[3] The club joined the Scottish Football Association in August 1892,[4] joining an already overcrowded Dundee scene, which at the time included Broughty, East End, Harp, Lochee United, Our Boys, Strathmore, and Wanderers at senior level.

The club also laboured under the disadvantage that, on joining, its new Hillside Park ground was not in a fit state, so it was not allowed to play ties at home.

On Strathmore conceding that Osborne/Steven came from "a very respectable family" and had recently returned from Rangoon, the Scottish FA unanimously dismissed the protest.

[10] The club played in the Forfarshire Cup that season, and won through its first tie against Kirriemuir[11] after protesting a defeat on the basis that the ground was 9 inches too narrow.

[15] The Harp had no mercy at the second time of asking, kept the Athletic penned in its own half for the entire game, and won 11–0.