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Engineers beat Wanderers in repeat of 1872 FA Cup final

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Engineers steamroll Wanderers 7-1 in repeat of first ever FA Cup final at The Oval… 140 years after the original

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UPDATED:

22:46 GMT, 7 November 2012

Who knows what Lieutenant Edmund Creswell would have made of it all Three times in the first 45 minutes of the replay of the 1872 Football Association Challenge Cup final officers from the Royal Engineers side he once represented went to ground and had a whinge.

Of course, it’s four months shy of 140 years since Lieutenant Creswell felt a fracture in his collarbone and carried on playing against Wanderers in that first edition of football’s oldest competition, now known as the FA Cup.

In a team of nine lieutenants and two captains, he was regarded as something of a ‘strong fellow’.

The gloves are on! The Engineers celebrate victory with the original FA Cup

The gloves are on! The Engineers celebrate victory with the original FA Cup

On Wednesday night, in the game's ceremonial
restaging at the same Oval cricket ground that hosted the original, it
was a little different.

Not least because Sapper Dean Ellis of the Engineers was allowed to take a throw-in without the threat of violence in the opening minute (back in the day a throw-in was awarded to whichever team retrieved the ball first) and there was no requirement to change ends with each goal.

The absence of the latter rule certainly saved some time – Engineers were in front through Lance Corporal Jay Hubbard after nine minutes and a further five ahead of the side managed by Bobby Gould by half time.

Calling the shots: Bobby Gould was in charge of the Wanderers who were beaten at The Oval

Calling the shots: Bobby Gould was in charge of the Wanderers who were beaten at The Oval

Calling the shots: Bobby Gould was in charge of the Wanderers who were beaten at The Oval

Daniel Flash pulled one back early in the second half with a finish Morton Betts would have been proud of – he scored Wanderers' winning goal on March 16, 1872, though Thomas Hooman later claimed in an interview with The Times that it was his goal – and the chants of 'we're going to win 7-6’ temporarily muffled Gould’s running battle with the referee.

As it turned out, Wanderers didn’t win 7-6; they lost 7-1 and Engineers were presented with the original trophy by West Ham chairman David Gold. The other Gould, a winner of the FA Cup as both a player and manager, beat the referee convincingly.

The Wanderers, once a team of England internationals educated at Harrow and now a 12th-tier side including an air steward and a Liberal Democrat councillor, will always have the bragging rights for winning the original tie 1-0. That was the first of their five FA Cup wins. The sixth might have to wait a while.

Up for the cup: West Ham Chairman David Gold looks on as Royal Engineers AFC Captain Jay Hubbard lifts the first ever FA Cup trophy

Up for the cup: West Ham Chairman David Gold looks on as Royal Engineers AFC Captain Jay Hubbard lifts the first ever FA Cup trophy

Up for the cup: West Ham Chairman David Gold looks on as Royal Engineers AFC Captain Jay Hubbard lifts the first ever FA Cup trophy

Rolling back the years: The match programme and the scoraboard shows the comprehensive scoreline

Rolling back the years: The match programme and the scoraboard shows the comprehensive scoreline

Rolling back the years: The match programme and the scoreboard shows the comprehensive scoreline

Wanderers and Royal Engineers set for 1872 FA Cup final remake

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Wanderers and Royal Engineers set for FA Cup final remake… 140 years after original showdown

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UPDATED:

00:27 GMT, 7 November 2012

The very first FA Cup final was contested 140 years ago – but the two teams involved will rekindle a rivalry in their first match for more than a century in a replay of that tie on Wednesday.

On March 16, 1872 at the Kennington Oval, now more commonly associated with cricket and known as the Kia Oval, Wanderers and the Royal Engineers contested the Challenge Cup final – the original FA Cup. Wanderers won by a single goal from Morton Betts.

That was after one of the Royal Engineers players broke his collarbone but insisted on staying on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes.

In black and white: The Royal Engineers lost 1-0 to the Wanderers in 1872

In black and white: The Royal Engineers lost 1-0 to the Wanderers in 1872

The two clubs still exist but have not faced each other for 120 years until when they meet at The Oval again on Wednesday.

Wanderers disbanded in the 1880s but were reformed back in 2009 and the Engineers, founded in 1863 and made up of serving soldiers of the British Army, have been playing all these 140 years.

Bobby Gould, who is one of only four people to win the FA Cup as a player and manager, will take charge of Wanderers for the day.

Watching on: Bernstein (left) will be present at Wednesday's game

Watching on: Bernstein (left) will be present at Wednesday's game

And the winners will lift the original FA Cup that is now owned by co-chairman of West Ham David Gold who is allowing it to be taken from its home at the National Football Museum in Manchester. He will be in attendance with FA chairman David Bernstein.

The Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers and help to perform Abide With Me before the teams line up to sing the national anthem.

But it will not all be entirely true to that day 140 years ago – that day Wanderers lined up with eight strikers and the Engineers started with seven.

And the rules of the game have changed significantly. Throw-ins used to be taken by the first team to get the ball, teams changed ends after every goal and there were no nets in the goals.

The game back in 1872 was contested in front of a 2,000-strong crowd and the organisers are confident they will surpass that number.

Michael Schumacher backs Mercedes to turn corner after dismal run

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Schumacher backs Mercedes to turn corner after dismal recent run

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UPDATED:

12:59 GMT, 12 June 2012

Michael Schumacher is convinced good times with Mercedes are still around the corner as he has not lost faith in the team.

Schumacher endured yet more bad luck
this season in Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix, with the seven-times
champion forced to retire as the DRS that aids overtaking was frozen in
the open position.

Michael Schumacher

Upbeat: but Michael Schumacher (right) has finished just two of seven races

It was the fifth time in seven races this year Schumacher has retired, suffering mechanical issues in three others, whilst he was also involved in an early accident in Spain.

Schumacher is currently languishing in 18th in the championship, with just two points to his name, whilst in contrast team-mate Nico Rosberg is fifth and 21 points behind leader Lewis Hamilton.

A philosophical Schumacher said on his personal website: 'I want to emphasise again Formula One cars are prototype vehicles and hundreds of components are made especially for them.

'For me, it's completely understandable that things can go wrong from time to time.

'Of course it was a disappointing outcome in Montreal, but I won't lose my nerve or faith in the team.

Schumacher understands why the car has problems

Setback: Schumacher understands why the car has problems

'I still believe we will achieve something special together with Mercedes.'

Despite his woes, Schumacher believes nothing will come of finger pointing, adding: 'There is no reason to blame anyone – unfortunate circumstances like these are part of motor racing.

'Indeed, I'm certain it's even tougher for the guys in the team.

'That's why I sat down with my race engineers immediately after my retirement to discuss how we should approach the time before the next race and to make sure we stay in close contact over the coming days.

'Perhaps the only small advantage from the situation was that I managed to beat the traffic to get to the airport.

'I had already planned to fly back to my family as soon as possible after the race, so at least I was able to get away from the circuit just before the chequered flag was waved.'

FA Cup final from 1871 to be restaged

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An Oval ball for the FA Cup with first final to be restaged at London cricket ground

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UPDATED:

21:30 GMT, 12 April 2012

Surrey County Cricket Club are to restage the first FA Cup final, held in 1872, at The Kia Oval, Kennington.

The match, between The Wanderers and Royal Engineers, will be played in November during the week leading up to the FA Cup first-round proper. Both clubs are still in existence.

The Oval’s central role in the oldest football tournament in the world will be recognised as 19 of the first 21 FA Cup finals were held at the famous cricket ground.

Home: The Oval in Kennington, London, hosted the first FA Cup final

Home: The Oval in Kennington, London, hosted the first FA Cup final

Surrey hope that funds raised will go to local and military charities and that the fixture will become an annual event.

Guest professionals and former Cup winners are to be invited to the game that will be played in the lead up to Remembrance Day.

In the late 19th century, The Oval was the country’s national sports stadium, staging rugby’s first ever international – England v Scotland in 1872 – and numerous football internationals during the same period. The ground has also hosted Australian Rules football, baseball and American Football.

Winner: Morton Betts scored the only goal of the first ever FA Cup final in 1872

Winner: Morton Betts scored the only goal of the first ever FA Cup final in 1872

The football match will be played on the outfield, following the end of the cricket season.

The original game was played at The Oval on March 16, 1872, when The Wanderers beat the Royal Engineers 1-0 thanks to a goal from Morton Betts.

These days The Wanderers compete in the Surrey South Eastern Combination after being reformed in 2009. Royal Engineers, who represent the corps of Royal Engineers, play in their own Army cup competitions.

Surrey are also working on the idea of a museum to recognise The Oval as one of the most significant sporting venues in the country.

This re-enactment will please traditionalists, who have further reason to criticise the FA Cup this weekend. With both semi-finals being played at Wembley, kick-off times have incurred the wrath of supporters. Liverpool and Everton must travel from the North West to play on Saturday at 12.30pm, while Chelsea and Tottenham play at 6pm on Sunday.