EFFORTS are being made to restore the dilapidated West Fife grave of one of the founders of the FA Cup.

Sir Francis Arthur Marindin was one of seven men who made the decision to start the historic competition and he went onto play – and referee – in several cup finals.

He is buried at the Crombie Old Parish Churchyard on the Craigflower Estate in Torryburn, which belonged to the family of his mother, Isabella Colville.

His story has been told by historian James Bancroft in his new book, The Early Years of the FA Cup: How the British Army Helped Establish the World's First Football Tournament.

While carrying out research for the book, James discovered that Sir Francis was buried in Torryburn but later found that his grave had been left in a state of disrepair.

He has since been in contact with the Royal Engineers, who he played football with and served for, and they are looking into restoring his final resting place.

"He was born in Weymouth and died in London. His mother was from the Colville family and they are all buried in the same graveyard in Crombie," explained James. "His wife and his daughter are in the same grave but the cross has come off the memorial stone and half of his name has been chipped off."

After receiving correspondence from the army, James is hopeful that the memorial for such an important figure in football history can be restored.

"I have been contacted by the Royal Engineers, who had planned to clean it up at first, but when I showed them pictures of the grave site they agreed that something more had to be done," he added."

Due out in October, the book tells how the British Army established the world’s first football tournament in 1871 and includes a biographical tribute to Sir Francis and his side, the Royal Engineers.

James continued: "He played in two finals and refereed a further nine. The Royal Engineers had lost the 1872 final and the 1874 final and they won it in 1875 but he wasn't playing in that as he had been posted away.

"A couple of years later, the Old Etonians lost to the Royal Engineers in 1875 and in 1876. Because he was an Old Etonian as well, he came back and redeveloped their team. Then he started refereeing.

"He was one of the seven men who was in the meeting where the FA Cup was first established. They chatted about it and decided to set up the FA Cup as they wanted something to publicise football.

"At that time, football and rugby were starting to split up. When they started the FA Cup, that is when modern football started."