It was a proud day for Mayo’s Aoife Brennan yesterday as she was awarded with Buy4Pets Online Goal of the Season for her wonderful goal against Treaty United at The Showgrounds back in April, which helped the Bit O’ Red to a 3-1 win.
Brennan won the award as part of an online vote.
The award was sponsored by Buy4Pets online, part of the Pet Stop brand.
Congratulations Aoife.
Emma Doherty was included in the Womens National League Team of The Year at last night’s Womens National League awards at The Gibson Hotel in Dublin.
Doherty scored 11 goals this season in her debut year at this level and impressed throughout, earning her 11 International appearances for The Republic of Ireland Under 19’s along the way.
Doherty is currently on a Sligo Rovers/ATU Sligo scholarship and part of the Universities Womens Senior team.
Congratulations Emma.
The SSE Airtricity Women’s National League Awards take place in Dublin tonight, with Sligo Rovers represented by Manager Steve Feeney and players Emma Doherty and Aoife Brennan.
Feeney is up for Manager of The Year after steering his side to an 8th placed finish in the club’s first season at this level. The Bit O’ Red finished the season on 20 points and picked up key wins over experience sides such as Wexford Youths and Shelbourne along the way.
Striker Emma Doherty is nominated for Young Player of The Year after an impressive season in front of goal, scoring 11 times. Doherty also picked up 11 appearances for Ireland Under 19’s in 2022.
Aoife Brennan is in line for the goal of the season award after being nominated for her brilliant free-kick in April in a 3-1 win over Treaty United at The Showgrounds. Brennan scored twice on the day with two perfect set pieces.
Sligo Rovers will hold a fan’s forum at our partners, The Clayton Hotel Sligo next Wednesday, November 30th at 8pm.
Men’s senior team Manager John Russell will be in attendance to discuss his reign so far and what’s to come in 2023 as well as take questions from the floor.
Club Chairman Tommy Higgins will be joined by other club officials and will discuss the club’s Master Plan, Membership and other club activity and news.
The event starts at 8pm and fans can purchase Season Tickets, Wall Tiles and 500 Club Membership on the night.
Sligo Rovers are thrilled to announce that midfielder David Cawley has signed a one-year contract extension today, keeping him at The Showgrounds until at least the end of the 2023 League of Ireland season.
Cawley is the club’s all-time record European appearance holder and captained the side in our 2022 European campaign earlier this Summer.
Cawley, from Ballina, will go into his tenth season at the club next year during two different spells here from 2012 to the end of 2015 and re-signing before the 2018 season until now.
In that time, he has made over 250 appearances and scored over 25 goals, making him an important part of the club and an influential player to the younger members of the Bit O’ Red squad throughout his time here.
The Mayo man underwent a minor procedure on his hip before the end of the season to ensure a faster recovery well in time for a return to training when the squad assembles in January.
Manager John Russell is delighted to retain Cawley for another year:
‘’David has been a brilliant player for this club. He is now moving into his tenth season with Sligo Rovers and, he is still as hungry as ever to be successful.
‘’He has won trophies throughout his career and understands what it takes to win matches.
‘’He is an intelligent footballer who will play a big part both on and off the pitch with his quality and in setting standards around the club.
I feel he will be like a new signing after his recent operation and I’m delighted he has re-signed for 2023’’.
In 2012, Cawley was a key part of the club’s SSE Airtricity Premier Division title win under then Manager Ian Baraclough. Cawley signed for the Bit O’ Red at the start of that season from Ipswich Town, where he signed as a teenager from his home-town Ballina.
Cawley also played an important role in our 2013 FAI Cup winning season as well as our Setanta Sports Cup win in 2014, where we defeated Dundalk 1-0 at Tallaght Stadium.
The midfielder is thrilled to sign an extension with the club today:
‘’I am going into my tenth season here at Rovers and I have loved every minute of it, with plenty of ups and downs.
‘’I have managed to win a League, an FAI Cup and a Setanta Sports Cup and captaining the club in the last few years has been a big honour for me.
‘’Our European run a few months back was something else, it was great to see a buzz like that at The Showgrounds and it reminded me of the time we won the league ten years ago. Special moments like that don’t come around too often.
‘’We were disappointed to miss out on Europe for next season, but we aim to get back there next year and have a better run in the cup. We are due a good cup run and hopefully make it to the Aviva again.
‘’From the players we have already and the young lads coming through I have no doubt the future is bright. Add to that the new lads coming in that John has signed and we have a right good group.
‘’The intensity John and Ryan have brought to training since they’ve been appointed has been brilliant and something I believe as a player is how it should be.
‘’You should train as you intend to play and they both demand that, which really helps the squad and the young lads develop.
‘’I am looking forward to playing under John again next season’’.
Cawley returns to pre-season training in January with his fellow Rovers’ team-mates who met up this past week for the first time since the end of the 2022 season.
Cawley’s signing means that John Russell now has 18 professionals signed for 2023.
Sligo Rovers Football Club are delighted to announce that today we have lodged a planning application with Sligo County Council for the first phase of our Master Plan.
The application was prepared by Rhatigan Architects and includes the redevelopment of the Showgrounds to exceed the minimum requirements of a UEFA Category 3 stadium, achieved as follows;
Sligo Rovers Chairman Tommy Higgins:
“This is a great day for Sligo Rovers Football Club and the first phase of our Masterplan we announced last year.
‘’In order to stay competitive in the Premier Division we have to bring more income into the club and The Showgrounds redevelopment is a vital part of our plans”
FAI CEO Jonathan Hill:
“Sligo Rovers to me epitomise all that is great about League of Ireland football with their commitment to providing the best pathways for male and female players of all ages. These plans for The Showgrounds also confirm the club’s desire to provide the very best facilities for all their players, members and supporters and they provide an example of how we can all work together – our clubs, the FAI and local and national Government – to drive Irish football forward within the framework of our FAI Strategy 2022-2025.’’
The new stands will accommodate multipurpose spaces, match night catering facilities, shop, gym, corporate and sponsors facilities, offices and meeting rooms, new media centre, changing rooms to serve the existing Astro pitch, toilets and ancillary spaces. The stands have been designed with a focus on capturing the special match-night atmosphere in the Showgrounds, with the three new roofs joined to enhance the feeling of enclosure and to assist in capturing and containing the noise of the supporters. Externally the exposed concrete structure will provide a strong new aesthetic to the grounds as fans enter via Church Hill Road.
League of Ireland Director Mark Scanlon:
“Sligo is and always has been a hotbed of football and these ambitious plans for the future of The Showgrounds reflect the desire of Sligo Rovers FC to be at the heart of the game in a real football town. We support these exciting plans for the new stadium which will provide modern facilities for the fans to enjoy and a fitting stage for Sligo football for many years to come.”
Following a successful application for Sports Capital Funding the Club is also about to go to tender for the upgrade of the floodlights to UEFA standards. This will be achieved through the provision of 2 new corner columns on the Jinks Avenue side in line with the planning grant received last year and the retrofitting of the existing floodlights on the Treacy Ave side with LEDs.
Pending receipt of Planning Permission in early 2023 the next step for the club will be to pursue various funding streams to bring this exciting project to the next stage which will include detail design and tendering.
The club would like to thank Rhatigan Architects and their team for their work to date on this project.
Sligo Rovers Treasurer David Rowe:
“The completion of the development of The Showgrounds outlined in the Master Plan would be a game changer for the Club’s finance, in addition to providing our supporters in the community with a well-deserved state of the art facility”
Walter Holleran, FAI Head of Grant Funding & infrastructure Development:
“The FAI welcomes the announcement by Sligo Rovers of their application for planning permission for the redevelopment of The Showgrounds stadium. The ambition shown by the club within these plans should be commended and we look forward to working with the Club on the development of the stadium and all facilities for all their teams.”
Sligo Rovers are thrilled to announce that defender Danny Lafferty has signed for the club from Derry City today.
Lafferty was part of The Candystripes’ FAI Cup winning squad this season and finished second in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.
The defender has had spells in Scotland, signing for Celtic in 2006, and England where he joined Burnley in 2012, making fourty appearances for them before loan spells with Rotherham United, Oldham Athletic, Sheffield United and Peterborough before returning to the League of Ireland to sign with Shamrock Rovers in 2019, where he won an FAI Cup that season and a League title in 2020.
In 2021, Lafferty signed a two-year deal with Derry City and joins Rovers today until at least the end of the 2023 League of Ireland season.
Danny has 13 caps for Northern Ireland between 2012 and 2016 and brings a wealth of experience to the Bit O’ Red squad.
Manager John Russell commented:
‘’I’m delighted we have announced the signing of Danny Lafferty.
‘’Danny is a player of immense quality. He is an attacking full back who possesses a great passing range and crossing ability.
‘’Danny knows the league well and brings a wealth of experience having played for his country and spent the majority of his career in the UK.
‘’He is a player I’ve always admired and I’m excited to start working with him’’.
Speaking today as he reported to his first session as a Sligo Rovers player, Lafferty is delighted to sign for the Bit O’ Red:
‘’When I spoke to John I was immediately taken aback by his ambition for the club, and it aligned with what I want as well.
‘’I’m looking forward to getting in and getting going, meeting all the lads.
‘’I’ve always liked coming to play at The Showgrounds and even more so now next year.
‘’I can’t wait to be playing in front of the Sligo Rovers fans’’.
Lafferty joined the rest of his Bit O’ Red team mates this morning as John Russell’s squad assembled for the first time since the end of the 2022 season.
With season tickets launched earlier today, and the signing of Lafferty announced this evening as well as more signing news to come, excitement is building ahead of the new season.
2023 Season Tickets are now on sale 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/
Sligo Rovers are a community owned club and have many challenges each year in competing with other benefactor owned clubs and these challenges mean that an increase in ticket pricing overall was necessary in 2023.
The club are aware that many supporters are currently experiencing an inflation in prices in general day to day living and the club are experiencing this in all areas as well as costs increase across the board in all club operations, including travel costs which has increased 30% in the last three years with the addition of more Academy and Women’s teams.
There are many things to look forward to with the club currently in an active planning stage of our Masterplan, where we hope to upgrade our Showgrounds home to a new, modern, state of the art sporting facility over the next few years.
Treasurer David Rowe commented:
“In reality, the club costs three times as much to run as when we last had an increase in gate admissions prices back in 2005. At that stage the club had finished 7th in the First Division and was strangled by debt. Much has changed since then, with more to come, but our reality is that in order to remain as competitive as possible on the pitch, we must do all we can off it to help maintain the club’s financial stability. This includes increasing attendances, increasing merchandise sales and fundraising, which the supporters are unbelievably supportive with.
‘’To keep our model of a community owned and funded club, competing at the top level, continued success such as qualifying for European football is essential, as well as being competitive in the League (which goes hand in hand) and strong cup runs.
‘’Last year’s run in Europe was helpful, but a slight increase in pricing is necessary to remain competitive in the league, have exciting stadium development plans and maintain a healthy Academy and the cost of running eight teams in an ever-growing club is exacting, particularly without UEFA prizemoney in 2023.’’
The club will introduce 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:
Admission for ‘Category 2’ fixtures:
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 2022 Meet and Greet with the Bit O’ Red squad in February 2023.
Family rates have been re-introduced for 2023 as follows:
Our Women’s team will also introduce a 2023 Season Ticket at a special price of just €50 for the season.
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 club will hold a Fan’s Forum on Wednesday November 30th at 8pm at The Clayton Hotel Sligo with supporters free to attend the event with First-Team Manager John Russell, Assistant Manager Ryan Casey and members of Sligo Rovers Management.
The agenda for the forum will be an update from John on his plans for 2023 and general club updates looking ahead to next year and beyond, with supporters having an opportunity to ask questions from the floor.
Our 2023 training and leisure wear range is now available to buy exclusively on srfcdirect.com
There is a range of training tops, t-shirts, pants and shorts as well as our brand new travel range, which will all be worn by the Bit O’ Red team in 2023.
We offer free click and collect from The Showgrounds Monday to Friday.
The easiest way to buy is to order online and we’ll ship it anywhere in Ireland for just €6.50, with all orders dispatched Monday to Saturday on the same day you order. Sunday orders will be dispatched on Mondays.
Your Bit O’ Red Christmas presents couldn’t be easier to buy.
Our 2023 Home kit has gone down a storm today with over 100 orders placed online and many supporters already picking up their shirts at The Showgrounds via the click and collect options.
Did you know we do Infant kits which include the new jersey and a pair of replica shorts for children aged 3 months to 24 months.
We also have replica shorts to match our home jersey for kids from 3 years to 14 years.
You can get all you need on www.srfcdirect.com with next day delivery on all items via our shipping partners DpD.
