Calls for Weymouth's football legend Sir Francis Marindin to be immortalised

A Weymouth footballer who captained his side in the first FA Cup final is currently buried in a run-down churchyard. Pictures: James Bancroft

Football historian James Bancroft, from Manchester, is releasing a new book called The Early Years of the FA Cup which features Sir Francis Arthur Marindin, who lived in Melcombe Regis and was captain of The Royal Engineers in the first FA Cup final in 1872.

Mr Bancroft said his book is about how the British Army established the world's first football tournament and includes a biographical tribute to Sir Marindin and his side, which were beaten 1-0 by Wanderers.

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The historian said: "The 2021-22 football season will mark the 150th anniversary of the FA Cup.

"My new book brings to light the fact that a Dorset man who was one of the pioneers of football and a leading light in the establishment of the competition lies buried in a run-down old churchyard near Dunfermline.

"Sir Francis Marindin was one of the most respected administrators in the history of English football, being chairman of the Football Association for 16 years.

"He was involved in the founding of the Football Association Challenge Cup, played in two finals, and refereed a further nine."

Mr Bancroft said his book is about how the British Army established the world's first football tournament and includes a biographical tribute to Sir Marindin and his side, which were beaten 1-0 by Wanderers

He was born in Weymouth on May 1, 1838, the second son of the Rev Samuel Marindin who was rector at Buckhorn Weston near Gillingham from 1837-1852.

Francis, later known simply as 'the Major', was educated at Eton, entered the Royal Military Academy, passed out top of his batch and was commissioned into the Corps of Royal Engineers in 1854.

He saw Crimean War duty in the hospital at Scutari where Florence Nightingale worked and, after various postings, became Brigade-Major at Chatham in 1869.

Major Marindin is standing in the middle of the back row. As you can see they all look dejected, having lost 1-0 to the 'Celebrated Wanderers' club - it was the only match the Royal Engineers lost that season of 1871

"He died in 1900 aged 61 and was buried at Crombie Old Parish Churchyard near Dunfermline, which is now in ruins", said Mr Bancroft.

"It seems appropriate that a man who played such an important part in the early years of football should be commemorated in some way on the occasion of such an important anniversary."

Mr Bancroft's new book is set to be published in October.

The broken down medieval church of Old Crombie. All the graves in the churchyard are similarly neglected

Mr Bancroft added: "Being both an Old Etonian and a Royal Engineer he had a problem in 1873 when they faced each other in the FA Cup Final. He solved the problem by withdrawing completely.

"Refereeing the final in 1888 he entered the winners dressing room, West Bromwich Albion's, and asked if it were true that they were all Englishmen (in fact they all came from Staffordshire) and being assured it was so gave them the match ball which he was entitled to keep - political correctness then was unknown.

"His knighthood was earned by virtue of his work as a Royal Engineer in installing electric light in London."