[1] The club pulled off something of a coup, signing former Everton goalkeeper Robert Menham, and announced their ambitions to play in the Football League.

About 1,500 people braved the awful conditions that had persisted in Wigan for the last month or so, to see County draw 1–1 with Burton Swifts in a friendly game.

Cup run, they qualified for the first round proper by beating Fleetwood Rangers 1–0, Hurst Ramblers 4–3, Blackburn Park Road 2–1 and Nelson 3–1.

Playing for County that day was Jack Gordon, who scored the first ever football league goal for Preston North End against Burnley in 1888.

He also played in the match that saw the highest recorded number of goals in an F.A cup game, as Preston North End dispatched Hyde United 26–0 in 1887.

On 13 September 1899, George Wilcock offered Springfield Park up for auction at the venue where the ground was born – The Ship Hotel.

It was also revealed that County had a contract to play there until 30 April 1900,[4] although financial problems forced the club to leave at the end of March.

In October 1899, there was a meeting of all local football clubs to discuss if there were any means of helping County, whose squad was restricted to only thirteen players.