Irelands oldest football club

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Who is Irelands oldest football club Cliftonville were formed in 1879 but on Limavady Uniteds crest it was 1876 and on Wikipedia it says

The club hails from Limavady, County Londonderry and was formed in 1884 following the amalgamation of Limavady Alexander and Wanderers. The club currently play their home matches at The Showgrounds.

and

Full name Limavady United Football Club
Nickname(s) "The Roesiders"
Founded 1878

So are Cliftonville the oldest?

[David]

Please don't start Mr Parker. They will claim they are the oldest.

[SwiftsSupporter]

Limavady are the oldest.

[Louth4sam]

I think its athlone. Not 100% on that though

[SwiftsSupporter]

I think its athlone. Not 100% on that though

Only if they were 10 years older.

[Mr A]

I think the argument is that Limavady are not the same club as the ones that started then.

I think we can be sure Mr P will fill us in on the details!

[Mr A]

Ack, sure I'll just dig out some of his posts on ILF to save him the hassle!

Alexander CRICKET Club, forerunner to Alexander FOOTBALL club, forerunner to limavady FOOTBALL club, forerunner to limavady united FOOTBALL club

See the subtle difference there

If you want a laugh go to the Limavady official site and read their history so full of contradictions and twists.

Try these bangorglen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliftonville_F.C.

http://www.proni.gov.uk/records/non_dept/football.htm

And a few of the rest....

http://kildare.ie/Education/sports/S...er-history.asp

http://experts.about.com/e/q/qu/Queens_Park_F.C..htm

Here's a thread where the debate is had: http://www.irishleagueforums.net/for...t+club+ireland

[SwiftsSupporter]

I think the argument is that Limavady are not the same club as the ones that started then.

I think we can be sure Mr P will fill us in on the details!

The argument is they were a cricket club who became a football club but Cliftonville seem to think they didn't become the Limavady football club we know today before they became a club.

[Mr_Parker]

Ach ffs not again!

I do not intend to go on at length about this again. If you want to read it in detail read the thread on ILF on the link provided above and the numerous other ones too. Bottom line is that Cliftonville Football Club are the founders of association football in Ireland in 1879. There is ample historical evidence in old newspapers, match programmes, fixture lists, photographs etc etc etc. On the other hand nothing has ever been provided showing similar for Limavady United. All the evidence points to a club called Limavady United being formed in 1884. Even after that there is a huge gap in any records until the 1960's.

[Mr_Parker]

Please don't start Mr Parker. They will claim they are the oldest.

I will claim nothing. I will state facts.

[Lux Interior]

125 years of Glentoran Fc this year - with a huge amount of events organised and loads of literature published.

9th June, 7th October are just two momentous dates this year.

Other clubs offer cheese'n'pickles, we just prefer to be trailblazers.

[Mr_Parker]

Other clubs offer cheese'n'pickles, we just prefer to be trailblazers.

[Ash]

I think its athlone. Not 100% on that though

Athlone are the oldest senior league club in the Republic. 1887.

[BleusAvantTout]

125 years of Glentoran Fc this year - with a huge amount of events organised and loads of literature published.

9th June, 7th October are just two momentous dates this year.

Other clubs offer cheese'n'pickles, we just prefer to be trailblazers.

Surely you mean freefallers!!

[The Man Himself]

if Limavady United are the oldest" who did they play

[Lux Interior]

Can't recall, how did your 125 go?

Asides from the fight against relegation

[Mr_Parker]

Can't recall, how did your 125 go?

Asides from the fight against relegation

Fight against relegation? I think you will find that we finished 11th in our 125th season.

[Ifcp1]

I thought Limavady was the oldest, is this a new claim by Cliftonville?

[Mr_Parker]

I thought Limavady was the oldest, is this a new claim by Cliftonville?

Yawn.

[historynut]

Hope I'm not too late to join in discussion, but may I contribute and share some info. I have an interst inthe history and development of soccer in Ireland, find it a fascinating subject (ok keep the wise cracks to yourselves).
I myself wondered if the records could be wrong in respect of Limavady 1876. If you can follow me, believe this is the story.
No doubt Cliftonville are the oldest club in respect of their well documented beginings and that of the Irish FA(Iinvite for exhib match that lead to their formation and eventually formation of IFA 1880 ETC). As for Limavady the Newtown Limavady (as town was then known) Cricket Club was founded in 1876. 1880 they form football club (as so many did to keep fit in winter) and took name Alexander FC ( after either a pub landlord or pub- think it is Main Street across road from Jane Ross House of "Danny Boy". Think it was landlord and pub named after him.), appear as records show in 2 early IFA Cup finals. Obviously due to popularity 2nd club is formed, but due to size of town they consolodate and unite to give LUFC as known today. I would put their football club formation as 1880.
Do not forget Cliftonville was also formed by members of an existing Cricket Club as was Distillery fc. They could inturn claim the year of formation of the cricket club whenever that was. Though note in last years Bel Tele annual gives mention to Ulster FC (early soccer pioneers) as follows "Ulster Rugby and Association Football Club founded 1877. I interperate that as club as rugby club formed 1877 soccer section formed 1879. Though hard to believe all records state no soccer played in Ireland before 1879. Rugby was well established. The main split between the 2 codes was over 10 years old and both codes seem to have become well established in Britain yet Ireland only rugby and only formative GAA. Surely soccer could'nt have been unheard of ?Coleraine claim that soccer was played by visiting ships crews in 1860's.
A problem with charting Irish club histories is that in a lot of cases clubs come and go and some towns have dormant periods (and we can guess why) were no soccer is played.
From info gathered in addition to those who formed in IFA in 1880 there were clubs or soccer played in Banbridge,Dundonald,Queens Island,and Tullamore though first and last examples believe it was schools.
Some club formations do seem to be mis-leading eg Portadown 1924, yet Mid-Ulster Cup lists show Portadown winning in 1890's.
For those who are still with me(and not bored) the following may be of interest:- Castlederg IFA Cup semi-finalist's 1881/82, Strabane IFA Cup Q/Finalists 1882/83. Dergview as we know only some 20 years old, but could Strabane FC claim there formation to 1882 ?
As for what is now the Republic oldest clubs are given as 1883 for Dublin Uni. & Dublin Association, Bohs(1890) for years claimed to be the oldest senior club, and Shelbourne(1895) the oldest proffesional club.. Though well acknowledged that Athlone pre-date them with 1887. However their neighbours Castlerea predate them with 1886. For a while I thought it may have been1882 as per book on Athlone history with an early game agaisnt Castlrea as formed by same founder some 5 years earlier(1887-5) however recently received info states Castlerea founded .1886 that makes me think book should read 5 months not 5 years. What is of interest is I believe Glasnevin FC have recently celebrated 125 years, putting formation circa 1882, though have no evidence suspect they may be a thread and connection to Dublin Association Fc.
One thing that does puzzle me, often said that transportation was a hinderance to the spread of soccer through Ireland, though it did'nt seem to hamper the GAA in its formative years with early All-Irland finals-just a thought and observation
More than willing to share and discuss info with those who have similar interest.