clitheroe[14] and finished bottom of the Lancashire League, and was wound up at the end of the season.