NOPS AND WASHERS

As the original Middlesbrough FC formed, it did not embrace professionalism, so the club played in the FA Amateur Cup and could also play in the FA Cup. They tried professionalism in 1889, reverted to amateurism in 1892 and then became professional fully in 1899.

Middlesbrough Ironopolis FC formed as a club representing the heavy industry based in town and became professional.

Known as "the Nops" and also known as the "Scabs and Washers", the club was formed in 1889 and dissolved in 1894.
On this day in 1893, they beat Rotherham Town 6-1 in their first season in Football League Division Two. The Nops ended up 11th out of 15 in the division whilst Rotherham Town stayed in the division having been 14th, possibly because Ironopolis dropped out of the league.

Prior to their unsuccessful visit to the Football League, the Nops had been Northern League winners, had won 2 cups and reached the FA Cup Quarter-Final. They played at the Paradise Ground in Middlesbrough which held 14,000, but they rarely proved that popular. On the 18th February 1893, they met Preston North End in an FA Cup replay and lost 0-7 having drawn away 2-2; they did fill the ground though.
In September 1893 they met Liverpool and only 2,000 went through the turnstiles. Liverpool eventually became Division title winners.

Other teams in that division with unfamiliar names were: Small Heath, Burton Swifts, Burslem PV, Lincoln, Woolwich Arsenal, Ardwick, Northwich Victoria.
READ THIS TO FIND OUT MORE AND SEE THEIR KIT.
http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Middlesbrough_Ironopolis/Middlesbrough_Ironopolis.htm

Middlesbrough FC, when they played as amateurs, played in the FA Amateur Cup. The Old Carthusians met them in the Final on 27 April 1895 at Headingly, losing 1-2.

The next year Middlesbrough lost to the Royal Artillery (Portsmouth) in the FA Amateur Cup Round 2, who went on to the Final. Middlesbrough won the Amateur Cup again in 1898.
In 1899 they turned professional permanently.