Origins: 1880–1955
Football has been played under various Limavady clubs since 1880, when Alexander F.C. was formed from Alexander Cricket Club — becoming a founding member of the Irish Football Association in the process. Alexander merged with local club Wanderers in 1884 to form Limavady F.C., beginning a football tradition in the town that stretches back well over a century.
The current Limavady United club has a distinct identity from those earliest sides. Club historian David Brewster dates its formation to 1955, and it's from that year the club counts its own history — while remaining proud of the town's much older footballing roots.
Into senior football: 1997–2008
After many years as a junior and intermediate side, Limavady United joined the senior Irish Football League in 1997–98. The high point of that era came in 2003–04, when the club reached anIrish Cup semi-final — its first in over a century. Senior status was lost in 2008, when the club wasn't admitted to the newly formed IFA Premiership, sending Limavady United back into the intermediate ranks.
Rebuilding: 2016–2025
The club won the NIFL Championship 2 in 2015–16 and was promoted the following season as Premier Intermediate League champions in 2016–17, before being relegated again at the end of 2018–19. Limavady United later won their way back up to the NIFL Championship, clinching a second Premier Intermediate League title on the back of a 3–0 win away to Lisburn Distillery — a result that secured the league title outright and set up the club's run to the 2025–26 Championship crown.
Champions again: 18 April 2026
On 18 April 2026, Limavady United were crowned NIFL Championship champions for 2025–26, beating Annagh United 2–0 to seal the title and secure promotion to theNIFL Premiership for 2026–27 — the club's first season of top-flight football since losing senior status in 2008. It's the club's third Championship title, following wins in 1983–84 and 1992–93, and the biggest moment in Limavady United's modern history.
The Tevez fax. In September 2011, then club vice-chairman David Brewster sent a tongue-in-cheek fax to Manchester City offering to take Carlos Tevez on loan, after Tevez refused to warm up during a Champions League match. The story was picked up by media around the world — a brief moment of global attention for a small intermediate club from Limavady, and a favourite piece of Roesiders folklore ever since.
Where we play
Limavady United have played at The Showgrounds since the club enclosed the ground from Limavady's wider parkland in the early 1980s, with the main stand built in the mid-1990s to enable the step up into senior football. Full directions are on the visit & location page.