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What is the oldest Irish soccer club?

Cliftonville Football and Athletic Club, known as The Reds, is a Northern Irish football team playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded on September 20, 1879, in the north Belfast district of Cliftonville, they are the oldest football club in Ireland and celebrated their 125th anniversary in 2004.

Quickies

Did you know …

• the Football Association of Wales, founded in 1876, is the third oldest national soccer association in the world?

Who was John McAlery?

While on his honeymoon to Scotland, Belfast businessman John McAlery attended a soccer match staged by the Scottish FA. McAlery so enjoyed the game that he returned home and placed an advertisement in the newspaper inviting players to join the “Cliftonville Association Football Club.” At the time, there was no organized football association in Ireland. One week later, Cliftonville played its first match on September 20, 1879, losing 2–1 to a group of rugby players known as Quidnunces. In 1880, McAlery was the driving force behind the formation of the Irish FA, issuing an invitation to interested parties in Belfast and district to attend a meeting on November 18, 1880, at Queen’s Hotel, from which the Irish Football Association was formed.