Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce the signing of experienced midfielder Kelly Crompton for the 2024 Women’s Premier Division season.

Crompton joins having spent her career playing for her hometown team Sion Swifts, whom she has played for since the age of five.

The 27-year-old is the first new signing for Tommy Hewitt’s side, joining Sarah Kiernan, Caoimhe O’Reilly, Emma Hansberry and Leah Kelly in committing for the upcoming 2024 season.

Crompton brings a wealth of experience to The Showgrounds, having been vice-captain of Swifts, with whom she enjoyed great success, including a League Cup win in 2022.

It’s the first time the County Tyrone native moves from Swifts, and is a signing that manager Tommy Hewitt has hailed as being a statement signing for the Bit O’Red.

Crompton said: “I was contacted by Tommy, I had decided to take a step away from the club I was at. To be honest, I was looking to move to this league anyway, it came about at the right time. I’m so excited.

“It was a very difficult decision to leave Swifts. It’s a decision that I know is right for me. I need to push myself on and I feel like this league is a step up. It will be a challenge but a good challenge for me.

“I think I can bring experience, that’s probably my best attribute. I’ve played football for a very long time and I feel like I’ve played a high standard. My experience in how to manage games, and I was vice-captain so I feel like I bring leadership too.”

Tommy Hewitt added: “For me, when Kelly decided to sign I told her it felt like Christmas morning for me! 

“I did a lot of research on Kelly, and we had good conversations. She’s probably underselling herself a bit just mentioning experience, she’s a very good footballer and a good person. That’s the kind of person we want at Sligo Rovers.

“We’ll hopefully have three or four more signings coming in over the next couple of weeks. It’s a great day for the club having a player of Kelly’s quality coming into the league, she’s definitely going to help this team progress.”