Royal Engineers A.F.C.

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. 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. 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". 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 [goal]" 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" 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"

The Engineers used their team playing style with effect…

Cup Honours

FA Cup Winners: 1875 Runners-up: 1872, 1874, 1878 FA Amateur Cup Winners: 1908 Munster Senior Cup Winners: 1902–03

Army FA Massey League

Records only from 1993-94.

Massey Trophy - Division 1 Winners: 2007–08, 2017–18, 2021–22 Massey Trophy Winners: 1994–95, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02, Army FA Woolwich Cup Winners: 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2019–20 Inter-Corps Quadrangular Tournament Winners: 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1995, 1999, 2002, 2008, 2010, 2016, 2018, 2019

Army FA Challenge Cup

Various regiments and battalions within the RE Corps have won the Army FA Challenge Cup:

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