Though yet to start playing competitive football, West Bromwich Albion did take part in a number of friendly matches throughout the season. On 29 January 1881, Billy Bisseker scored three times in the 5–0 win against Hockley Belmont; this was the first recorded hat-trick by an Albion player.[4] The record of the club's matches during their early years is not complete, for example the score from the match against West Bromwich Royal was not recorded.