532:
behind" and "Weir now had a splendid run for
Scotland into the heart of his opponents' territory". 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." 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.
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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". In February 1871 against
535:
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
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and
Jackson and so well did these three play in concert... they succeeded in defying the... RE forwards". What is most notable about this report is that it confirms that the Royal Engineers "played beautifully together" That the engineers were the first side to break the trend of dribbling is shown
531:
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
370:
of football. 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" In November 1871 similar passing tactics are described in a contemporary account of a game
30:
375:, 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" Later in the match it is reported that "Lieut G Barker, turning the ball to
1303:
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322:" was first used by the Royal Engineers A.F.C. in the early 1870s. Wall states that the "Sappers moved in unison" and showed the "advantages of combination over the old style of individualism".
140:
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154:
250:, 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
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637:
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.
503:, again losing to the Wanderers. The Engineers continued to compete until the introduction of qualifying rounds in 1888–89, but with ever diminishing returns; in the first round in
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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
1295:
1510:
348:, 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"
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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"
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440:, 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.
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starting in 1888. In the early years, the
Engineers was one of several amateur teams who could defeat the professionals in challenge matches.
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play the football "beautifully". All of these developments occurred before and independent of the 1872 match between
England and Scotland.
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in a contemporary account of their victory against Crystal Palace in early 1872. This said that: "very little dribbling was displayed"
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386:, a brief contemporary match report states that: "The school captain took the precaution of strengthening his backs, deputizing
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The following six Royal Engineers players played for England. The number of caps gained while playing for club is in brackets.
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Another contemporary match report clearly shows that by 1870, ball passing was a feature of the Engineers style: "
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in 1873. Wall's memoirs state that this tour introduced the combination game to Sheffield and Nottingham. In
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in 1875 and being Cup finalists in three of the first four seasons. The Engineers were pioneers of the
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511:, the club's heaviest competitive defeat. Its final tie in the competition was a 5–1 defeat at the
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1296:"Football - Royal Engineers, an original 11 x 9 team photo of R.E.F.C. winners of the Munster Cup"
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306:; the earliest game recorded for the Engineers against a non-military side is a 3–0 home win over
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regimental teams organised and competed in local competitions. In 1902–03 the Engineers won the
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621:. Unlike the actual final, the Engineers won, and by a large margin, 7–1 being the final score.
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The evidence above contains detailed descriptions of passing that are lacking in reports of the
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In 2014, Keith Stubbs founded the REAFC Ladies squad which runs in line with the male squad.
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who planted it between the posts" "Turning" the ball clearly points to the short pass.
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Won 1981, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002; Runner-up 1983, 1988
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242:. In the 1870s, it was one of the strongest sides in English football, winning the
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against the Wanderers in which two goals were scored through tactical passing: "
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of Saturday 12 March 1870, see account of international match of 5 March 1870
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The club has worn scarlet and blue hoops since its foundation in 1863.
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1142:(London, England), 16 March 1872; pg. 8; Issue 2698. New Readerships.
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The Royal Engineers were the first football team to go on a tour, to
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the Engineers won the FA Cup, considered their greatest triumph. In
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The Engineers used their team playing style with effect against the
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Various regiments and battalions within the RE Corps have won the
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on 16 March 1872, to regular rivals Wanderers. They also lost the
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during the early 1900s the Royal Engineers, together with other
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It was not only in England that the Engineers helped pioneer
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The club was founded in 1863, under the leadership of Major
609:
On 7 November 2012, the Royal Engineers played against the
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Former Munster Senior League (association football) clubs
338:, who had run up the centre, and who pinched another "
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1327:
Highland Light Infantry Chroncicle (Jan 1908-Oct1910)
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901:"Top 10 Oldest, Active Football Clubs In The World"
334:made a fine run down the left, passing the ball to
519:Summary of the Royal Engineers early playing style
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587:was formed in 1888. Its teams were organised by
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366:, a side considered as early as 1870 to be the
356:Colonel Thomas Tupper Carter-Campbell of Possil
1511:Association football clubs established in 1863
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1283:Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle
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266:The Royal Engineers pictured in 1872. Back:
1285:(London, England), 9 March 1872; Issue 2697
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515:in the first qualifying round in 1888–89.
318:1895–1934, stated in his memoirs that the "
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1390:Football Association 1863-83: A Sourcebook
1199:"The Football Association Challenge Cup".
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929:""N. N. s" v Royal Engineers (Chatham)".
560:. The regiment also entered teams in the
527:. For example, in a lengthy account the
224:Royal Engineers Association Football Club
40:Royal Engineers Association Football Club
1526:Association football in the British Army
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1497:When the Sappers won the FA Cup (1875)
1175:"Royal Engineers – Football – History"
1438:"Club Affiliations – Royal Engineers"
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1306:from the original on 10 November 2017
973:The Encyclopaedia of British Football
1463:"Scotland players – Royal Engineers"
1369:from the original on 18 October 2020
1340:History Section - Welfare and Sports
1217:When the Sappers won the FA Cup 1875
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16:Association football club in England
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1238:Uxbridge & West Drayton Gazette
13:
1546:Military football clubs in England
1236:"Great Marlow v Royal Engineers".
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1407:. London: Lillywhite. p. 79.
1104:, 18 November 1871, issue 2, 681
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949:50 Years of Football, 1884-1934
911:from the original on 2022-05-30
750:Won 1903; Runners-up 1904, 1905
1531:1863 establishments in England
1359:"First FA Cup final recreated"
1163:Football Club History Database
1125:, 17 February 1872, issue 2694
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1025:, 25 February 1871, issue 2643
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803:40 Army Engineer Support Group
794:Won 1980; Runner-up 1991, 1993
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1:
1140:London and Sporting Chronicle
1123:London and Sporting Chronicle
1102:London and Sporting Chronicle
1085:, 18 March 1871, issue 2, 646
1083:London and Sporting Chronicle
1055:London and Sporting Chronicle
1039:London and Sporting Chronicle
1023:London and Sporting Chronicle
1007:London and Sporting Chronicle
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947:Wall, Sir Frederick (2005).
60:; 161 years ago
7:
1253:Sheffield Evening Telegraph
1041:, 21 March 1868, Issue 2396
975:, Routledge, United Kingdom
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572:Professionalism arrived in
400:the first-ever FA Cup Final
314:, who was the secretary of
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525:1872 Glasgow international
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76:Number one ground, Chatham
1516:Football clubs in England
1403:Lillywhite, John (1868).
1273:- 2 December 1872, page 6
1223:October 23, 2009, at the
1201:Sheffield Daily Telegraph
1057:, 5 November 1870,issue 2
866:The following played for
855:Cecil Wingfield-Stratford
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585:Army Football Association
507:, the club lost 10–1 at
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109:Army Football Association
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951:. Soccer Books Limited.
788:Won 1970; Runner-up 1971
779:4th Divisional Engineers
412:Oxford University A.F.C.
398:The Engineers played in
316:The Football Association
234:, the 'Sappers', of the
232:Corps of Royal Engineers
1490:Royal Engineers website
1251:"This day's football".
1219:Royal Engineers Museum
1495:Royal Engineers Museum
1240:: 7. 15 November 1884.
1159:Royal Engineers A.F.C.
785:32nd Engineer Regiment
653:The club plays on the
513:Crusaders of Brentwood
489:C. Wingfield-Stratford
443:The winning side was:
359:
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230:team representing the
875:John Edward Blackburn
811:International players
797:28 Engineer Regiment
741:Army FA Challenge Cup
734:Army FA Challenge Cup
598:The Engineers' Depot
562:Munster Senior League
548:. While stationed in
354:
265:
1388:Brown, Tony (2011).
1300:www.the-saleroom.com
1255:: 3. 6 October 1888.
1067:The Sporting Gazette
971:Cox, Richard (2002)
881:Henry Renny-Tailyour
776:Won 1950, 1957, 1958
613:in a rematch of the
546:association football
481:H. W. Renny-Tailyour
377:Lieut Renny-Tailyour
310:in March 1867. Sir
228:association football
92:Lt Col Chloe Plimmer
1365:. 8 November 2012.
1203:: 4. 17 March 1875.
985:History of Football
933:: 4. 21 March 1867.
578:the Football League
576:in the 1880s, with
499:appearance came in
24:
23:Royal Engineers AFC
1423:2012-03-04 at the
1418:Army FA Cup Finals
1345:2009-10-21 at the
1009:, 18 December 1869
990:2007-04-18 at the
791:Training Regiments
718:Munster Senior Cup
558:Munster Senior Cup
529:Scotsman newspaper
390:to cooperate with
384:Westminster School
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236:British Army
223:
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204:Home colours
202:
120:Club website
100:Keith Stubbs
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1136:Bell's Life
1134:FOOTBALL.
1119:Bell's Life
1098:Bell's Life
1079:Bell's Life
1051:Bell's Life
1019:Bell's Life
1003:Bell's Life
905:FootTheBall
759:Training Bn
625:Ladies team
568:Later years
495:Their last
473:H.E. Rawson
457:G.C. Onslow
449:W. Merriman
336:Lieut. Rich
45:Nickname(s)
1505:Categories
1473:2008-02-06
1448:2008-02-06
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1185:2004-08-10
1035:Bells Life
915:2022-05-23
888:References
747:Service Bn
683:Runners-up
487:; and Lt.
418:Nottingham
408:1874 Final
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1363:BBC Sport
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726:: 1902–03
611:Wanderers
606:in 1908.
600:Battalion
589:battalion
469:C.K. Wood
461:R.M. Ruck
434:the final
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388:HDS Vidal
364:Wanderers
37:Full name
1467:Archived
1442:Archived
1421:Archived
1367:Archived
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1304:Archived
1221:Archived
1179:Archived
988:Archived
909:Archived
868:Scotland
862:Scotland
851:(2 caps)
782:Won 1969
770:Won 1947
762:Won 1937
756:Won 1907
753:Depot Bn
633:Veterans
619:The Oval
602:won the
593:regiment
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436:against
288:Creswell
280:Mitchell
272:Marindin
268:Merriman
81:Capacity
1427:Army FA
1161:at the
883:(1 cap)
877:(1 cap)
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724:Winners
709:Winners
674:Winners
661:Honours
641:Colours
550:Ireland
540:Ireland
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953:ISBN
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