Which FA Cup tie took 137 years to complete?

Reigate Priory FC, one of the oldest clubs in Surrey, will answer that quiz question at their Park Lane ground in Reigate on Easter Sunday.

Priory, formed in 1870, were one of the 15 entrants for the first-ever FA Challenge Cup competition in the 1871-72 season. As such their place in history is assured.

But they didn’t actually play a match. They scratched after being drawn away to Royal Engineers in the First Round – but now, 137 years on, this fixture will finally take place. It won’t be an FA Cup tie though, but a friendly to raise money for the Children’s Trust, Tadworth.

This is how the very first FA Cup draw went all those years ago:-

Wanderers v Harrow Chequers, Clapham Rovers v Upton Park, Crystal Palace v Hitchin, Maidenhead v Great Marlow, Queen’ Park (Glasgow) bye, Donington School (Spalding) bye, ROYAL ENGINEERS v REIGATE PRIORY, Hampstead Heathens bye, Barnes v Civil Service.

Royal Engineers went on to beat Hitchin 3-1, Hampstead Heathens 2-0 and Crystal Palace  3-0 in subsequent rounds before losing 1-0 to Wanderers in the first FA Cup Final. An estimated crowd of 2,000 paid sixpence each to watch the match at Kennington Oval.

Priory’s first team now plays in the Crawley & District Premier and Club President Jes Chandler was only too happy to tell TheFA.com why the fixture with Royal Engineers was being played.

“Reigate Priory Football Club is held in high esteem by the local community. The link between us has become stronger with the growth of the Club’s youth section, with a minimum of ten teams representing ‘The Priory’ each weekend.

“With this in mind, the Club has been keen to welcome the community to Park Lane to witness a real piece of history on their doorstep.

“The idea of ‘re-playing’ the original FA Cup game against The Royal Engineers has been spoken about for a number of years and it seemed very appropriate to offer the opposition the chance to fulfil the fixture, and link the event to a local charity.

“The effort and planning that have gone into the event are a credit to the Club’s current  committee. We do believe we are making history, and our opposition appear to share our enthusiasm for the match. We hope it will become a regular event in the years to come, certainly more regular than the 137 years it has taken to re-arrange this one!”

The gates will open at 1pm for a 2pm kick-off this coming Sunday and it is intended to produce a 16-page programme. Also scheduled on the day are a Bar B Que, Memorabilia Auction and Easter Egg Hunt for the Kids.