View source for Royal Engineers A.F.C.

{{short description|Association football club in England}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Royal Engineers AFC
| image = Royal Engineers AFC.png
| image_size = 100px
| caption =
| fullname = Royal Engineers Association Football Club
| nickname = ''Sappers''
| shortname =
| founded = {{Start date and age|1863}}
| dissolved =
| ground = Number one ground, [[Chatham, Kent|Chatham]]
| capacity = 1
| owntitle =
| owner =
| chrtitle = Chair
| chairman = Lt Col Chloe Plimmer
| mgrtitle = Manager
| manager = Keith Stubbs
| league = [[Army Football Association]]
| season =
| position =
| website = http://www.sapperfootball.co.uk/
| pattern_la1 = _thinnavyhoops
| pattern_b1 = _thinnavyhoops
| pattern_ra1 = _thinnavyhoops
| pattern_sh1 =
| pattern_so1 = _hoops_navy
| leftarm1 = E41B17
| body1 = E41B17
| rightarm1 = E41B17
| shorts1 = 00006B
| socks1 = E41B17
| pattern_la2 =
| pattern_b2 =
| pattern_ra2 =
| leftarm2 =
| body2 =
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| American =
}}
The '''Royal Engineers Association Football Club''' is an [[association football]] team representing the [[Royal Engineers|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<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-30 |title=Top 10 Oldest, Active Football Clubs In The World |url=https://www.foottheball.com/football-top-10/top-oldest-football-clubs-world |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=FootTheBall |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-05-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530195132/https://www.foottheball.com/football-top-10/top-oldest-football-clubs-world |url-status=live }}</ref> and being Cup finalists in three of the first four seasons. The Engineers were pioneers of the [[Combination Game|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==
[[Image:RoyalEngineers1872.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Royal Engineers pictured in 1872. Back: [[William Merriman|Merriman]], Ord, [[Francis Marindin|Marindin]], [[George William Addison|Addison]], [[Hugh Mitchell (Royal Engineers)|Mitchell]]; Front: Hoskyns, [[Henry Renny-Tailyour|Renny-Tailyour]], [[Edmund Creswell|Creswell]], [[Alfred Goodwyn|Goodwyn]], Barker, [[Henry Rich (footballer)|Rich]].]]
The club was founded in 1863, under the leadership of Major [[Francis Marindin]]; the earliest game recorded for the Engineers against a non-military side is a 3–0 home win over [[No Names Club]] in March 1867.<ref>{{cite journal |title="N. N. s" v Royal Engineers (Chatham) |journal=The Sportsman |date=21 March 1867 |page=4}}</ref>  Sir [[Frederick Wall]], who was the secretary of [[The Football Association]] 1895–1934, stated in his memoirs that the "[[combination game]]" was first used by the Royal Engineers A.F.C. in the early 1870s.<ref name="Wall 2005"/><ref name=autogenerated1>Cox, Richard (2002) ''The Encyclopaedia of British Football'', Routledge, United Kingdom</ref><ref>[http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Fhistory.htm History of Football<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418122238/http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Fhistory.htm |date=2007-04-18 }}</ref>  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".<ref name="ReferenceA">''Bell's Life'' in ''London and Sporting Chronicle'', 18 December 1869</ref>  In February 1871 against [[Crystal Palace F.C. (1861)|Crystal Palace]] it is noted that "[[Hugh Mitchell (Royal Engineers)|Lieut. Mitchell]] made a fine run down the left, passing the ball to [[Henry Rich (footballer)|Lieut. Rich]], who had run up the centre, and who pinched another [goal]" <ref>''Bell's Life'' in ''London and Sporting Chronicle'', 25 February 1871, issue 2643</ref>
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"<ref>''Bells Life'' in ''London and Sporting Chronicle'', 21 March 1868, Issue 2396</ref>
Another contemporary match report clearly shows that by 1870, ball passing was a feature of the Engineers style: "[[Edmund Creswell|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"<ref>''Bell's Life'' in ''London and Sporting Chronicle'', 5 November 1870,issue 2</ref>
[[File:Colonel thomas tupper carter-campbell of possil.JPG|thumb|left|170px|[[Thomas Tupper Carter-Campbell of Possil|Colonel Thomas Tupper Carter-Campbell of Possil]].]]
The Engineers used their team playing style with effect against the [[Wanderers F.C.|Wanderers]], a side considered as early as 1870 to be  the [[Marylebone Cricket Club|MCC]] of football.<ref>''The Sporting Gazette'' of Saturday 12 March 1870, see account of international match of  5 March 1870</ref> 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"<ref>''Bell's Life'' in ''London and Sporting Chronicle'', 18 March 1871, issue 2, 646</ref> 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: "[[Morton Betts|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"<ref name="Bell 1871">''Bell's Life'' in ''London and Sporting Chronicle'', 18 November 1871, issue 2, 681</ref> Later in the match it is reported that "Lieut G Barker, turning the ball to [[Henry Renny-Tailyour|Lieut Renny-Tailyour]] who planted it between the posts"<ref name="Bell 1871"/> "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 [[Henry Dashwood Sealy-Vidal|HDS Vidal]] to cooperate with [[William Rawson|Rawson]] and Jackson and so well did these three play in concert... they succeeded in defying the... RE forwards".<ref name="Bell 1872">''Bell's Life'' in ''London and Sporting Chronicle'', 17 February 1872, issue 2694</ref> What is most notable about this report is that it confirms that the Royal Engineers "played beautifully together"<ref name="Bell 1872"/> 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" <ref>FOOTBALL.  ''Bell's Life'' in ''London and Sporting Chronicle'' (London, England), 16 March 1872; pg. 8; Issue 2698. New Readerships.</ref>
The Engineers played in [[1872 FA Cup Final|the first-ever FA Cup Final]], losing 1–0 at [[Kennington Oval]] on 16 March 1872, to regular rivals Wanderers.<ref name="fchd">{{fchd|id=ROYALENG|name=Royal Engineers A.F.C.}}</ref> They also lost the [[1874 FA Cup Final|1874 Final]], to [[Oxford University A.F.C.]]<ref name="fchd"/>
The Royal Engineers were the first football team to go on a tour, to [[Nottingham]], [[Derby]] and [[Sheffield]] in 1873.<ref name="Wall 2005">{{cite book |last= Wall|first= Sir Frederick|title= 50 Years of Football, 1884-1934|year= 2005|publisher= Soccer Books Limited|isbn= 1-86223-116-8}}</ref>  Wall's memoirs state that this tour introduced the combination game to Sheffield and Nottingham.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/sport/football/history.htm |title=Royal Engineers – Football – History<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2004-08-10 |archive-date=2006-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060103042516/http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/sport/football/history.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In [[1874–75 FA Cup|1875]] the Engineers won the FA Cup, considered their greatest triumph.<ref name="fchd"/> In [[1875 FA Cup Final|the final]] against [[Old Etonians F.C.|Old Etonians]], they drew 1–1 with a goal from Renny-Tailyour and went on to win the replay 2–0 with a further goal from Renny-Tailyour after a goal from a scrimmage.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Football Association Challenge Cup |journal=Sheffield Daily Telegraph |date=17 March 1875 |page=4}}</ref><ref name="rem_article_facup">[http://www.remuseum.org.uk/articles/rem_article_facup.htm When the Sappers won the FA Cup 1875] Royal Engineers Museum {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091023020515/http://www.remuseum.org.uk/articles/rem_article_facup.htm |date=October 23, 2009 }}</ref>
The winning side was:<ref name="rem_article_facup"/>
* Capt. [[William Merriman|W. Merriman]]; Lt. [[George Hamilton Sim|G.H. Sim]]; Lt. [[Gerald Onslow|G.C. Onslow]]; Lt. [[Richard Ruck|R.M. Ruck]]; Lt. [[Pelham von Donop|P.G. von Donop]]; Lt. [[Charles Wood (footballer, born 1851)|C.K. Wood]]; Lt. [[Herbert Rawson|H.E. Rawson]]; Lt. [[William Stafford (British soldier)|W.F.H. Stafford]]; Lt. [[Henry Renny-Tailyour|H. W. Renny-Tailyour]]; Lt. [[Alexander Mein|A. Mein]]; and Lt. [[Cecil Wingfield-Stratford|C. Wingfield-Stratford]].
Their last [[FA Cup Final]] appearance came in [[1878 FA Cup Final|1878]], again losing to the Wanderers.<ref name="fchd"/>  The Engineers continued to compete until the introduction of qualifying rounds in 1888–89, but with ever diminishing returns; in the first round in [[1884–85 FA Cup|1884–85]], the club lost 10–1  at [[Marlow F.C.|Great Marlow]], the club's heaviest competitive defeat.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Great Marlow v Royal Engineers |journal=Uxbridge & West Drayton Gazette |date=15 November 1884 |page=7}}</ref>  Its final tie in the competition was a 5–1 defeat at the [[Brentwood F.C. (1877)|Crusaders of Brentwood]] in the first qualifying round in 1888–89.<ref>{{cite journal |title=This day's football |journal=Sheffield Evening Telegraph |date=6 October 1888 |page=3}}</ref>
===Summary of the Royal Engineers early playing style===
The evidence above contains detailed descriptions of passing that are lacking in reports of the [[1872 Scotland v England football match|1872 Glasgow international]].  For example, in a lengthy account the [[Scotsman newspaper]] makes no mention of passing or combination by the Scottish team and specifically describes the Scottish attacks in terms of dribbling: "The Scotch now came away with a great rush, Leckie and others dribbling the ball so smartly that the English lines were closely besieged and the ball was soon behind"<ref name="Monday 1872, page 6">''The Scotsman'' - 2 December 1872, page 6</ref> and "Weir now had a splendid run for Scotland into the heart of his opponents' territory".<ref name="Monday 1872, page 6"/> Although the Scottish team are acknowledged to have worked better together during the first half, this contemporary account acknowledges that in the second half England played similarly: "During the first half of the game the English team did not work so well together, but in the second half they left nothing to be desired in this respect.<ref name="Monday 1872, page 6"/>"  The Scotsman concludes that the difference in styles in the first half is the advantage the Queens' Park players had "through knowing each others' play" as all came from the same club.  Unlike the 1872 Glasgow international, the contemporary evidence above shows that the Engineers' team playing style benefited their team play by winning games. Similarly, the 5 March 1872 match between Wanderers and Queens Park contains no evidence of ball passing.<ref>''Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle'' (London, England), 9 March 1872; Issue 2697</ref>
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".<ref name="Bell 1872"/>  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 (association football)|Munster Senior Cup]].<ref name="saleroom">{{cite web|url=https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/tim-davidson/catalogue-id-srti10020/lot-b789d65c-a294-4a03-921f-a44900695ae4|title=Football - Royal Engineers, an original 11 x 9 team photo of R.E.F.C. winners of the Munster Cup|website=www.the-saleroom.com|access-date=12 October 2016|date=21 May 2013|archive-date=10 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110004816/https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/tim-davidson/catalogue-id-srti10020/lot-b789d65c-a294-4a03-921f-a44900695ae4|url-status=live}}</ref> The regiment also entered teams in the [[Munster Senior League (association football)|Munster Senior League]].<ref name="Highland">{{cite book|last=various|title=Highland Light Infantry Chroncicle (Jan 1908-Oct1910)}}</ref>
===Later years===
Professionalism arrived in [[Northern England]] in the 1880s, with [[the Football League]] starting in 1888.  In the early years, the Engineers was one of several amateur teams who could defeat the professionals in challenge matches.
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.<ref>[http://www.remuseum.org.uk/rem_his_welfare.htm History Section - Welfare and Sports] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021064409/http://www.remuseum.org.uk/rem_his_welfare.htm |date=2009-10-21 }}</ref>
On 7 November 2012, the Royal Engineers played against the [[Wanderers F.C.|Wanderers]] in a rematch of the [[1872 FA Cup Final]] at [[The Oval]]. Unlike the actual final, the Engineers won, and by a large margin, 7–1 being the final score.<ref>{{cite news |title=First FA Cup final recreated |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/av/football/20260462 |access-date=8 September 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=8 November 2012 |archive-date=18 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018090728/https://www.bbc.com/sport/av/football/20260462 |url-status=live }}</ref>
'''Ladies team'''
In 2014, Keith Stubbs founded the REAFC Ladies squad which runs in line with the male squad.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}
'''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|date=October 2018}}
==Colours==
The club has worn scarlet and blue hoops since its foundation in 1863.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brown |first1=Tony |title=Football Association 1863-83: A Sourcebook |date=2011 |publisher=Soccerdata}}</ref>
==Ground==
The club plays on the [[Chatham_Dockyard#The_Lines|Chatham Lines]], originally marking out a pitch where available,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lillywhite |first1=John |title=Football Annual |date=1868 |publisher=Lillywhite |location=London |page=79}}</ref> but now a formal set of pitches at the barracks.
==Honours==
*'''[[FA Cup]]'''
**''Winners'': [[1875 FA Cup Final|1875]]
**''Runners-up'': [[1872 FA Cup Final|1872]], [[1874 FA Cup Final|1874]], [[1878 FA Cup Final|1878]]
*'''[[FA Amateur Cup]]'''
**''Winners'': 1908
*'''[[Munster Senior Cup (association football)|Munster Senior Cup]]'''
**''Winners'': 1902–03
===[[Army FA Challenge Cup]]===
Various regiments and battalions within the RE Corps have won the [[Army FA Challenge Cup]]:<ref>[http://www.armyfa.com/AboutUs/History/Army+FA+Cup+Finals/ Army FA Cup Finals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304041422/http://www.armyfa.com/AboutUs/History/Army+FA+Cup+Finals/ |date=2012-03-04 }} Army FA</ref>
;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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamClubs/Clubs/RoyalEngineers.html |title=Club Affiliations – Royal Engineers |access-date=2008-02-06 |archive-date=2012-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402022121/http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamClubs/Clubs/RoyalEngineers.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Horace Barnet]] (1 cap)
*[[Alfred Goodwyn]] (1 cap)
*[[Herbert Rawson]] (1 cap)
*[[Bruce Russell (footballer)|Bruce Russell]] (1 cap)
*[[Pelham von Donop]] (2 caps)
*[[Cecil Wingfield-Stratford]] (1 cap)
===Scotland===
The following played for [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scotland/clubs/royalengineers.html |title=Scotland players – Royal Engineers |access-date=2008-02-06 |archive-date=2011-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111215080314/http://londonhearts.com/scotland/clubs/royalengineers.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[John Edward Blackburn]] (1 cap)
*[[Henry Renny-Tailyour]] (1 cap)
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Royal Engineers AFC}}
*[http://www.sapperfootball.co.uk/ Royal Engineers website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100912000300/http://www.remuseum.org.uk/articles/rem_article_facup.htm Royal Engineers Museum] When the Sappers won the FA Cup (1875)
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1863]]
[[Category:Football clubs in England]]
[[Category:FA Cup winners]]
[[Category:Association football in the British Army]]
[[Category:1863 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Royal Engineers]]
[[Category:Former Munster Senior League (association football) clubs]]
[[Category:Military football clubs in England|Engineers]]