Shipping Estimate
USA
- USA
- CAN
- USA
- CAN
Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 14 - Jul 19
Promo Codes Available:
For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15
Description
The Early Years of the FA Cup: How the British Army Helped Establish the World's First Football Tournament (Hardcover)The 150th anniversary of the first FA Cup competition, the earliest knockout tournament in the history of football, will be celebrated during the 2021 2022 season. The first set of matches was played on 11 November 1871, with the Engineers reaching the final played at Kennington Oval on 16 March 1872. During the first decade of the competition three teams associated with the military, Royal Engineers, 1st Surrey Rifles and 105th Regiment, were
The 150th anniversary of the first FA Cup competition, the earliest knockout tournament in the history of football, will be celebrated during the 2021-2022 season. The first set of matches was played on 11 November 1871, with the Engineers reaching the final played at Kennington Oval on 16 March 1872. During the first decade of the competition three teams associated with the military, Royal Engineers, 1st Surrey Rifles and 105th Regiment, were involved in 74 matches. They won more than half of them and scored 154 goals. The Army also produced one of the most respected administrators in the history of football, in the form of Major Francis Marindin, who was involved in the founding of the FA Cup, played in two finals, and refereed a further nine. Military men and units provided a number of ‘firsts’ in the early years of football. The Royal Engineers played in the first ever FA Cup final; Lieutenant James Prinsep of the Essex Regiment was the youngest footballer to appear in an FA Cup final until 2004, although he remains the youngest to complete a full match; Lieutenant William Maynard of the 1st Surrey Rifles played for England in the first ever official international match against Scotland; Captain William Kenyon-Slaney of the Grenadier Guards scored the first ever goal in an official international match, while playing for England; and Lieutenant Henry Renny-Tailyour of the Royal Engineers scored the first ever goal for Scotland in the same match. At a time when there has been talk of a financially-motivated breakaway European Super League, James gives the reader the opportunity to look back at a time when football was played for the game itself. Using his vast knowledge concerning Victorian football and military history, The Early Years of the FA Cup explores the fascinating history of the Army’s involvement in the early years of the world’s most popular sport. With detailed descriptions of the finals and other matches involving the military teams during football’s heyday, this book, for the first time, then follows the men as they went on campaigns to build roads and bridges in hostile territory, provide maps for commanders in famous conflicts such as The Zulu War, Afghanistan, the Sudan, and the Boer Wars, and saw active service on the Western Front during the First World War. In some cases they never returned. Often great footballers are referred to as ‘heroes’ – in the case of the men who played for the Army teams in the early FA Cup competitions, such an epithet is genuinely true.Shipping Notes
- Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
- Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
- Delivery to the USA:
- Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
- If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
- We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
- Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
- To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
- Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
4.8 ★★★★★
Based on 1989 reviews
Sort
Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
I love this
Color: White, Size: Small
This is gorgeous. It adds so much to my bookshelves. Beautiful and high quality. Gorgeous design
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Bookshelf bust
Color: White, Size: Small
This was smaller than I expected, I knew it was 6” but still just thought it would be a little large. But! It looks great on my bookshelf! Well packaged and looks just like the pictures
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Great purchase!
Color: White, Size: Small
It’s really cool. It was purchased as a gift to place onto a stack of books on a bookcase.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Beautiful bust
Color: White, Size: Small
I gave this as a gift to my granddaughter and she loved it. My granddaughter is 23 years old and appreciates beautiful things. Very feminine.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2026
★★★★★ 4
Great addition to my bookshelf
Color: White, Size: Small
This statue is beautiful and looks great on my bookshelf. Its a tad on the small side, but it has good weight and thee details are crisp.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2025