Stalybridge first entered the FA Cup in 1894, enjoying their best run in 1899-1900, beating South Liverpool, Stockport County and then Burslem Port Vale 1–0 in the fifth qualifying round before losing to Bristol City 2–1 in the first round proper.

Failure to fulfil a fixture at Clitheroe Central led to expulsion from the Lancashire Combination second division.

The club wore cardinal shirts as a Lancashire League member,[3] but changed to amber jerseys with black shorts[4] in 1903.

[2] Famous players for Stalybridge Rovers include Herbert Chapman, who later led Huddersfield Town and Arsenal to the First Division title as manager, who played for the club circa 1897; and Arthur Wharton, Britain's first black professional footballer, who played for Stalybridge Rovers from 1896 to 1897, and again from 1899 to 1900.

Other players included former Blackburn Rovers and Woolwich Arsenal star Tommy Briercliffe, and John Johnston and Frank Thorpe, who both went on to play for Bury, where they won the FA Cup in 1903, and later for Southampton.