This year sees the 150th anniversary of the 1875 FA Cup Final between Royal Engineers and Old Etonians, which was the fourth Final to be played in the history of the competition.
To commemorate that occasion, the current teams of both clubs will face off again in a celebratory game on Saturday 10 May - just one week before the 2025 Emirates FA Cup Final between Crystal Palace and Manchester City takes place at Wembley Stadium.
Staged by Royal Engineers at their home ground at the Kings Bastion barracks in Chatham, Kent, the game is one of two ties being played as part of the Corps of Royal Engineers’ Festival of Football as the competition’s heritage continues to live on.
It promises to be an unforgettable day to commemorate the team’s historic victory, with a military open day including interactive displays, football-themed activities, and a variety of food and drink vendors to keep the whole family entertained. Entrance to the event is free and more details on how to get your tickets are available here.
Royal Engineers won the FA Cup in 1875 when they shared a 1-1 draw after extra time before the Final went to a replay which saw them win by 2-0.
It was third-time lucky for Royal Engineers, having previously been beaten by Wanderers in the first-ever FA Cup Final in 1872 at the Kennington Oval in London and then by Oxford University in 1874.
Despite the defeat in their first Final appearance, Old Etonians later tasted FA Cup victory four years later in 1879 when they beat Clapham Rovers by 2-0 and then sealed a second FA Cup title with a 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers in 1882.
Now, the 2025 line-ups from both clubs will meet again in an event which will begin with a mixed age and gender ‘Soccer Aid’ style game between Royal Engineers and Dulwich Hamlet, before the 1875 rematch kicks-off at 4pm preceded by a Red Devils parachute display and delivery of the match ball
Special guests at the event including former England internationals Terry Butcher and Des Walker and comedian and historian Al Murray.
The squads representing both teams on Saturday are as follows:-
Royal Engineers: LCpl Felix Norman, LCpl Kimron Quashie, Cpl Matthew Coar (C), Spr Aaron Marley, Sgt Jay Tomlinson, Spr Ryan Kenyon, Spr Ryan Fagan, LCpl Kieran Di Carluccio, Spr George Howard, LCpl Ash Tandy, Spr Swarup Thapa Magar, SSgt Rory Barker, SSgt Rob Cooper-Tompkins, Spr Fletcher Chandler, SSgt Jay Hubbard, LCpl Will Haslam
Head Coach: SSgt Scotty Roy
Coaches: Sgt Rob Fyfe, SSgt Rob Cooper-Tompkins, SSgt Rory Barker, SSgt Paul Carter
Old Etonians AFC: Tom White, James Eager, Des Hartley Russell, George Hill, Fara Bashorun, Milo MacKean, Gus Shaw Stewart, Fred Galletley, Marcel Aziamale, Fredde Stille, Barnaby Nunn, Elliott Charles, Xander Angelini-Hurll, Alex Milne, Ivor McGrigor.
Head coach: Ian Botterill
