In 1864, it changed its name to "Wanderers", a reference to it never having a home stadium, instead playing at various locations in London and the surrounding area.

Prior to the standardised Laws of the Game, Wanderers played matches under various rules, and continued to do so even after the formation of the FA.

By the 1880s the club's fortunes had declined and it was reduced to playing a single annual match against Harrow School, the alma mater of many of its founders.

[9][10] In a September 1862 newspaper advertisement, the club sought opponents for matches "on the rules of the University of Cambridge".

[15] The Wanderers initially fared well, losing only one of their sixteen matches in the 1865–66 season, but over the subsequent four seasons the team's fortunes declined significantly and Alcock also found it increasingly difficult to ensure that eleven of his players actually turned up for a match, with the club often forced to play with fewer than the required number of players or borrow some from their opponents.

[19] For the following season the FA, following a suggestion by Alcock, initiated the Football Association Challenge Cup, a knock-out tournament open to all member clubs.

The club beat the Royal Engineers 1–0 to become the first ever winners of the cup, the winning goal being scored by Morton Betts, who was playing under the pseudonym "A. H.

In the final Wanderers beat Oxford University 2–0 to retain the cup, thanks in large part to the performance of A. F.

[22] In October 1875, Wanderers travelled to Scotland for the first time, to play a match against the leading team from north of the border, Queen's Park.

[23] Wanderers reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup without conceding a goal and then defeated Swifts to set up a final against Old Etonians.

The following season, with Kinnaird back in the team, Wanderers overcame indifferent early form to again reach the Cup final, and defeated Oxford University to retain the trophy.

[26] The following season Wanderers managed to reach the third round of the Cup, but lost again to the Etonians, after which many more key players left the club.

[27] The club struggled on into the 1880–81 season, but was forced to withdraw from the FA Cup after being unable to raise a team for the scheduled first round match.

[30] In 1868, the Forest club was revived in Woodford, Essex, wearing jerseys, caps, and stockings which were scarlet in front and black behind, with white shorts.

[31] In October 1868, it was reported that the reformed club played its first match on the "old ground" in front of Forest Place.

[47] Edwards was the first treasurer of the Welsh Football Association and one of only two players to play for England and Wales at full international level.

The 16–0 margin of victory in the Farningham match was by far the largest win achieved by Wanderers, with no other scores in double-figures recorded.

[49] Wanderers' total of five FA Cup final wins remained a record until Aston Villa won the competition for the sixth time in 1920.

Wanderers are tied for ninth place with Everton and West Bromwich Albion for the most FA Cup wins.