Royal Engineers A.F.C.
Full name | Royal Engineers Association Football Club | |
---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | Sappers | |
Founded | 1863 | |
Ground | Number one ground, Chatham | |
Capacity | 500 | |
Chair | Lt Col Chloe Plimmer | |
Manager | Keith Stubbs | |
League | Army Football Association | |
Website | Club website | |
|
The Royal Engineers Association Football Club is an association football team representing the Corps of Royal Engineers, the 'Sappers', of the British Army and based in Chatham, Kent. In the 1870s, it was one of the strongest sides in English football, winning the FA Cup in 1875[1] and being Cup finalists in three of the first four seasons. The Engineers were pioneers of the combination game, where teammates passed the ball to each other rather than kicking ahead and charging after the ball. With the rise of professional teams, in 1888 the Engineers joined a newly formed Army Football Association.
History
The club was founded in 1863, under the leadership of Major
Wall states that the "Sappers moved in unison" and showed the "advantages of combination over the old style of individualism".Contemporary match reports confirm that passing was a regular feature of the Engineers' style. An 1869 report says they "worked well together" and "had learned the secret of football success – backing up"; whereas their defeated opponents had "a painful want of cooperation".
By early 1868, a contemporary match report states "For the R.E.s Lieuts Campbell, Johnson and Chambers attracted especial attention by their clever play"[8]
Another contemporary match report clearly shows that by 1870, ball passing was a feature of the Engineers style: "Lieut. 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 the minute before time was called"[9]
The Engineers used their team playing style with effect against the Wanderers, a side considered as early as 1870 to be the MCC of football.[10] In a match of March 1871 against Wanderers their victory was due to "irreproachable organisation" and in particular that both their attacks and their backing up were both "so well organised"[11] In November 1871 similar passing tactics are described in a contemporary account of a game against the Wanderers in which two goals were scored through tactical passing: "Betts, however, soon seized his opportunity, and by a brilliant run down the left wing turned the ball judiciously to Currie, who as judiciously sent it flying through the strangers' goal in first rate style"[12] Later in the match it is reported that "Lieut G Barker, turning the ball to Lieut Renny-Tailyour who planted it between the posts"[12] "Turning" the ball clearly points to the short pass.
There is evidence that opponents sometimes adjusted their playing style to counteract the organisation and passing of the Engineers. For example, in February 1872 against Westminster School, a brief contemporary match report states that: "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".[13] What is most notable about this report is that it confirms that the Royal Engineers "played beautifully together"[13] That the engineers were the first side to break the trend of dribbling is shown in a contemporary account of their victory against Crystal Palace in early 1872. This said that: "very little dribbling was displayed" [14]
The Engineers played in
The Royal Engineers were the first football team to go on a tour, to
The winning side was:[18]
- Capt. .
Their last
Summary of the Royal Engineers early playing style
The evidence above contains detailed descriptions of passing that are lacking in reports of the
The early accounts all confirm that the Engineers were the first club to play a passing game of cooperation and organisation with both their forwards and their defence. Although they could also play rough – as would be expected for an army team – The Engineers are the first side to be considered to play the football "beautifully".[13] All of these developments occurred before and independent of the 1872 match between England and Scotland.
Ireland
It was not only in England that the Engineers helped pioneer association football. While stationed in Ireland during the early 1900s the Royal Engineers, together with other British Army regimental teams organised and competed in local competitions. In 1902–03 the Engineers won the Munster Senior Cup.[23] The regiment also entered teams in the Munster Senior League.[24]
Later years
Professionalism arrived in
The Army Football Association was formed in 1888. Its teams were organised by battalion, and later by regiment.
The Engineers' Depot Battalion won the FA Amateur Cup in 1908.[25]
On 7 November 2012, the Royal Engineers played against the
Ladies team
In 2014, Keith Stubbs founded the REAFC Ladies squad which runs in line with the male squad.[citation needed]
Veterans
REAFC have a serving veterans team that play in exhibition type games. Recently the "Vets" have played games against the House of parliament and invited to some prestigious events.[citation needed]
Colours
The club has worn scarlet and blue hoops since its foundation in 1863.[27]
Ground
The club plays on the Chatham Lines, originally marking out a pitch where available,[28] but now a formal set of pitches at the barracks.
Honours
- FA Cup
- Winners: 1875
- Runners-up: 1878
- Winners:
- FA Amateur Cup
- Winners: 1908
- Munster Senior Cup
- Winners: 1902–03
Army FA Challenge Cup
Various regiments and battalions within the RE Corps have won the
- Service Bn
- Won 1903; Runners-up 1904, 1905
- Depot Bn
- Won 1907
- Training Bn
- Won 1937
- Barton Stacey
- Won 1947
- 4th Training Bn
- Won 1950, 1957, 1958
- 4th Divisional Engineers
- Won 1969
- 32nd Engineer Regiment
- Won 1970; Runner-up 1971
- Training Regiments
- Won 1980; Runner-up 1991, 1993
- 28 [Amphibious] Engineer Regiment
- Won 1981, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002; Runner-up 1983, 1988
- 40 Army Engineer Support Group
- Runner-up 1985
International players
England
The following six Royal Engineers players played for England. The number of caps gained while playing for club is in brackets.[30]
- Horace Barnet (1 cap)
- Alfred Goodwyn (1 cap)
- Herbert Rawson (1 cap)
- Bruce Russell (1 cap)
- Pelham von Donop(2 caps)
- Cecil Wingfield-Stratford (1 cap)
Scotland
The following played for Scotland.[31]
- John Edward Blackburn(1 cap)
- Henry Renny-Tailyour (1 cap)
References
- ^ "Top 10 Oldest, Active Football Clubs In The World". FootTheBall. 2021-12-30. Archived from the original on 2022-05-30. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
- ^ ""N. N. s" v Royal Engineers (Chatham)". The Sportsman: 4. 21 March 1867.
- ^ ISBN 1-86223-116-8.
- ^ Cox, Richard (2002) The Encyclopaedia of British Football, Routledge, United Kingdom
- ^ History of Football Archived 2007-04-18 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 18 December 1869
- ^ Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 25 February 1871, issue 2643
- ^ Bells Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 21 March 1868, Issue 2396
- ^ Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 5 November 1870,issue 2
- ^ The Sporting Gazette of Saturday 12 March 1870, see account of international match of 5 March 1870
- ^ Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 18 March 1871, issue 2, 646
- ^ a b Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 18 November 1871, issue 2, 681
- ^ a b c Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 17 February 1872, issue 2694
- ^ FOOTBALL. Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle (London, England), 16 March 1872; pg. 8; Issue 2698. New Readerships.
- ^ a b c d Royal Engineers A.F.C. at the Football Club History Database
- ^ "Royal Engineers – Football – History". Archived from the original on 2006-01-03. Retrieved 2004-08-10.
- ^ "The Football Association Challenge Cup". Sheffield Daily Telegraph: 4. 17 March 1875.
- ^ a b When the Sappers won the FA Cup 1875 Royal Engineers Museum Archived October 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Great Marlow v Royal Engineers". Uxbridge & West Drayton Gazette: 7. 15 November 1884.
- ^ "This day's football". Sheffield Evening Telegraph: 3. 6 October 1888.
- ^ a b c The Scotsman - 2 December 1872, page 6
- ^ Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle (London, England), 9 March 1872; Issue 2697
- ^ "Football - Royal Engineers, an original 11 x 9 team photo of R.E.F.C. winners of the Munster Cup". www.the-saleroom.com. 21 May 2013. Archived from the original on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
- ^ various. Highland Light Infantry Chroncicle (Jan 1908-Oct1910).
- ^ History Section - Welfare and Sports Archived 2009-10-21 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "First FA Cup final recreated". BBC Sport. 8 November 2012. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- ^ Brown, Tony (2011). Football Association 1863-83: A Sourcebook. Soccerdata.
- ^ Lillywhite, John (1868). Football Annual. London: Lillywhite. p. 79.
- ^ Army FA Cup Finals Archived 2012-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Army FA
- ^ "Club Affiliations – Royal Engineers". Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ^ "Scotland players – Royal Engineers". Archived from the original on 2011-12-15. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
External links
- Royal Engineers website
- Royal Engineers Museum When the Sappers won the FA Cup (1875)