Military Football

November is always a poignant month for the Military. Remembrance is so important for current generations to show their respect to all who have served their country, whether in the military or not, and there have been many that have worked hard towards looking after Great Britain.

What do you know about Military Football?

Without a doubt the  most famous football match is probably the match played on Christmas Day 1914 - The Christmas Truce. Many articles have been written about it, many art-works painted, and rightly so, it was a 'Match made in Heaven'. A match between Guy's of a similar age, who loved a game of football, and for whom the sport gave that joyous respite. Them Guy's were the same sort of men, it just happens that they were born in different countries, and that is all.

FA Cup Final

Are you aware that the first ever FA Cup Final was played at 3.05pm on Saturday 16 March 1872?

Wanderers v Royal Engineers, played at the 'Kennington Oval' in front of a largely middle-class crowd of 2000, each having paid a shilling to watch.

In those days the matches were played without crossbars, or goal-nets. There were no free kicks, or penalties, and the pitch had no centre circle or half way line. After every goal, the team would change ends - It was basically how I would play in the park with my mates - How the game has moved on.

Wanderers team was made up of the best players from Public Schools and Universities, but the Royal Engineers were the firm favourites. Unfortunately for the RE, Lt Cresswell broke his collar bone ten minutes into the game (the first ever recorded accident in football), this slowed him down for the rest of the match !!!! - how times have changed.

Teams

Wanderers; R.De C Welch, CW Alcock, MP Betts, AG Bonsor, EE Bowen, WP Crake, TC Hooman, E Lubbock, AC Thompson, RWS Vidal, CHR Wollaston

Royal Engineers; Capt Marindin, Capt Merriman, Lt Addison, Lt Cresswell, Lt Michell, Lt Renny-Tailyour, Lt Rich, Lt Goodwyn, Lt Muirhead, Lt Cotter, Lt Bogle

The game was won by Wanderers 1-0 with Betts the scorer

Referee; A Stair

Notice that the Royal Engineers team was made up of Commissioned Officers only - Different Times !!!

The Royal Engineers were the pioneers of the modern game;

• They were the first to pass the ball to each other instead of kicking the ball ahead and everyone charging for it. Opposition had to change their game when playing the RE team. 
• They were the first to go on a football tour. They toured Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield in 1873

In 1875 the Royal Engineers won the FA Cup Final. 

To this day the Royal Engineers have a veterans squad that are invited to various events. 

England

The following six players played for England whilst on the books of Royal Engineers A.F.C. The number of caps gained while playing for club is in brackets. 

• 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 whilst on the books of Royal Engineers A.F.C.:

• John Edward Blackburn (1 cap)
• Henry Renny-Tailyour (1 cap)

http://www.sapperfootball.co.uk/