Tickets for our next SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division clash with St. Patrick’s Athletic are now on sale on srfcdirect.com

This is a Category One fixture and tickets cost €20 for Adults, €12 for Senior Citizens and Students/Secondary School and €5 for Under 12’s who must be accompanied by an adult.

At present, no children’s tickets are available online while the club look to resolve an issue with these particular category tickets.

The Showgrounds sold out for last night’s season opener with Shamrock Rovers with 4,248 supporters packed into the ground.

The electric atmosphere drove the team on and the Bit O’ Red got a deserved equaliser thanks to Lukas Browning’s 95th minute strike.

Sligo Rovers are a fan owned, community club and we rely on our loyal supporters to be with us this season, all the way.

Supporters can buy tickets via the link below:

https://srfcdirect.com/match-tickets/

The Bit O’ Red got our 2023 Men’s Premier Division season got underway at a sold-out Showgrounds this evening as we welcomed Shamrock Rovers in the opening game of the season.

Manager John Russell handed full debuts to Johan Brannefalk, Reece Hutchinson and Lukas Browning alongside academy graduates Eanna Clancy and Kailin Barlow who broke into the squad in 2022 and were rewarded for a strong pre-season showing with a place in the starting eleven tonight.

The game started off with a fast pace from the get-go. Neil Farrugia had the first chance of the night but his shot was straight at Luke McNicholas in Rovers’ goal.

Max Mata went through one on one with Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper Alan Mannus moments later but he was denied from a tight angle by the experienced goalkeeper. Following on from that Rovers pushed again and almost took the lead through Pijnaker and again Mata before Will Fitzgerald was denied with a long range strike.

The visitors took the lead through Graham Burke on 17 minutes after the Dubliner’s shot from the left hand side of the area flew past McNicholas to send the away end into full voice.

The rest of the half was a tight affair with the home side pushing for an equaliser and Shamrock Rovers threatening on the counter attack.

The second half started much like the first half ended with both sides looking to get forward at every opportunity.

Fabrice Hartmann replaced Frank Liivak on the hour mark and Johnny Kenny came on for Shamrock Rovers soon after for the first time since departing The Showgrounds 14 months ago.

On 67 minutes was the game’s big talking point. Kailin Barlow won a throw down the Rovers’ left but Roberto Lopes took exception to the young Sligo native and pushed him in the face, giving referee Damien MacGraith no option but to send him off. Barlow picked up a caution for his reaction.

The Bit O’ Red through everything at the visitors from then on in.

Will Fitzgerald continued to carry the ball forward and Reece Hutchinson got down the left hand side time after time to try and bring Rovers level.

Barlow rattled the post and Fitzgerald forced a great save from goalkeeper Mannus soon after and it looked as if the home side’s efforts would go without reward.

A cross from substitute Daniel Lafferty was turned behind for a corner in the final minute of stoppage time by Neil Farrugia.

Will Fitzgerald’s cross was only half cleared by Darragh Nugent and Lukas Browning took a touch and volleyed the ball into the bottom left corner to bring the Showgrounds to its feet.

The full time whistle blew soon after and a share of the spoils was confirmed in a highly entertaining night.

Nando Pijnaker was named Man of the Match in memory of our late friend, Sean Dwyer.

Next up for Rovers is a trip to UCD on Friday night.

(Photo: Sportsfile)

We host Shamrock Rovers tonight at 7.45pm at The Showgrounds in the opening game of our 2023 season.

We outline all our Match Night information below:

Turnstiles:

Turnstiles open from 6.30pm.

All Children Under 12 must be accompanied by a paying adult. This is non-negotiable and it is the responsibility of parents and guardians to ensure their children are accompanied arriving to The Showgrounds and throughout the night.

All Children over the age of 12 must enter via the last turnstile on the left hand side which will be sign posted. This new turnstile is for Juveniles only and here they must pay €12 for Category One fixtures and €10 for Category Two fixtures. We remind you that this is an All-Ticket game and there is no entry without a ticket.

Please have your tickets ready for scanning to ensure a smooth and quick entry process. Any duplicate tickets will be refused and may lead to stadium bans for those in possession of one. Tickets will only scan once.

Away tickets are with completely sold out. Shamrock Rovers fans who arrive without a match ticket will be refused entry.

Seating:

Seating is first come, first served in all areas of the ground. Seats with names on them must be respected as these are Gold Season Ticket members who have paid for their seat to be reserved all season. Anyone found sitting in a seat that is not theirs will be asked to move.

Security:

Members of our security team will carry out on the spot checks on bags and persons entering the ground. Alcohol and Pyrotechnics are not allowed and will be confiscated on entry. We ask supporters to please help the club in this regard and refrain from attempting to get in with any prohibited items.

CCTV:

CCTV is again in operation throughout the evening using our CCTV system. The system was instrumental in the club being able to utilise footage from previous anti-social behaviour and, in turn issue this to Gardai and serve stadium bans to some supporters. Security personnel and An Garda Siochaina will be monitoring the system and anyone found to be behaving in a way which contravenes our ground rules will be removed and banned from attending future games.

Car Parking:

There are limited spaces available at The Showgrounds astro turf car park. This will be closed once full, which is expected to be early in the evening. Supporters should note the club have come to an agreement with Nazareth House for official Match Night use of their grounds which has over 200 parking spaces. There is a charge of €2, with proceeds towards the upkeep of their grounds.

Flares:

Leave your flares at home. These are not wanted and anyone found with flares will be banned from attending future matches. These cause needless fines for the club, money which is raised by our volunteers and fellow supporters.

Pitch:

It is an offence to enter the field of play at any stage. This includes children. It is parent/guardian’s responsibility to ensure children do not encroach on the pitch at any time.

We thank you for your co-operation

Sligo Rovers can confirm that tomorrow’s game against Shamrock Rovers has now sold out with around 4,200 tickets sold.

There will be strictly no admission on the night without a ticket and we ask supporters without a ticket to stay away from the stadium and not to contact the club as there are no more tickets available.

The game sees the start of the new season for both sides and it promises to be an entertaining night in front of a large crowd.

Gates will open from 6.15pm.

Children over 12 are reminded to enter via the designated Over 12’s turnstile on the left hand side at the main entrance.

Children Under 12 must be accompanied by a paying adult who has also pre-purchased a match ticket.

CCTV is in operation throughout the ground for the entire evening and we remind supporters to respect each other and to be responsible for your own actions.

Sligo Rovers begin our 2023 SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division season tomorrow night at The Showgrounds as we host Shamrock Rovers at 7.45pm.

The match is a sell-out with around 4,200 supporters expected to be in attendance.

Manager John Russell has a fresh look to his squad ahead of the new campaign new signings Johan Brannefalk, Daniel Lafferty, Reece Hutchinson (loan), James Finnerty, Gary Boylan, Stefan Radosavljevic, Lukas Browning, John Mahon and Bogdan Vastsuk all signing since the end of the 2022 season last November. Fabrice Hartmann’s loan spell from RB Leipzig was also confirmed and the German winger is in the squad ahead of the new season.

Russell is looking forward to tomorrow’s game:

‘’We’re all excited to kick-off the season in front of a sold out Showgrounds.

‘’The players and staff have worked extremely hard during pre-season and, we’re all ready for the challenge ahead.

‘’We know the quality Shamrock Rovers bring tomorrow evening. They have set the benchmark for the past few seasons but it’s important that we focus on ourselves.

‘’Our home support will be vital for us this season and the players are relishing playing in front of them’’.

In team news, Rovers are without long term absentees Gary Boylan, Mark Byrne and Garry Buckley (all ACL injuries) while Niall Morahan is a doubt following his ankle injury picked up in last weekend’s friendly against Finn Harps.

Shamrock Rovers come into the new season having won their third SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division title in succession last season and Stephen Bradley has again added to his squad for 2023 including a loan deal to bring Riverstown native Johnny Kenny in from Celtic.

The hoops were defeated in last Friday’s President’s Cup game away to Derry City on a 2-0 scoreline at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

There will be no admission on the night without a ticket.

We look forward to an entertaining night under the lights at The Showgrounds in front of our Bit O’ Red supporters.

We are delighted to announce are new Club Megastore will open at The Showgrounds for the first time at tomorrow’s game with Shamrock Rovers at The Showgrounds.

The new store, which allows supporters to walk in and browse our full range of merchandise, will be open from 6.30pm and it is located on the right hand side of the ground within the Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust Clubhouse.

The store will have its own entrance from next week on but supporters can enter via the Clubhouse to have a look at our 2023 range.

Both cash and card are accepted and we urge supporters to show your colours by grabbing something before the game to help build the atmosphere for the Bit O’ Red team.

This new feature is just one of a number of changes at the club in recent weeks as we look to enhance our supporters match-night experience.

Don’t miss out, programmes are first come, first served and on sale just inside the turnstiles

Sligo Rovers are thrilled to announce the signing of goalkeeper Bonnie McKiernan ahead of the new 2023 SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division season.

The 18-year-old joins from Athlone Town having previously played with Cavan Shamrocks.

McKiernan becomes the third goalkeeper to sign for this season with Amy Mahon and Anais Coyne also competing for the number 1 shirt.

Manager Steve Feeney is delighted with his latest recruit:

‘’We are delighted to sign Bonnie McKiernan today.

‘’As we always say, this club is about giving people in this North-West and surrounding areas a chance of playing Senior Women’s football and this is another good example of that.

‘’Bonnie has done great in training so far and we are all really looking forward to working with her his this season’’.

McKiernan could make her debut in a fortnight as Rovers host Shamrock Rovers in the opening game of the season on Saturday March 4^th at The Showgrounds.

The Cavan native is thrilled to have joined the club:

‘’I’m absolutely delighted to be here.

‘’ Steve is a brilliant coach who pushes to get the best out of every player and has built such a positive environment which I could tell from my very first training session.

‘’I’m very excited and really looking forward to the season ahead with the rest of the squad’’.

Season Tickets are available now for all Women’s Premier Division matches this season for just €50.

You can secure yours online via the link below:

https://srfcdirect.com/season-tickets-2023/

Sligo Rovers wish to inform supporters that Children Under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a paying adult in order to attend a match at The Showgrounds.

We are not responsible for Children attending a fixture unaccompanied and they will be refused entry to the ground unless an adult is present with them. We ask parents and guardians to assist us with this request this season.

Those aged over the age of 12 will be filtered to a designated turnstile this season which will be clearly signposted.

Children over 12 (secondary school) are subject to the same prices as others an must pay €12 for Category One games and €10 for Category Two games.

Satuday’s game against Shamrock Rovers is an all-ticket game and no cash will be accepted on the night at the turnstiles. All those aged over 12 years of age will be asked to enter via the Juvenile turnstile with your €12 ticket which must be pre-purchased. Anyone over the age of 12 will be refused entry if in possession of an Under 12 ticket.

The final pre-season friendly of 2023 for our Senior Men’s team takes place this evening at 7.45pm at The Showgrounds against Finn Harps.

Tickets are available at the turnstiles which open from 6.45pm.

Adults are €10 with all other categories €5.

Tickets for next Saturday’s SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division clash with Shamrock Rovers will be on sale outside the ground until kick off at the front office window at the turnstiles.