What’s in a name? China, a Danish princess and pubs
This is actually several Queries in one, but I have long wondered why three English football teams have unusual names. I’m talking about Leyton Orient, Crewe Alexandria and Plymouth Argyle. I presume the Leyton team has a connection with China or the Far East and the Crewe club has some kind of tie with Alexandria in Egypt. But I’m baffled about Argyle as it’s a different spelling to our own beautiful Argyll. – M.
The answer is yes, no, and I’m not sure!
Leyton Orient, the south London club, were founded in 1881.
They do have a connection with Asia because one of their original players, Jack R. Dearing, worked for the Orient Steam Navigation Company, and he suggested using the name Orient for the new club.
Crewe were originally formed in 1877, and where they got their name, which is Crewe Alexandra, not Alexandria, is still open to doubt.
What is known is that the name comes from Denmark’s Princess Alexandra, but whether the took their name from the local Alexandra Recreation Ground or a pub near the ground, The Alexandra (both named after the princess) is still the subject of conjecture.
The third team, Plymouth Argyle, were founded in 1866, and it’s also a puzzle as to where their name comes from.
One explanation is that the club was named after the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, an army regiment with a strong football side of its own.
Another says that the name may comes from a nearby public house, The Argyle Tavern, where the founder members may have met, or from a local street, Argyle Terrace.