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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
546:
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
542:
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
381:
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
386:, 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
41:
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1314:
333:" 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".
261:, 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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648:
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.
514:, 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
393:
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
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1306:
359:, 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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451:, 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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397:, 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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668:, originally marking out a pitch where available, but now a formal set of pitches at the barracks.
522:, the club's heaviest competitive defeat. Its final tie in the competition was a 5–1 defeat at the
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1307:"Football - Royal Engineers, an original 11 x 9 team photo of R.E.F.C. winners of the Munster Cup"
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317:; 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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632:. 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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253:. 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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1153:(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
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On 7 November 2012, the Royal Engineers played against the
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Former Munster Senior League (association football) clubs
349:, who had run up the centre, and who pinched another "
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1338:
Highland Light Infantry Chroncicle (Jan 1908-Oct1910)
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912:"Top 10 Oldest, Active Football Clubs In The World"
345:made a fine run down the left, passing the ball to
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530:Summary of the Royal Engineers early playing style
598:was formed in 1888. Its teams were organised by
377:, a side considered as early as 1870 to be the
367:Colonel Thomas Tupper Carter-Campbell of Possil
1522:Association football clubs established in 1863
8:
1294:Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle
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277:The Royal Engineers pictured in 1872. Back:
33:
1296:(London, England), 9 March 1872; Issue 2697
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526:in the first qualifying round in 1888–89.
329:1895–1934, stated in his memoirs that the "
1401:Football Association 1863-83: A Sourcebook
1210:"The Football Association Challenge Cup".
32:
940:""N. N. s" v Royal Engineers (Chatham)".
571:. The regiment also entered teams in the
538:. For example, in a lengthy account the
235:Royal Engineers Association Football Club
51:Royal Engineers Association Football Club
1537:Association football in the British Army
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1508:When the Sappers won the FA Cup (1875)
1186:"Royal Engineers – Football – History"
1449:"Club Affiliations – Royal Engineers"
1317:from the original on 10 November 2017
984:The Encyclopaedia of British Football
7:
1474:"Scotland players – Royal Engineers"
1380:from the original on 18 October 2020
1351:History Section - Welfare and Sports
1228:When the Sappers won the FA Cup 1875
150:
27:Association football club in England
1249:Uxbridge & West Drayton Gazette
1557:Military football clubs in England
1247:"Great Marlow v Royal Engineers".
25:
1418:. London: Lillywhite. p. 79.
1115:, 18 November 1871, issue 2, 681
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1455:from the original on 2012-04-02
1192:from the original on 2006-01-03
960:50 Years of Football, 1884-1934
922:from the original on 2022-05-30
761:Won 1903; Runners-up 1904, 1905
1542:1863 establishments in England
1370:"First FA Cup final recreated"
1174:Football Club History Database
1136:, 17 February 1872, issue 2694
1036:, 25 February 1871, issue 2643
814:40 Army Engineer Support Group
805:Won 1980; Runner-up 1991, 1993
1:
1151:London and Sporting Chronicle
1134:London and Sporting Chronicle
1113:London and Sporting Chronicle
1096:, 18 March 1871, issue 2, 646
1094:London and Sporting Chronicle
1066:London and Sporting Chronicle
1050:London and Sporting Chronicle
1034:London and Sporting Chronicle
1018:London and Sporting Chronicle
958:Wall, Sir Frederick (2005).
71:; 161 years ago
1264:Sheffield Evening Telegraph
1052:, 21 March 1868, Issue 2396
986:, Routledge, United Kingdom
583:Professionalism arrived in
411:the first-ever FA Cup Final
325:, who was the secretary of
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536:1872 Glasgow international
87:Number one ground, Chatham
1527:Football clubs in England
1414:Lillywhite, John (1868).
1284:- 2 December 1872, page 6
1234:October 23, 2009, at the
1212:Sheffield Daily Telegraph
1068:, 5 November 1870,issue 2
877:The following played for
866:Cecil Wingfield-Stratford
596:Army Football Association
518:, the club lost 10–1 at
263:Army Football Association
227:
141:
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120:Army Football Association
38:
962:. Soccer Books Limited.
799:Won 1970; Runner-up 1971
790:4th Divisional Engineers
423:Oxford University A.F.C.
409:The Engineers played in
327:The Football Association
245:, the 'Sappers', of the
243:Corps of Royal Engineers
1501:Royal Engineers website
1262:"This day's football".
1230:Royal Engineers Museum
1506:Royal Engineers Museum
1251:: 7. 15 November 1884.
1170:Royal Engineers A.F.C.
796:32nd Engineer Regiment
664:The club plays on the
524:Crusaders of Brentwood
500:C. Wingfield-Stratford
454:The winning side was:
370:
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241:team representing the
886:John Edward Blackburn
822:International players
808:28 Engineer Regiment
752:Army FA Challenge Cup
745:Army FA Challenge Cup
609:The Engineers' Depot
573:Munster Senior League
559:. While stationed in
365:
276:
1399:Brown, Tony (2011).
1311:www.the-saleroom.com
1266:: 3. 6 October 1888.
1078:The Sporting Gazette
982:Cox, Richard (2002)
892:Henry Renny-Tailyour
787:Won 1950, 1957, 1958
624:in a rematch of the
557:association football
492:H. W. Renny-Tailyour
388:Lieut Renny-Tailyour
321:in March 1867. Sir
239:association football
103:Lt Col Chloe Plimmer
1376:. 8 November 2012.
1214:: 4. 17 March 1875.
996:History of Football
944:: 4. 21 March 1867.
589:the Football League
587:in the 1880s, with
510:appearance came in
35:
34:Royal Engineers AFC
18:Royal Engineers AFC
1434:2012-03-04 at the
1429:Army FA Cup Finals
1356:2009-10-21 at the
1020:, 18 December 1869
1001:2007-04-18 at the
802:Training Regiments
729:Munster Senior Cup
569:Munster Senior Cup
540:Scotsman newspaper
401:to cooperate with
395:Westminster School
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341:it is noted that "
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626:1872 FA Cup Final
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247:British Army
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215:Home colours
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131:Club website
111:Keith Stubbs
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1384:8 September
1147:Bell's Life
1145:FOOTBALL.
1130:Bell's Life
1109:Bell's Life
1090:Bell's Life
1062:Bell's Life
1030:Bell's Life
1014:Bell's Life
916:FootTheBall
770:Training Bn
636:Ladies team
579:Later years
506:Their last
484:H.E. Rawson
468:G.C. Onslow
460:W. Merriman
347:Lieut. Rich
56:Nickname(s)
1516:Categories
1484:2008-02-06
1459:2008-02-06
1321:12 October
1196:2004-08-10
1046:Bells Life
926:2022-05-23
899:References
758:Service Bn
694:Runners-up
498:; and Lt.
429:Nottingham
419:1874 Final
305:, Barker,
1374:BBC Sport
1336:various.
737:: 1902–03
622:Wanderers
617:in 1908.
611:Battalion
600:battalion
480:C.K. Wood
472:R.M. Ruck
445:the final
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399:HDS Vidal
375:Wanderers
48:Full name
1478:Archived
1453:Archived
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999:Archived
920:Archived
879:Scotland
873:Scotland
862:(2 caps)
793:Won 1969
781:Won 1947
773:Won 1937
767:Won 1907
764:Depot Bn
644:Veterans
630:The Oval
613:won the
604:regiment
464:G.H. Sim
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299:Creswell
291:Mitchell
283:Marindin
279:Merriman
92:Capacity
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868:(1 cap)
856:(1 cap)
850:(1 cap)
844:(1 cap)
838:(1 cap)
827:England
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720:Winners
685:Winners
672:Honours
652:Colours
561:Ireland
551:Ireland
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269:History
126:Website
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100:Chair
1386:2020
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964:ISBN
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