Francis Marindin
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Major Sir Francis A. Marindin (1838-1900) served with the Royal Engineers and was a key figure in the early development of football (soccer). He was later knighted for his work in public services.
Marindin spent active service in the Crimean War (1854-56) and was a member of the Board of Trade Railway Inspectorate, an occupation he continued after he left the Corps. He is credited with having founded the Royal Engineers Football team in 1869, which went on to win the FA Cup in 1875. He retired from the Royal Engineers in 1879 at the rank of Major.
As a football player, Marindin played in the first FA Cup Final in 1872, which the Royal Engineers' team lost. At the time, Marindin held the rank of captain. The team lost the final again in 1874, but won it in 1875, each time with Marindin in the XI.
Marindin become the President of the Football Association in 1874 and served in that capacity until 1879. As a referee he took charge of the 1880 FA Cup final and those from 1884 to 1890, including a replay at Derby in 1886. In his last final, crowds invaded the pitch and soldiers had to clear the field. He was considered "one of the outstanding referees who really knows the rules".
He became Senior Inspector of Railways in 1895. In 1899 he submitted a report on accidents on railway workers on which a new Act of Parliament concerning rail safety was based. He helped develop London's new electrical lighting system and was knighted in 1897.
[edit] External links
- Royal Engineers Museum When the Royal Engineers won the FA Cup 1875
- Royal Engineers Museum Engineers in a Civic role
- Royal Engineers Museum History of Sports in the Royal Engineers
