[3] However, the club in the end decided to apply for membership of a new competition - The Combination - and was elected as one of the twelve founding members.

[5] The Combination proved to be far too high a standard, County losing its first eight games; the nadir was a 14–1 dismantling at Chester.

[6] With competition from Stoke and Burslem Port Vale, there was also very little interest in the side - the attendance for the home game with Gorton Villa was under 20.

[10] Despite initial hopes that it would re-consider,[11] the club stuck to its resignation; its final record was 11 goals for and 57 against in its 9 matches.

The fixture was a last-minute arrangement after Derby St Luke's followed County's example in resigning from The Combination, with Leek deprived of its scheduled league match.