Indossando nei suoi primi anni diverse divise bianche e blu, il club disputò la sua prima partita ufficiale nell'ottobre 1882, allorché fu sconfitta per 8-0 dall'Astley Bridge in "Lancashire Challenge Cup". ###>Playing in various blue and white kits for their first few years, the club played their first competitive game in October 1882 against Astley Bridge in the Lancashire Challenge Cup, that game ending in an 8–0 defeat.