The northwest Leicestershire colliery town of Whitwick staged a Football League Division 2 fixture on Saturday 31 March 1900 – between Loughborough Town and Burslem Port Vale. Three weeks earlier Loughborough had entertained Woolwich Arsenal at the Athletic Grounds, just behind the Greyhound Hotel, Nottingham Road. With the score at 2-2 with 5 minutes to go, the Arsenal forward Logan struck the underside of the bar, the ball bounced straight down to the ground. The referee gave a goal without consulting the lineman, although strong protests were made. Off-side was also claimed but ignored causing the spectators to “hoot and boo.” The referee, Mr Price reported the misconduct of the spectators and a further report by Mr Wallace, one of the linesmen, against Mr Henry Dunn, Loughborough’s secretary, for “making observations reflecting upon him as linesman”. Following an investigation by the FA, Loughborough’s ground was closed for a month and the club was not allowed to play within a 6-mile radius for a month. Mr Dunn was suspended for a month from taking part in football or football management.
This punishment and a High Court ruling against them over money owed in February resulted in the Loughborough club committee divesting themselves of all further responsibility, the players agreeing to take over the club, selecting their own team, and dividing the proceeds of home games amongst themselves.
Thanks to the generosity of the vicar of Whitwick, the Rev J W A Mackenzie, Loughborough played their next home game against Burslem Port Vale, on the vicarage field, the ground of Whitwick White Cross FC. Port Vale, like Loughborough, were struggling both on and off the pitch, with a prodigious debt, c.£900. The match at Whitwick was awaited with lively interest by the colliers and the people of the district, and a good number travelled from Loughborough by the afternoon train by which the players and officials journeyed. Burslem fielded a full-strength side, but Loughborough were without Roulston and Pike, the former having sent word that he had ceased connections with the club. Despite the Luffs bombarding the Vale goal for much of the first period, the visitors broke away and against the run of play scored a soft goal. Adcock sustained an injury early in the second period and had to be carried off, which severely handicapped the Luffs. Simpson scored a second for the visitors. Dolly Rose, who netted the ball with a flying shot, reduced the deficit. The thousand plus spectators resulted in gate receipts of just over £20.
Loughborough somehow managed to complete all of Football fixtures, finishing bottom of the League, conceding 100 goals in 34 games, winning only a single game and collecting only 8 points, arguably the worst record in the history of the League. After failing to gain re-election to the League in 1900, and the lack of support from townsfolk it was decided at a meeting on 29 June that the club was defunct.