HISTORY
The town of Limavady boasts a footballing history dating back to the late 19th century. Teams such as Alexander F.C. and The Wanderers are the first noted clubs from the area, who would later amalgamate to form Limavady F.C. (name since changed to the present day Limavady United F.C.). As the game became more popular in the area, more teams were being created with sides like Roe Harps and Roe Villa entering the fold, bearing the name of the river which runs through Limavady town.
In 1964, Roe Valley Football club was formed by Gerry McClelland. The club was initially formed as a youth team, whose first season in competitive football saw them play in the Coleraine & District Youth League. Success came instantly as the team managed to win their respective league in their first season. The club then decided to join the North West League, where the club would compete for over a decade. Again, the club won their respective league in their first season competing, this time winning the North West Junior League “B” Section. With this victory, came promotion to the highest league in the association. For the best part of the next decade, Roe Valley F.C. would have unrivalled success, winning five league titles, two City cups and a North West Junior Cup. One of the City cup victories was a unique one, when Roe Valley set a North West record, which is unlikely to be replicated, when two teams from one club competed in the final, which Roe Valley Reserves won 2-1.
Left: Gerry McClelland, who is known as the man who founded Roe Valley Football Club.
Below: The first ever Roe Valley Youth team which won the Coleraine and District Youth League in the club's infancy.
After the millennium, Roe Valley still competed in the N.I. Intermediate League but began gradually to struggle after each season. Player shortage was a major problem for the club. In 2011, the club unfortunately lost its Intermediate status, and withdrew from football for one season. As part of a rebuilding process, the club was re-established in 2012, with a new committee being appointed to manage and maintain the club. The club re-entered competitive football, joining the Coleraine & District Premier League. Also, the club’s Mini Soccer Centre was founded, in which almost 100 children take part on a weekly basis. In the current season, the club is represented by no fewer than eight teams, at both adult and youth level. Last season also saw the club produce a Reserve side for the first time since the 1990's which now competes in the Coleraine & District Morning League. The 2014/15 season was a succesful one for the club, in particular the youth teams. Our U-9 team conquered all before them, with the highlight being the Foyle Cup success. Our U-17 team also claimed the NWCDYL U-17 Cup after defeating Eglinton in the final at Coleraine Showgrounds. 2015/16 will see Roe Valley be represented in the North West Junior League with the Reserve team competitng in Division 2.
Top Left: One of the successful sides from the 1970's.
Middle Left: Possibly the best ever side lining out before the N.W. Intermediate Cup Final in 1983.
Bottom Left: N.I. Intermediate League champions 1987-88
The club's success was matched by it's ambition as it attempted several times to join the "B" Division of the Irish League, but were unsuccesful. By the end of the 1970’s, Roe Valley became a founder member of the present day Northern Ireland Intermediate League. The founding members of the league also included Cookstown United, Enniskillen Rangers, Dungiven Celtic, Moyola Park, Oxford United Stars, Strabane and Tobermore United. In the second season Derry City, Ballymoney United and Portstewart also joined, Enniskillen Rangers withdrew. The club’s Reserve team continued to compete in the top flight of the North West league, which the team won in the 1979/80 season. The first piece of silverware at intermediate level arrived in 1983, when the club won the Craig Memorial Cup. In 1983, the club’s most high profile match to date came in the form of an away Irish Cup tie to Linfield F.C. which the Belfast side won comfortably 5-0. That season also saw a defeat in the final of the North West Senior Cup. The club’s reserve side still remained near the top of the league in the North West Junior League, and also claimed the N.W. Junior Cup in 1982/83. More trophies were added at Intermediate level during the eighties, with the club’s only Intermediate League title along with the N.I. Intermediate League Cup on two occasions. On the 26th July 1985 Roe Valley claimed possibly their biggest scalp when the beat the mighty Glentoran in a friendly 3-2. Another high profile game the club was involved in came in the 1986/87 season, when the first team were defeated 3-0 by the R.U.C. in the IFA Intermediate Cup Final.
The nineties may not have been as successful as the previous two decades, in the regards to trophies, but the club still produced two strong sides. Agonisingly, the club’s first team were Runners-Up in the N.I. Intermediate for three seasons in succession, coming second twice to Donegal Celtic and once to Oxford United Stars. In the mid nineties, more clubs were created in the Limavady area, which saw the club’s Reserve side cease to exist. The club still battled keenly in the NI Intermediate League for the rest of the decade.
Club Crest Timeline: Left to Right: The first crest to represent the club, it appeared on official club blazers in the late 80's and during the 90's. The next badge was the first to appear on a club playing shirt, designed in the late 90's. This was followed up with a crest depicting the Limavady icon, the Wolfhound. It was worn during the club's last years in the NI Intermediate League. The current crest was introduced in 2012 after the club reformed.
