Another factor was competition, particularly from the United South of England Eleven (USEE) which featured cricket's main attraction W G Grace.
The UNEE got off to a flying start when they easily beat the USEE, including the Graces, at Lord's in July 1870 by an innings and 70 runs.
The UNEE team differed slightly with John Smith and Elisha Rawlinson replacing Coward and Wootton.
The teams met again at The Oval in August and this match was drawn, the USEE needing 33 more to win with eight wickets standing and W G Grace still in with 51 not out.
William Mycroft made his UNEE debut at Todmorden in July, when the USEE won convincingly by an innings and 30 runs, largely due to a century by Henry Charlwood and ten wickets taken by W G Grace.
[13] George Ulyett was playing for the UNEE by now and the team at Huddersfield included three newcomers in David Eastwood, Joseph Blackburn and Robert Clayton.
[14] William Oscroft and Arthur Shrewsbury made their UNEE debuts and, with Alfred Shaw and Fred Morley returning, there was a strong Nottinghamshire contingent.
[24] The last of the UNEE's first-class matches was played in June 1879 against a London United Eleven at the Aston Lower Grounds in Birmingham.