The Royal Engineers were a team representing the Corps. of the British Army Combat Engineers, coming about 7 years earlier under the leadership of Major Francis Marindin. They were one of the strongest sides in English football during the 1870’s, not to mention one of the most influential of all time. During the early days of football, most teams played the game by either kicking ahead and charging after the ball, or individual players going on long, often fruitless runs. The Engineers pioneered a style of play known as the “Combination Game”, which favoured passing, teamwork and co-operation. Back in those days, no one had seen anything like it. Observers noted that the team moved in unison, played beautifully together and backed each other up, while their opponents suffered from disorganisation and lacked cohesion. A match report from 1870 states, “Lieutenant Creswell, who having brought it up the side, then kicked it into the middle to another of his side, who kicked it through the posts a minute before time was called.” All this was absolutely revolutionary. Similar descriptions exist from their game against the Wanderers in which two goals were scored through the miracle of tactical passing.

Eventually, their opponents had to alter their tactics to counteract the Engineers passing game. Against the Westminster School in 1872, a report goes “The school captain took the precaution of strengthening his backs, deputizing HDS Vidal to cooperate with Rawson and Jackson and so well did these three play in concert, they succeeded in defying the RE forwards.” Being an Army team, the Engineers were capable of playing rough when needed, however they were the first team reported to have played football beautifully. They were one of the few amateur teams who could defeat the pros in friendly matches following the introduction of professionalism. The Engineers played in the first ever F.A. Cup final in 1872, which they lost to Wanderers FC. They also reached the following final, losing again to Oxford University. However it was third time lucky when they defeated Old Etonians in the 1875 F.A. Cup final replay.

Notably, the Royal Engineers were the first team to go on tour, when they visited Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield in 1873. It’s during this tour that the combination game was introduced to these regions.

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Achievements: FA Cup – Winners x1, runners-up x3

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Star player: Francis Marindin DoB 1 May 1838, Weymouth, England, Nickname: The Major

Marindin is credited as the founder of Royal Engineers FC, joining the unit as an Ensign in 1854. He saw active service in the Crimean War and as a football player, he played in the first ever FA Cup final in 1872, eventually retiring from the army as a Major in 1879. He served as President of the Football Association from 1874 to 1890. He refereed the 1880 FA Cup final as well as seven more in a row from 1884 to 1890. Widely known as “The Major”, he was renowned as an outstanding referee. In his last FA Cup match in charge, the crowd invaded the pitch and had to be cleared by soldiers under his command. He later became a railways expert and rose to Senior Inspector of Railways where he would test and inspect new passenger railways to make sure they were safe. He was responsible for a host of occupational health and safety improvements for railway workers, helped develop London’s new electrical lighting system and received a knighthood in 1897. He died aged 61 in London.