Robert Walpole Sealy Vidal (3 September 1853 – 5 November 1914) was a prominent 19th century footballer who featured in the first three FA Cup Finals for two different clubs. In March 1870 he played in the first ever international football match, which took place at The Oval, London. He represented England again in 1871
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Vidal was born at Cornborough near Bideford, Devon, England.
Not much is known about Vidal's career. He was well known however as the "prince of dribblers". In those days, the rule was that the team that scored also kicked off afterwards. On one occasion this rule allowed Vidal to score three goals in a match without the other team touching the ball.[1] He played in the first three FA Cup Finals, of 1872, 1873 and 1874. He attended school at Westminster, London and university at Christ Church, Oxford before becoming a reverend. He was a member of the Wanderers F.C. team as they won the first ever FA Cup. It is said that he assisted the first ever FA Cup final goal. Vidal broke away and looped the ball across to Morton Betts, who shot between the posts.
The following year, Vidal had moved to Oxford. His team reached the final, where they faced Vidal's old side, the Wanderers. However Oxford could not penetrate the defences and Wanderers won 2-0.
In the next season, Oxford again qualified for the final, this time to face the Royal Engineers. Vidal played again, setting up Charles Mackarness's goal as Oxford University romped with a 2-0 victory. Vidal became the only person to have played in all three of the first FA Cup Finals. However, he never played in a final again. The University side reached the semi-finals in the next year, 1875, but the Engineers exacted their revenge by winning 1-0.
He only received one cap for England. His cap came in the second official international football match, against Scotland on 8 March 1873 which England won 4-2.