Sligo Rovers can confirm ticket details for our Europa Conference League Second Round qualifiers with Motherwell at The Showgrounds on July 28th (7pm)

Tickets will go on sale today, Friday from 1pm to 8pm at The BORST Clubhouse at The Showgrounds to Season Ticket holders only.

There are no online sales and supporters are allowed a maximum of two tickets person only.

Season ticket holders must bring their season tickets with them to be eligible to purchase.

All remaining tickets will go on general sale tomorrow, Saturday from 11am to 4pm during our Women’s National League game with Athlone Town (2pm KO).

Tickets are priced at €20 for Adults, €15 for Elderly, Under 18’s and students (ID required) and €10 for Under 12’s.

There are stictly no away fans allowed entry apart from their allocation which is being dealt with by Motherwell FC.

Sligo Rovers qualified for the Europa Conference League Second Qualifying Round on Thursday night following a penalty shoot out win against Bala Town at The Showgrounds.

Rovers had lead the tie 2-1 on aggregate coming into the game following victory away from home last week, but Bala came with a game plan and executed it to perfection in front of a sold out Showgrounds, winning the game 1-0 on the night, ensuring we went to extra time and then the nail biting penalty shoot out.

They took the lead on 35 minutes when David Edwards steered home Lassana Mendes’ cross.

Rovers came close soon after with Shane Blaney’s free kick skimming the crossbar but it was 1-0 to the visitors at the break.

The second half started with Rovers putting on some early pressure to try and get an equaliser. Wll Fitzgerald came on for Frank Liivak at the break and the Limerick man drove forward down the left at every opportunity.

Bala were a threat on the counter and Mendes almost doubled their lead after he met Chris Venebles’ cross from the right but shot at Ed McGinty.

Rovers forced a few corners and on 60 minutes Bala broke from one and midfielder James Davies raced through on goal with Colm Horgan in close proximity. Davies was one on one with McGinty but the ‘keeper smothered the ball brilliantly at his feet to keep Rovers in it.

John Russell introduced Lewis Banks for Colm Horgan and Cillian Heaney for Max Mata in the second half as Rovers looked for the all important equaliser to take us through.

Long spells of possession meant Rovers kept pressing but didn’t create any clear cut chances. Aidan Keena had a half chance as the Bala goalkeeper Alexander Ramsay spilled the ball near his feet but he didn’t react in time to tap it into the net.

The game ended in normal time with 7 additional minutes played and neither side able to break each other down, meaning we headed to extra time.

Adam McDonnell made way for Kailin Barlow ten minutes into the first half and the local Academy graduate found himself in possession in midfield on many occasions as we looked to probe forward. Fitzgerald and Paddy Kirk raided down the left wing time after time but again the Bit O’ Red created no clear cut chances and the visitors threatened each time they broke.

The Showgrounds was in full voice throughout the night as the home support tried to help the team over the line.

Barlow had a shot from distance and Cillian Heaney almost teed up Aidan Keena but the defence cleared their lines.

The biggest chance of extra time fell to the visitors. The ball was sent into the Rovers’ penalty area and somehow David Edwards hit the crossbar and another Bala forward’s rebound did the same thing and it was cleared.

This saw us head to penalties in front of a packed out Pet Stop Stand with the tension around the ground clear to see.

Chris Venebles stepped up first and scored and Rovers’ skipper David Cawley levelled matters soon after.

Johnny Spittle’s spot kick was saved by McGinty and Aidan Keena drove home for Rovers to put us in front.

David Edwards scored Bala’s third before Paddy Kirk smashed home his penalty to bring it to 3-2.

Defender Anthony Kay rolled his spot kick into the bottom corner to bring Bala level but Shane Blaney powered his home after to put Rovers back in front.

Bala’s last kick went to James Wall who had to score to keep his sides hope alive but McGinty saved it down to his left to cap a Man of The Match performance and take Rovers through to the next round.

We now face Motherwell of Scotland next Thursday night at 7.45pm at Fir Park before welcoming them to The Showgrounds for the 2nd Leg a week later.

Tomorrow’s Europa Conference League Qualifier against Bala Town is now sold out.

The game kicks off at 7pm at The Showgrounds and sees Rovers lead the tie 2-1 after last week’s victory in Oswestry.

Tickets have sold out for the game with none left available to buy either online or at The Showgrounds.

There will be strictly NO admission tomorrow evening on the turnstiles without a ticket.

We thank our supporters for getting behind the team and we look forward to a great night at home in front of our fans.

Sligo Rovers are back in action tomorrow night (Thursday) as we host Bala Town at The Showgrounds in our Europa Conference League Qualifying Round One Second Leg.

Rovers currently lead 2-1 in the tie following last week’s victory in Oswestry, with goals from Aidan Keena and Max Mata giving us the win.

The tie is still very much open with Bala feeling like they will have a good chance to qualify themselves following a strong First-Leg display lastweek.

Sligo Rovers manager John Russell is fully focused on the task ahead:

‘’The players performed really well last week. I was delighted with the reaction after conceding the early goal. It’s never easy in Europe, especially playing away from home so to respond in the manner we did was satisfying.

Tomorrow night will be another tough test. Having seen Bala Town up close we know the threat they bring.

The players are fully focused and ready for what will be a massive game. Our fans were immense last week and we’re expecting a big crowd tomorrow night. I know the players will feed off that energy again’’.

The Bit O’ Red come into the game with a couple of fitness concerns in the squad. Garry Buckley hasn’t played since limping off against Finn Harps in June while Greg Bolger returns following a knock and Robbie McCourt also returns to the squad having missed the First-Leg due to illness. Nando Pijnaker is suspended.

The game is close to being sold out and Sligo Rovers ask supporters to buy tickets in advance online or at The Showgrounds.

There are no tickets on sale at the ground on Thursday with all remaining tickets being sold online here https://srfcdirect.com/match-tickets/

Sligo Rovers manager John Russell didn’t wait long to make his first new signing bringing in attacking midfielder Frank Liivak from Levadia Tallinn. The Estonian International said that it was John who instigated the move with an assist from a former Rovers team mate:

“It was actually the Manager, John Russell who initiated the first approach and had been in contact with me from there on in and it all happened very quickly. We had a number of calls and some long conversations and I felt that we clicked right away. The move in the end was unexpected but went fast and I am now looking forward to playing for Sligo Rovers. It was Sander Puri who John contacted first to get my phone number. I have not yet talked to him about his time in Sligo but will call him to first thank him and then to get some information on the club and the League. I know that Max Mata is playing with Rovers and to be honest I don’t remember exactly if I played against him while he was playing in Estonia. I do remember hearing his name and being told that he was an exciting young player.”

While Liivak admits that he didn’t much about Sligo or football in Ireland he did play for Levadia against Dundalk last season and watched the games between Flora Tallinn and Shamrock Rovers:

“In the past few years there have been a lot games between clubs from Estonia and Ireland. I played in the European games last year for Levadia against Dundalk and they were really close with Dundalk scoring the decisive goal in extra time to progress. Then you had the game between Flora and Shamrock Rovers and Flora won in those so they give you an idea of the standard. I know that the culture will be different and that there is more of a football culture in Ireland which is different to how it is in Estonia. In Ireland I know that football is a big part of people’s lives and I want to experience that and that is one of the reasons why I am really excited about the move. I think that overall the League in Ireland will be more competitive but the European games showed that the level of the top teams in Estonia and Ireland is not too dissimilar.”

This isn’t the first time that Liivak has played abroad as he had spells with Napoli in their under-age sides, played lower league football in Spain and also played in Bosnia, all experiences that he feels have made him the player that he is today:

“It has been an interesting career so far, I have seen a lot of colours of life as I like to say it. When I was 10 I moved to Holland with my family and there I really learned the abc’s of football so it was a good decision for me that we moved there. The youth programmes and academies there are among the best in Europe. When I was 16 Napoli came in to buy me and as a player from a small county when a club the size of Napoli comes in for you then it is a no brainer to sign. However while I don’t like to live in the past I do sometimes look back at that decision and think maybe it was a step too soon at the time to sign for Napoli. Everything was going great in Holland and there were a number of big clubs from there interested in signing me but you can’t change time. At Napoli I had a taste of what it was like to play with real Champions as I got to train a number of times with the first team, it was a great experience for me. Then I went to Spain which is a big football country and then Bosnia where I really got to experience the culture around football. Then I came back to Estonia where really my winning mentality came. I have won the League and all the Cups you can win in Estonia for 3 straight years. So yes it has been a colourful career but the experience of playing in different countries has made me who I am.”

After returning to Estonia and signing for Flora Tallinn, Liivak raised eyebrows when he made the cross city move to their fierce rival Levadia, a move akin to going from Bohemian FC to Shamrock Rovers:

“It was a bold decision as while in Estonia the rivalry wouldn’t be the same level as in Ireland it is still a move that a lot of players don’t want to take. For me I had won the league twice with Flora and at one point it felt a bit routine so I was really excited to take a new step and I helped Levadia win their first title in 7 years. So in the end it was a good decision and the right one for me as a person and a player.”

Liivak knows that he is joining the club at an exciting time and has made his debut against Shelbourne recently and then came off the bench in last week’s Europa Conference League qualifier First-Leg against Bala Town:

“Yeah it was a busy time. Here with Levadia the first goal is to win everything and the next is to perform in Europe. We were getting ready for our European game when news of the transfer came through. When you want for something for so long you can be anxious to have it happen but it was sad to be leaving but I want to show now with Sligo what I can do and perform in the big games as we come into what for me is the most exciting part of the season with the European games. I want to bring my winning mentality to the club. The worst feeling in football is to lose a football game. I will bring all I have to help the team do well and don’t expect less than to leave a game with 3 points. I want to help this club win trophies.”

Academy had a full weekend just past with six games taking place from Saturday to Sunday.

Saturday saw our Under 14 team beaten 7-1 by an impressive Treaty United side at The Sean Fallon Centre with Rovers’ only goal coming from Troy Kelly.

Our Under 17 Women had a good 4-1 win against the same opposition later that day with goals from Rachel McGoldrick, Katie McGuire, Emma Duffy and Orna Murphy.

Our Under 17 Mens team had a friendly against Fermanagh at ATU Sligo, defeating them 2-1 with goals from Sam Tuohy and Michael Clifford.

On Sunday our Under 15’s were beaten 5-1 at home to Shelbourne, Emmanuel Oyewusi with Rovers’ only goal.

Dundalk were the opposition for Declan Boyle’s Under 19 Mens team and it ended with a victory for Rovers with goals from Sean McAteer and a Cillian Heaney brace.

Our Under 19 Women were narrowly defeated by Athlone Town at Sean Fallon Centre with the only goal coming from Lara Swann.

Sligo Rovers are delighted to confirm that striker Aidan Keena has put pen to paper on a new Two-and-a-Half Year contract at the club to see him remain with The Bit O’ Red until at least the end of the 2024 season.

The striker has been in impressive form of late, scoring in our win over Bala Town on Thursday night after a brace against Shelbourne in the league last weekend.

Keena has now got twelve goals in all competitions this season after signing from Falkirk in January.

Sligo Rovers Manager John Russell expressed his delight at the news:

‘’I’m delighted that Aidan has committed himself to the club for the next Two-and-a-Half years. He has become a real fan’s favourite in a short space of time so I’m sure the supporters will be excited by this contract extension.

Aidan is a real talent. He’s one of the best finishers I’ve come across. He is currently the top scorer in the league bit it’s his all round game that is so impressive. He not only scores goals but creates chances for others and has a real willingness to work hard for the team. He’s enjoying his football and it’s up to him to now keep pushing and raising his levels.

The Mullingar native (23) made his competitive debut in our opening game of the season against St Patrick’s Athletic, where he scored the winning goal in a 2-1 win for Rovers.

Keena picked up the Player of The Month award for March following an impressive hat-trick at home to Finn Harps along with some other strong performances.

The striker currently leads the goalscoring charts in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division on 11 goals.

Keena is enjoying his football in Sligo:

I’m delighted to be at Sligo Rovers and I have really settled in well here in the town. My family enjoy it too and that’s important.

I’m thrilled to sign a new deal today and look forward to what the future holds for the club.

We have a big game on Thursday and I’m looking forward to it and the next two and a half years here’’.

All focus now turns to Thursday night at The Showgrounds where the Bit O’ Red host Bala Town in the Second Leg of our Europa Conference League tie, with Rovers 2-1 up from the First Leg.

Tickets are available online and we ask supporters to get to The Showgrounds to get behind the lads and pack the ground.

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

Sligo Rovers are excited to officially launch our 2022 Annual Draw. With Stadium Infrastructure and Masterplan updates at the forefront of club’s plans, this draw is one of our most important in years. The draw will take place on October 1^st when we host Shamrock Rovers at The Showgrounds.

In the past two years, The Annual Draw has raised almost €100,000 for the club.

This year’s top prize is €5,000 which would be a great addition as you head towards Christmas planning.

PetStop Discount Warehouse have once again come on board and sponsored a €1,000 voucher as the second prize.

Third prize is an overnight stay at Dublin’s 5-star Shelbourne Hotel with Bed & Breakfast.

Our partners Dalatta Group have kindly sponsored a 2-night stay at Clayton Hotel Liffey Valley including Bed & Breakfast and one evening meal.

There are other top prizes such as four Westlife tickets for their 2022 World Tour in Belfast in December, two tickets for a Liverpool game at Anfield, a pair of Rod Stewart tickets for his concert in Dublin this November, two Intersport Elverys vouchers worth €100 each and a €200 Kates Kitchen voucher.

The Annual Draw is one of the club’s three major fundraisers each year (500 Club and Club Lotto). For 2022, the club have decided that all proceeds from the draw will be invested back into our stadium and to help deliver our Masterplan which was launched in 2021.

The Masterplan is a proposed Multi-Million Euro Redevelopment of The Showgrounds with the creation of an Academy Training Centre and hub for the North-West region of the country.

The redevelopment, when complete, plans to have a seated capacity of around 6,000, surpassing all UEFA requirements of a Category 3 Stadium, a new hybrid playing pitch and new state of the art facilities with altercations to the existing Treacy Avenue and PetStop Stands and two brand new stands on the Jinks’ Avenue side of the ground and the Churchill Road End, including hospitality facilities, a club shop, office areas, Bit O’ Red Cafe and more.

To date, Rovers have received planning permission for the upgrade of our floodlights to be upgraded to the high standard LED floodlights and have successfully applied for Sports Capital Funding for these lights, which we hope to have in position for the start of the 2023 season.

The club will also lodge a planning application in the next couple of months for the redevelopment of the stadium. The Sports Capital Grant will require matching funding and the costs associated with the planning application are around €100,000.

Annual Draw co-ordinator Mark Cummins expresses the importance of the draw:

‘’This year we have set an ambitious target of reaching €100,000 for our Annual Draw. Prior to COVID-19, we had reached over €80,000 so we feel that with a big push we can achieve our new target, with the help of our loyal supporters and the North-West region.

All funds will be ring-fenced for our stadium redevelopment so we see this Annual Draw as our most important ever as it could leave a lasting long-term legacy for the club in years to come’’.

Since launching the masterplan, club officials have continued to work on all aspects of the plan and are really excited about the prospects of bringing it to fruition.

The Masterplan will create a sports and cultural hub for The North-West region in Sligo, which we feel will help people in our community through many avenues, in particular with job creation on a full-time and part-time basis as we create a greater match-night experience at The Showgrounds.

Club Chairman Tommy Higgins:

‘’This year’s Annual Draw is vitally important to Sligo Rovers. We are at a stage now where we are almost ready to go for planning permission on our Masterplan. While we understand that it’s important to continue to fund our teams on the pitch, which we will do, it’s also important, perhaps more important to create something special for this region in the form of a state of the art facility at The Showgrounds. This facility could cater for many things such as conferences, parties, functions, gym use and much more. We would ask all supporters to take a book of tickets and sell it on behalf of your club’’.

Tickets for our Annual Draw are available now on the link below:

You can purchase a full book of tickets and sell them to your friends, family or colleagues or you can buy them individually.

Books of tickets are also available through club officials or The Showgrounds office.

We would encourage all supporters to get behind the draw and help the club with our ambitious but achievable goals with regards the Sligo Rovers Masterplan.

There is also a special business competition which will see businesses in the region able to purchase a book of tickets and be entered into a draw to win a free pitch-side advertising hoarding at The Showgrounds for the 2023 season worth €1,500.

Businesses can buy the book and sell tickets to customers making it cost neutral.

Businesses can contact the club by emailing colinfeehily@sligorovers.com or calling 0719171212 or by simply buying a book online and leaving their business name.

Sligo Rovers are a community ran club with supporters at heart and this Masterplan will provide a cultural and sporting hub in Sligo that we can be proud of.

Our 2022 Senior FAI Womens cup campaign got off to a disappointing start today as the club were handed a walkover as opponents Douglas Hall were unable to fulfil the fixture.

The game was due to be played at The Showgrounds this afternoon however after talks with the FAI, Douglass Hall confirmed their unavailability and Rovers now progress to the next round which will be the quarter final stage due to be played at the start of August.

Sligo Rovers Women take on Douglas Hall on Saturday at 3pm at The Showgrounds in the first ever meeting of the two clubs in what promises to be an entertaining cup tie.

Douglas Hall are in the CWSSL in Cork and will prove a tough test for Rovers with some quality and experienced players in their squad.

The game sees Rovers take to the field in our first ever Senior Womens Cup tie and the game will be live on LOI TV from 3pm.

Tickets are on sale on the turnstiles and are priced at €5 for adults, with under 18’s free.

Manager Steve Feeney will hope his side can bounce back from an away defeat last weekend against Bohemians at Dalymount Park. He has added two new signings Aife Haran and Alana Doherty this week which will help bolster the squad and add good quality to the group.

Rovers continue to be without goalkeeper Kirsten Sample as she recovers from an arm injury but Steve Feeney is hopeful of a fully fit squad otherwise.

Gates open from 2pm and all support is welcome as we look to progress to the next round.