George William Addison

Lieut-Colonel George William Addison (18 September 1849 – 8 November 1937) was an English soldier who played for the Royal Engineers in the 1872 and 1874 FA Cup Finals.

Addison was born at Chestnut Cottage, Manningham, near Bradford, Yorkshire on 18 September 1849, the first son of George Addison (1816–1874) and his wife, Jane née Orr (1824–1916). His father was described on the 1851 Census as a "worsted spinner". George junior was baptised at the Cathedral Church of St Peter in Bradford on 15 December 1849.

Addison was educated at Cheltenham College between January 1863 and December 1866, followed by the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich from 1867 to 1869.

Addison played football for Cheltenham College and RMA, Woolwich before joining the Royal Engineers. He generally played as a full back and made up a "formidable" defensive partnership firstly with A. G. Goodwyn and then with G. C. Onslow during the Engineers' peak years, being described as "a very sound back" and "playing beautifully at (the) back".

In November 1871, the Royal Engineers were among fifteen teams who entered the inaugural FA Cup competition; after victories over Hitchin (5–0), Hampstead Heathens (3–0) and Crystal Palace (3–0 after a replay), the Engineers met Wanderers, the top amateur club of the day, in the first FA Cup Final, played at Kennington Oval on 16 March 1872, which the Engineers lost 1–0, to a goal from Morton Betts.

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