Although the club claimed a formation date of 1872, the first recorded match is from 1876, against Radcliffe.[1] It is possible that the foundation date refers to the cricket club out of which the football club was formed.[2]
The club was one of the first to play under artificial lighting, a match with Nottingham Trent at the Castle ground in November 1879 being described as "lighted by means of Bengal lights".[3] It was one of the first entrants to the Notts Cup in 1883-84, reaching the semi-finals, but losing to the Trent club.[4] The Wanderers appealed the result on the basis that one of the Trent players (Harry Moore) was a professional with Notts County, and that both he and another player were cup-tied, but the Nottinghamshire Football Association rejected the appeal, as it was both out of time and unsupported by a formal motion by the Wanderers club.[5]
The club struggled to attract crowds; although 1,000 attended a match against the Swifts at the Meadows in October 1884,[6] one week later, the club played in front of a meagre attendance because most people were watching Notts County v Darwen instead.
The club only entered the FA Cup twice, both times losing in the first round. In 1884-85, losing 1-0 at Sheffield Heeley. The following year, the club lost in a replay to Notts Olympic. Even a local derby Cup tie could not attract crowds, only 400 turning up to the first match (the appalling weather being a factor).[7]
The last recorded result for the club is an 8-0 defeat at Accrington in December 1885[8] and in January 1886 the club is described as "quite defunct".[9]
The Wanderers name was revived in 1888 as the new name for Mellors Limited F.C.[10]
