{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{EngvarB|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Alexander F.C. | image = | fullname = Alexander Football Club | nickname = | founded = 1880 | dissolved = 1884| ground = Scroggy Park | capacity = | chrtitle = Secretary | chairman = George Given<ref>{{cite journal |title=Alexander Football Club (Irish Association rules) |journal=Belfast News-Letter |date=15 September 1881 |page=5}}</ref>| mgrtitle = Captain| manager = T. Campbell | league = | season = | position = | | pattern_la1=_thinbluehoops|pattern_b1=_thinbluehoops|pattern_ra1=_thinbluehoops|pattern_so1=_hoops_white| leftarm1=|body1=|rightarm1=|shorts1=|socks1=1F75FE| }}
'''Alexander Football Club''' is a former Irish football club from Limavady, County Londonderry.
==History==
It was founded in 1880 by members of the Alexander Cricket Club,<ref>''Belfast Newsletter'', 12 October 1880</ref> and was the first club to play in the town. Its earliest demonstration of the game to the public was between XIs chosen by the captain and secretary.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Alexander Football Club (Scottish Association rules) |journal=Londonderry Sentinel |date=21 October 1880 |page=2}}</ref>
It was a founding member of the Irish Football Association, contributing to the purchase of the original Irish Cup.<ref>''Northern Whig'', 8 December 1884; ''Belfast Newsletter'', 12 October 1880</ref><ref>Malcolm Brodie (1980), ''100 Years of Irish Football'', Belfast: Blackstaff Press,</ref><ref>M. Brodie (1980) ''100 Years of Irish Football''. Belfast:Blackstaff Press</ref> The club played in the early years of the Irish Cup, its best run being to the semi-final in 1882–83, where the club was heavily beaten by Cliftonville. Alexander was not helped by goalkeeper Rankin being injured trying to keep out the first goal after "some of his opponents leaped on him".<ref>{{cite journal |title=Alexander (Limavady) v Cliftonville (Belfast) |journal=Derry Journal |date=2 May 1883 |page=5}}</ref>
After a contentious defeat to Moyola Park in the quarter-final of the 1883–84 Irish Cup, the club withdrew in protest from the association.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Alexander Football Club |journal=Derry Journal |date=13 October 1884 |page=2}}</ref> The withdrawal did not have any long-term effect, as, after the end of the season, Alexander merged with the Limavady Wanderers club to form Limavady F.C.<ref>''Northern Whig'', 8 December 1884</ref>
==Colours==
The club wore blue and white.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Belfast v Alexander (Irish association rules) |journal=Belfast News-Letter |date=18 October 1881 |page=8}}</ref>
==Ground==
The club played at Scroggy Park, later used by the merged club.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Alexander Football Club (Scottish Association rules) |journal=Londonderry Sentinel |date=21 October 1880 |page=2}}</ref>
==Notable players==
Goalkeeper James Rankin earned an international cap while at the club. Two others - Orr Devine and Tom McLean - did so after the merger with the Wanderers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alexander Limavady |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/club/11821/1883_1/Alexander_Limavady.html |website=National Football Teams |access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Association football clubs established in 1880 Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 1884 Category:Defunct association football clubs in Northern Ireland Category:Association football clubs in County Londonderry Category:1880 establishments in Ireland Category:1884 disestablishments in Ireland Category:Founding members of the Irish Football Association Category:Limavady