 The club became professional in 1892 but the status was largely symbolic as many players remained amateur and the professionals only received expenses and match fees.It was still a "shop club" which meant that only Singers factory employees were permitted to play.They entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1892 and began to play a full league fixture list from 1894, competing in the Birmingham and District League with games against the strong reserve sides of established Midlands clubs including Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion.