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The Royal Engineers Association Football Club is an association football team representing the Corps of Royal Engineers, the "Sappers", of the British Army. In the 1870s it was one of the strongest sides in English football, winning the FA Cup in 1875 and being Cup Finalists in four of the first eight seasons of the competition, including three of the first four. The Engineers were pioneers of the "combination game", where team-mates passed the ball to each other rather than kicking ahead and charging after the ball. ==History== The club was founded in 1863, under the leadership of Major Francis Marindin. 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.〔〔Cox, Richard (2002) ''The Encyclopaedia of British Football'', Routledge, United Kingdom〕〔(History of Football )〕 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".〔''Bell's Life'' in ''London and Sporting Chronicle'', 18 December 1869〕 In February 1871 against Crystal Palace it is noted that "Lieut. Mitchell made a fine run down the left, passing the ball to Lieut. Rich, who had run up the centre, and who pinched another ()" 〔''Bell's Life'' in ''London and Sporting Chronicle'', 25 February 1871, issue 2643〕 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"〔''Bells Life'' in ''London and Sporting Chronicle'', 21 March 1868, Issue 2396〕 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"〔''Bell's Life'' in ''London and Sporting Chronicle'', 5 November 1870,issue 2〕 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.〔''The Sporting Gazette'' of Saturday 12 March 1870, see account of international match of 5 March 1870〕 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"〔''Bell's Life'' in ''London and Sporting Chronicle'', 18 March 1871, issue 2, 646〕 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"〔''Bell's Life'' in ''London and Sporting Chronicle'', 18 November 1871, issue 2, 681〕 Later in the match it is reported that "Lieut G Barker, turning the ball to Lieut Renny-Tailyour who planted it between the posts"〔 "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".〔''Bell's Life'' in ''London and Sporting Chronicle'', 17 February 1872, issue 2694〕 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 in a contemporary account of their victory against Crystal Palace in early 1872. This said that: "very little dribbling was displayed" 〔FOOTBALL. ''Bell's Life'' in ''London and Sporting Chronicle'' (London, England), 16 March 1872; pg. 8; Issue 2698. New Readerships.〕 The Engineers played in the first-ever FA Cup Final, losing 1–0 at Kennington Oval on 16 March 1872, to regular rivals Wanderers. They also lost the 1874 Final, to Oxford University A.F.C..〔 The Royal Engineers were the first football team to go on a tour, to Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield in 1873. Wall's memoirs state that this tour introduced the combination game to Sheffield and Nottingham.〔(Royal Engineers – Football – History )〕 In 1875 the Engineers won the FA Cup, considered their greatest triumph.〔 In the final against Old Etonians, they drew 1–1 with a goal from Renny-Tailyour and went on to win the replay 2–0 with a goal each from Renny-Tailyour and Stafford.〔(When the Sappers won the FA Cup 1875 ) Royal Engineers Museum 〕 The winning side was:〔 * Capt. W. Merriman; Lt. G.H. Sim; Lt. G.C. Onslow; Lt. R.M. Ruck; Lt. P.G. von Donop; Lt. C.K. Wood; Lt. H.E. Rawson; Lt. W.F.H. Stafford; Lt. H. W. Renny-Tailyour; Lt. A. Mein; and Lt. C. Wingfield-Stratford. Their last FA Cup Final appearance came in 1878, again losing to the Wanderers.〔 They last participated in 1882–83 FA Cup, losing 6–2 in the fourth round to Old Carthusians F.C..〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Royal Engineers A.F.C.」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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