It has been a tough year on the injury front for Kilkelly’s Mark Byrne with injuries having effectively wiped out 2022 on him. He had a groin injury which blighted his start to the season with Sligo Rovers before a cruciate ligament injury brought to an end his season:

“I injured my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in my right leg about 12-13 weeks ago. It happened in training, I was running and just planted my leg and my knee went from underneath me. I was able to get up a couple of minutes later and continued on and didn’t think it was a big deal until I went for a MRI scan three weeks later and they told me that the ACL was completely gone. It was hard to take as it was coming at a time when I was starting to get back into full training. I had, had an issue with my groin which had been bothering me all season. I missed all of pre-season because of it and in the end had to get an injection. I was starting to get on top of that injury when the knee went; in fact I had been due to get another injection in my groin that week. It was a tough year on the injury front.”

Having had his surgery Byrne now is focused on his recovery programme and putting his injuries behind him so that he can get back playing:

“Yeah the recovery is going well. In 10 weeks I should be able to go back running and then I can get back into a better routine. At the moment I am in the gym every day but am limited in what I can do. I am aiming to be back playing by the middle of this year and to have my head in a better place as well. I feel as well that I have the groin injury under control but won’t know how much until I start running again. It should be pretty much cleared up as an issue. Then when the knee is sorted that should be the injuries all cleared.”

Having played for Rovers in the games against Icelandic side FH in 2021, Byrne was a spectator for the club’s European run this season but he still enjoyed the whole experience:

“Yeah look it was one of the best experiences that I have ever been involved in and I didn’t get to play in any of the games. I was nursing an injury at the time and wasn’t training. When Liam left, John Russell sat me down and said that he would help me to get the injury sorted out so that I could get back involved with the squad. The European games were an unbelievable experience some of the best that the club and fans have had in years. It was tough for me to not play as I had played in the games against FH in 2021 and played most of that season and then the lads who I had been playing with they all got to play in the games this year,. Look I know that’s football but it can be frustrating as I just want to play and do my best for the team.”

Byrne who is only 22 is under contract for next season and has targeted a return to playing in mid 2023 and wants to make sure that his mentally and physically ready to hit the ground:

“It is tough but the manager has been great with me and he and Ryan Casey sat me down and said that they want me to come back in a better place next season with all these injuries behind me. I am targeting the mid-season so will have been out for 7 or 8 months. I’ll take this time to get my head right and my injuries sorted and look to come back fitter and stronger and see where that takes me. I have to take the positives from this.”

By Keith O’ Dwyer

Sligo Rovers can confirm a number of pre-season friendly fixtures as part of our Men’s First Team pre-season training programme ahead of the new SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division season which begins at The Showgrounds on Saturday, February 18th at 7.45pm against Shamrock Rovers.

John Russell’s side returned to training last week and are currently in the middle of an intensive training programme as preparations continue for the season opener.

The squad will travel to English FA headquarters at St. Georges Park from January 20th to 23rd for an intensive training camp which includes two pre-season friendlies against Stoke City and Nottingham Forrest Under 21’s.

On Friday January 20th the squad will face Stoke City at their training ground at Clayton Wood in Stoke before training at St. George’s Park on Saturday and Sunday, with multiple sessions planned daily.

The squad will enjoy full access to the facility’s state of the art training pitches, gymnasium, hydrotherapy suites and video & analysis rooms.

The camp will end with a friendly against Nottingham Forrest on Monday at St George’s with kick off scheduled for 11am.

The trip has been kindly sponsored by our partners PetStop Discount Warehouse, who have been big supporters of the club over the last number of years. The company also have the Pet Stop End of The Showgrounds again this season, a part of the ground that they took naming rights to in 2020.

Manager John Russell:

“I am delighted we are able to take the opportunity to travel to the UK to play two good friendly games against both Stoke City and Nottingham Forrest Under 21’s.

”We will also have an intense training weekend at St George’s Park which will be a real experience for the group in such world-class facilities.

”I want to thank John McKeon and everyone at Pet Stop Discount Warehouse as, without their support this wouldn’t have been possible”

Rovers will return to domestic pre-season action with a trip to take on Athlone Town at Athlone Town Stadium on Friday January 27th at 7.30pm followed by a friendly against Galway United at Westport United FC *United Park) in Mayo at 2pm on Saturday January 28th.

Wexford FC are the visitors to The Showgrounds at 6.30pm on Friday February 3rd and the squad travel to Dublin on Saturday February 4th for a game with St. Patrick’s Athletic (venue and kick off TBC).

Our final pre-season game takes place on Saturday February 11th at 7.45pm against Finn Harps at The Showgrounds.

Both our home fixtures at The Showgrounds will be open to the public with admission prices to be confirmed in advance of both games.

Full pre-season schedule:

Friday January 20th: Vs. Stoke City Under 21 (Away, 4pm)

Monday January 23rd: Vs. Nottingham Forrest Under 21 (St. George’s Park, 11am)

Friday January 27th: Vs. Athlone Town (Away, 7.30pm)

Saturday January 28th: Vs. Galway United (Westport United FC, 2pm)

Friday February 3rd: Wexford FC (Home, 6.30pm)

Saturday February 4th: St. Patrick’s Athletic (Away, TBC)

Saturday February 11th: Finn Harps (Home, 7.45pm)

Sligo Rovers are thrilled to announce that Amy Roddy has re-signed for the new SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division season.

The 31-year-old, who hails from Ballina in County Mayo, was a consistent performer for Rovers in 2022, mostly as a central defender.

Roddy came through the ranks at local side Ballina Town at underage level, moving up to the senior team where they enjoyed great success winning County and National titles including the FAI Intermediate Cup.

A represented Connacht and Mayo in representative teams throughout the years and made the move to The Showgrounds before the start of the 2022 season.

Roddy, who runs her own personal training and online coaching business, previously played football with ATU Sligo during her four years there, winning numerous titles.

Manager Steve Feeney is delighted to have Roddy back on board this season:

”Amy has had a brilliant first season with us at the club here.

”She was a key part of some of our good performances which lead to us picking up some valuable points”.

Amy and the rest of her Rovers team-mates return to pre-season training next week ahead of a seven-week training programme before the start of the 2023 season, which begins at The Showgrounds against Shamrock Rovers on March 4th.

Roddy is delighted to be back for the new season:

”I’m delighted to re-sign for Rovers for the 2023 season.

”Last season was a massive learning curve for us but, we showed that we can compete at this level.

”Steve and the management team have created a brilliant environment for us so I’m delighted to be part of it again this year and can’t wait to get back”.

2023 Season tickets go on sale in the coming days and will be available online for just €50

2023 Season Tickets are on sale now with tickets in a number of different categories available.

Season tickets represent the best value option for attending Bit O’ Red fixtures with a saving of around three matches in the 2023 season if you were to pay on the night for each game.

You can buy your tickets online: https://srfcdirect.com/season-tickets-2023/

We are on course to see record numbers of season tickets being sold ahead of the new season, with an opening day fixture against Shamrock Rovers on February 18th at The Showgrounds getting people excited.

Bit O’ Red Manager John Russell has added plenty of talent to his squad ahead of the new season and new signings Johan Brannefalk, Lukas Browning, Daniel Lafferty, James Finnerty, Gary Boylan and Bogdan Vastsuk all began life in Sligo this week with the return of pre-season training on Thursday.

The club have introduced categorized fixtures in 2023, with fixtures against Shamrock Rovers, Derry City, St Patrick’s Athletic, Dundalk and Bohemians listed as ‘Category 1’ and fixtures with Shelbourne, Drogheda United, Cork City and UCD lists as ‘Category 2’ fixtures.

Admission for ‘Category 1’ fixtures:

• Adult admission: €20
• Elderly, Students, Under 16’s and Concessions: €12
• Under 12’s: €5

Admission for ‘Category 2’ fixtures:

• Adult admission: €15
• Elderly, Students, Under 16’s and Concessions: €10
• Under 12’s: €5

Gold Season Tickets will be priced as an odd on of €60 which allows supporters to have their name on their chosen seat within the stadium. These seats will be applicable for all League and Cup games throughout the season, however supporters will need to purchase a single ticket for any cup games as normal.

An adult supporter will save €60 over the course of the season, with a Senior Citizen or Student saving €30.

Super Reds receive their very own Sligo Rovers official training top and special invite to our 2023 Meet and Greet with the Bit O’ Red squad in February.

Family rates have been re-introduced for 2023 as follows:

• 1 Adult + 2 Children Under 12: €350 (normal price €400)
• 2 Adults + 2 Children Under 12: €560 (normal price €660)

Our Women’s team will also introduce a 2023 Season Ticket at a special price of just €50 for the season. These tickets will be available in the coming days.

Supporters have the option to include a WNL Season Ticket with their Men’s Season Ticket for just €25.

Both Season Tickets will be different in colour and design to be easily identifiable.

The opening fixture against Shamrock Rovers is expected to be an ‘All-Ticket’ game with demand already in overdrive around the North-West region.

Don’t miss a kick of a ball in 2023 with our Sligo Rovers season tickets.

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce the permanent transfer of attacking midfielder Bogdan Vastsuk from Stal Mielec in The Poland Ekstraklasa, the top tier in Poland, on a two-year deal with an option of a third year which could see the current Estonian International at The Showgrounds until at least the end of the 2025 SSE Airtricity League of Ireland season. The deal is subject to International clearance.

The 27-year-old joined Reading in England in 2015 before moving to Latvian side Riga. Bastsuk returned to his native Estonia to play with Levadia Tallinn, where he played with Rovers’ winger Frank Liivak in the Estonian Premier Division from 2019 to 2022 before a transfer to Stal Mielec in the Polish top-tier.

The highly rated attacker has been capped 11 times for the Estonian national team where he also has a number of caps at underage level.

Bit O’ Red Manager John Russell is a keen admirer of Vastsuk:

‘’Bogdan is a player I’ve been tracking for some-time and I’m delighted we’ve managed to bring him to the club.

‘’He is a current Estonian International, he is an attacking midfielder who is very creative and he is exactly the type of player we need.

‘’Bogdan is physically strong, has a great ability to go past players, can score goals and has a real willingness to work hard for the team.

‘’He comes to us at a great stage in his career and I know he is looking forward to this new challenge in Ireland.

‘’I think our supporters will enjoy watching him play’’.

Bastsuk arrived in Sligo today and joins his Bit O’ Red team-mates for the first time as pre-season training began ahead of the 2023 SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division season, which starts with a home tie against Shamrock Rovers on February 18^th at The Showgrounds.

This match will be an all-ticket affair with ticket details to be announced in the coming days before they go on sale at The Showgrounds in the coming fortnight.

Our new signing had this message for sligorovers.com today:

‘’I’m very happy to join this great club.

‘’I am looking forward to seeing all the fans at the stadium soon. I have heard a lot about it.

‘’I’ve watched some games from last season and, I see the quality in the team and, I think we can go far this season.

‘’The club has shown me project here and I spoke with the manager and his staff and, I see the club with high ambitions so, I’m very happy to join the team and I will give 100% each game to help the team.

Season Tickets remain on sale with over 700 sold to date, with a record figure expected come the start of the new season.

The easiest way to secure your 2023 season ticket is online at www.srfcdirect.com

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce the signing of full-back Gary Boylan until at least the end of the 2023 SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division season.

Boylan is a former Academy graduate at the club having first joined the Bit O’ Red in 2013 to join our Under 19 Men’s team from his local club Erris United in Mayo.

Boylan made his Sligo Rovers debut back in a League fixture against Derry City at the end of the 2014 season, going on to make over 100 appearances for the club.

In 2019, the versatile defender moved to Cork City as a free agent before signing for Galway United before the 2021 SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division. He spent the second half of the 2022 League season on loan to Finn Harps where he made 12 appearances.

Sligo Rovers Manager John Russell is thrilled to add Boylan to his squad:

‘’I’m delighted Gary has agreed to sign with us for 2023. He knows the club well having come through the academy and he brings a wealth of experience from his time playing in this League.

‘’Gary is a very driven individual and has the ability to play in a number of positions.

I always felt his best position was full back and that’s where I see him playing and developing with us this season.

‘’He is two footed, aggressive in the way he defends, and has the ability to get forward and put dangerous crosses into the box.

‘’It’s important to have the right type of people coming into the club and for that reason I think Gary is an excellent addition to the squad. All the staff and I are looking forward to working with him’’.

Boylan will join the Rovers squad tomorrow ahead of the start of pre-season training, which leads into the first game of the new season against Shamrock Rovers on February 18^th.

Boylan is delighted to re-join the club today:

‘’I am delighted to be back at Sligo Rovers again.

‘’I enjoyed every minute in my last spell at the club and, I know what it means to the supporters.

 ‘’With John Russell being in charge, that played a massive factor for me.

‘’You look at how well he’s done with the club in such a short spell and having played with John, I know how professional he is and standards he demands. I am really looking forward to the season ahead and hopefully getting the club back into the European places again’’.

As we enter into a new year in 2023, we would like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful supporters for their support in 2022.

The European run in July and August will go down in memory and it was wonderful to see a sold-out Showgrounds in our three home European games as well as good attendances throughout the domestic campaign.

Happy New Year to all our supporters.

The club would also like to thank our players, staff and volunteers and wish them a Happy New Year.

Sligo Rovers Chairman Tommy Higgins has penned a short message on Christmas Day to thank a number of people in and around the club.

Higgins looks back on a memorable European run and looks ahead to 2023.

Tommy Higgins:

”As we come to the end of 2022, we can reflect on a memorable summer and those never-to-be-forgotten European matches, we go again in 2023 and can look forward to a great night at The Showgrounds when we play Shamrock Rovers on February 18th.

”I would like to take this opportunity of wishing our staff, sponsors, coaches, players and most of all our wonderful supporters, a Very Happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year”.

Sligo Rovers 2023 SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division season is 10 weeks away with Shamrock Rovers the visitors to The Showgrounds on the opening day of the season on Saturday March 4th at 5pm.

Pre-season training returns in January with Bit O’ Red Manager Steve Feeney having had a busy period since the end of the 2022 season with a number of players re-signing for the club in recent weeks.

Lauren Boles was an important re-signing for Feeney as the midfielder was a key player in 2022, playing in every minute of every game. Leah Kelly was also a regular starter in the team and will also be back for 2022 along with Irish Under 19 Internationals Emma Doherty and Kerri O’ Hara.

This week, left-sided defenders Amy Hyndman and Sarah Kiernan re-signed for the new year to add to goalkeeper Amy Mahon who signed earlier in the week.

The full 2023 squad so far is listed below:

Goalkeepers:

Amy Mahon

Defenders:

Sarah Kiernan, Amy Hyndman, Jessica Casey, Kate Nugent, Ruth Monaghan

Midfielders:

Lauren Boles, Leah Kelly, Katie Melly, Kerri O’ Hara, Ciara Henry

Attackers:

Emma Doherty, Lauren McLellan

A series of pre-season friendlies will be announced shortly home games expected at the end of January and February.

Season Tickets 2023: Womens Season Tickets are available to Men’s Season Ticket holders for just €25. You can add a Women’s Season Ticket to your Men’s season ticket by showing your Season Ticket at The Showgrounds office at any time before the start of the new season.

Women’s Season Tickets are priced at just €50, giving you access to every kick of the ball next season.

Tickets will be available in early January.

Sligo Rovers 2023 SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division season is fast approaching with Shamrock Rovers the visitors to The Showgrounds on the opening day of the season on Saturday February 18th at 7.45pm.

Pre-season training begins in less than a fortnight with Manager John Russell and his Management team busy making preparations for the squad to help prepare them for the year ahead.

This week, Russell added Nando Pijnaker to his squad on a permanent basis after completing a transfer from his former club Rio Ave in Portugal.

Nando joins other new signings Johan Brannefalk and Lukas Browning who both join from Sweden, James Finnerty from Bohemians and Daniel Lafferty from Derry City.

Rovers already had a number of players on long-term contracts with Kailin Barlow, Luke McNicholas, Eanna Clancy, Aidan Keena and Max Mata all signed until 2024 or 2025 respectively.

Winger Fabrice Hartmann remains at the club on loan from RB Leipzig, a deal that is due to expire on June 30th 2023.

Greg Bolger, David Cawley, Richard Brush and Will Fitzgerald all re-signed for the club after their contracts were due to expire at the end of the 2022 season.

Garry Buckley and Mark Byrne are due to remain sidelined until at least May or June after both sustaining ACL injuries in 2022.

The full 2023 squad so far is listed below:

Goalkeepers:

Luke McNicholas, Conor Walsh, Richard Brush

Defenders:

Johan Brannefalk, Daniel Lafferty, James Finnerty, Nando Pijnaker, Eanna Clancy, Garry Buckley.

Midfielders:

Greg Bolger, Will Fitzgerald, Niall Morahan, Lukas Browning, David Cawley, Kailin Barlow, Mark Byrne, Karl O’ Sullivan, Frank Liivak, Fabrice Hartmann

Attackers:

Aidan Keena, Max Mata, Cillian Heaney

A series of pre-season friendlies will be announced shortly with two home games expected at The Showgrounds in early February.

There will be an opportunity for our Super Reds to meet the team at our annual Super Red open day at The Showgrounds. At this event they can meet the squad, join in some games with them and have an opportunity to capture memories of the day with aurographs and photographs.

Super Red Season Ticket: https://srfcdirect.com/season-tickets-2023/

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

The best way to purchase your Season Tickets is online via the link above.