 In March 1888 , William McGregor wrote to what he considered to be the top five English teams , including Albion , informing them of his intention to form an association of clubs that would play each other home and away each season . Thus when the Football League started later that year , Albion became one of the twelve founder members . Albion 's second FA Cup success came in 1892 , beating Aston Villa 3 – 0 . They met Villa again in the 1895 final , but lost 1 – 0 . The team suffered relegation to Division Two in 1900 – 01 , their first season at the Hawthorns . They were promoted as champions the following season but relegated again in 1903 – 04 . The club won the Division Two championship once more in 1910 – 11 , and the following season reached another FA Cup Final , where they were defeated by Second Division Barnsley in a replay . 
