The Royal Irish Regiment versus The South Staffordshire Regiment at Simla, 1907

Photograph, India, 1907.

The British introduced football to India, where native soldiers of the Indian Army took it up enthusiastically. From the mountains of the North-West Frontier to the burning plains of central India, football was played at most Army bases and cantonments.

Frank Richards of the Royal Welch Fusiliers noted: 'If we are ever so unfortunate as to lose our Empire it is a safe bet that soccer will continue to be played all over the world in eternal memory of the British soldiers who accidentally brought the game along in their kit-bags'.

One of six photographs associated with the Royal Irish Regiment, 1907-1913.