next match, a 3–2 victory over Clapham Rovers. This set up a hard-fought semi-final against Oxford University in which the Engineers emerged victorious with a 1–1 draw followed by a 1–0 victory in the replay, thus reaching the FA Cup Final for the third time in four years. In the final, played on 13 March 1875 at Kennington Oval, the Engineers met the Old Etonians. The match was played in a strong gale and the Engineers spent most of the match against the gale, with the rules requiring ends to be changed after each goal. Alexander Bonsor scored for the Old Boys after 30 minutes followed by an equaliser from Capt Renny-Tailyour within five minutes. Shortly after the equaliser, Lt. Ruck collided with Cuthbert Ottaway who was forced to leave the field with a serious ankle injury; in his absence, the Old Boys were regarded as fortunate to have held on for a 1–1 draw. The replay was three days later; although the Engineers were able to field the same eleven as in the first match, the Etonians had to make four changes, losing the match 2–0, with both the Engineers' goals scored by Capt Renny-Tailyour. At the third attempt, the Royal Engineers won their first, and only, FA Cup Final. Stafford was also a keen cricketer and played for the Royal Military Academy in 1873 and for Norfolk in 1889, as well as for the Royal Engineers. Military career Stafford graduated from the Royal Military Academy after a year, when he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Royal Engineers from 29 April 1873. Stafford spent the first two years of his military service at Chatham before being sent to Roorkee in India in February 1876, to join the Bengal Sappers & Miners. From late 1878, he served in the Second Anglo-Afghan War when he was in command of the 6th (Field Telegraph) Company, Bengal Sappers & Miners with the 1st Division Peshawar Valley Field Force, under Lieut.-General Sir Samuel Browne, until the end of the first campaign in February 1879, during which he accompanied the expeditions to Maidanak and the Lughman valley. His company was responsible for laying field telegraphs, road making and fortifying posts on the lines of communication, including laying the first telegraph cables to Gandamak ahead of the advanced guard. During the second campaign, he was assistant field engineer with the Khyber Line Force under