The club was formed in 1876, and was admitted to the Scottish Football Association at the start of the 1877–78 season.

[2] This entitled the club to enter the Scottish Cup for the first time.

In the third round, with the Lanarkshire region joining the Glasgow region in the draw, the club lost 13–0 at Rangers,[5] which remains Rangers' joint biggest margin of victory.

Uddingston lost in the first round in 1878–79 (3–1 at Hamilton Academical,[6] in a replay, with both games taking place at Hamiton's South Avenue)[7] and 1880–81 (3–0 at Royal Albert),[8] and withdrew after being drawn against Cambuslang in 1879–80.

Although the Lanarkshire Cup started in 1879–80, the club only entered once (in 1880–81), losing in the second round to Thistle of east Glasgow .