With the rise of professional teams, in 1888 the Engineers joined a newly formed Army Football Association.

[2] Sir Frederick Wall, who was the secretary of The Football Association 1895–1934, stated in his memoirs that the "combination game" was first used by the Royal Engineers A.F.C.

An 1869 report says they "worked well together" and "had learned the secret of football success – backing up"; whereas their defeated opponents had "a painful want of cooperation".

Rich, who had run up the centre, and who pinched another [goal]" [7] By early 1868, a contemporary match report states "For the R.E.s Lieuts Campbell, Johnson and Chambers attracted especial attention by their clever play"[8] Another contemporary match report clearly shows that by 1870, ball passing was a feature of the Engineers style: "Lieut.

[10] In a match of March 1871 against Wanderers their victory was due to "irreproachable organisation" and in particular that both their attacks and their backing up were both "so well organised"[11] In November 1871 similar passing tactics are described in a contemporary account of a game against the Wanderers in which two goals were scored through tactical passing: "Betts, however, soon seized his opportunity, and by a brilliant run down the left wing turned the ball judiciously to Currie, who as judiciously sent it flying through the strangers' goal in first rate style"[12] Later in the match it is reported that "Lieut G Barker, turning the ball to Lieut Renny-Tailyour who planted it between the posts"[12] "Turning" the ball clearly points to the short pass.

This said that: "very little dribbling was displayed" [14] The Engineers played in the first-ever FA Cup Final, losing 1–0 at Kennington Oval on 16 March 1872, to regular rivals Wanderers.

For example, in a lengthy account the Scotsman newspaper makes no mention of passing or combination by the Scottish team and specifically describes the Scottish attacks in terms of dribbling: "The Scotch now came away with a great rush, Leckie and others dribbling the ball so smartly that the English lines were closely besieged and the ball was soon behind"[21] and "Weir now had a splendid run for Scotland into the heart of his opponents' territory".

[21]" The Scotsman concludes that the difference in styles in the first half is the advantage the Queens' Park players had "through knowing each others' play" as all came from the same club.

[22] The early accounts all confirm that the Engineers were the first club to play a passing game of cooperation and organisation with both their forwards and their defence.

While stationed in Ireland during the early 1900s the Royal Engineers, together with other British Army regimental teams organised and competed in local competitions.

Various regiments and battalions within the RE Corps have won the Army FA Challenge Cup:[29] The following six Royal Engineers players played for England.