Conor O’Grady has been appointed as the new Head of Academy on a full-time employment basis, Sligo Rovers can announce today.

O’Grady, a former captain and decorated player at the club, has been managing the club’s Under-15 team since inception.

He has emerged as the successful candidate following a lengthy interview process for the role which saw over 50 applicants for the position after it was advertised in November.

Interviews took place in he last month as two boards assessed an extremely high level of applicants, with Conor emerging with the role.

The position will initially include player identification and development, coach identification and liasion, development and education, continuing to develop the pathway from our academy to the first-team and liasing with IT Sligo on our scholarship scheme.

The Bit O’ Red will unveil a more detailed assessment of the planned growth of the Sligo Rovers academy in the club’s Masterplan early in 2021.

In recent seasons the work of a number of our club’s coaches, local clubs in the region and investment from Sligo Rovers has resulted in the development of a large number of first-team players.

This season nine academy graduates were part of the first-team squad of the Sligo Rovers men’s team. Two of those, Niall Morahan and Ed McGinty,  won the Senior and Young Player of the Year.

Today’s appointment is significant in that the club is investing in a full-time position of employment for the first time.

Conor will start the role in January 2021.

Sligo Rovers CEO Colin Feehily said: “We are very pleased to welcome Conor to the club in the position of Head of Academy.

“The work at academy level by our coaches and volunteers has been exemplary and the potential for growth has been obvious.

“This is a very positive step for the club. Conor left a lasting impression on everyone in securing the role through the vision he shares and holds.

“There are exciting times ahead for the academy and Conor will be the ideal leader for it.”

Sligo Rovers first-team manager Liam Buckley said: “I’d like to congratulate Conor on his appointment to this role. 

“The academy is a vital part of the football club here and we have a fantastic group of coaches working with some very talented players.

“We’ve already seen the fruits of that at first-team level and I’m very much aware that there is more to come in the short and long-term future. 

“I look forward to working with Conor going forward.” 

Sligo Rovers Head of Academy Conor O’Grady said: “It is a massive honour. I’m very proud and I feel very humbled today.

“I’m just delighted the club have put their faith in me. There were a lot of brilliant candidates so I feel honoured. It was an unbelievably thorough process.

“I’m very excited now. It’s a huge role. We have a serious amount of talent here in the youth teams and at the moment it is just talent. We’ve already had many players come through to the first-team and currently we have plenty of players with that potential.

“I strongly believe we will have more players coming through. We have to deliver on it and the players have to have the will and desire most importantly. I think they do have it at the moment.

“When I joined Sligo Rovers it was an institution. It always will be. Today it is a brand as much as an institution because it so big all over the north-west.

“It’s a big and bold move by the club to make this role but it’s a positive one and the right one I feel. I have a plan and vision for the future of youth football in the region. The big thing for me is we make it a united front at every level at the club. The plan will come when I start and it will be small steps at first and big steps over time.

“What matters most is the coaches of the players. I’ve spoken to all of them today before the announcement about how much I want them to be involved. They are the most important people and always will be the most important people. They have already proven how good they are in recent years.

“I’ll be a sounding board for them, I’ll be there to help them, they are there to help me and the way I look at it is we’re all doing this together. I hope they’ll enjoy it and I hope that every young player who becomes part of this club enjoys it as well.”

Sligo Rovers are thrilled to announce the signing of multiple League of Ireland Premier Division winner Greg Bolger for the 2021 season.

The 32-year-old midfielder joins the Bit O’ Red today after experiencing success at St Patrick’s Athletic, Cork City and Shamrock Rovers.

Bolger has spoken of ambition to achieve again under Liam Buckley, saying he is moving to Sligo after seeing the potential of the club to challenge for honours, just as he has done throughout his career

Bolger said: “Liam has always been in contact with me. I’m worked with him before and it’s a chance to sign with a club like Sligo Rovers steeped in history, I’m delighted to get it done and looking forward to the season.

“My contract was up at Shamrock Rovers and I looked around and it is always my motivation to join a club with ambition and wanting to win. I still have the ambition to do well. I’m looking to help Liam, I know he’s got a vision and he wants to get good players in to the club with the good ones there already. It was a no-brainer for me.

“Looking at the squad, and talking to Liam with the players he is trying to get into the club, it was something that appealed to me. I’m still as hungry as ever and I’m going up to give the club and Liam the best I can give him.

“I’ve had some great battles over the years with Sligo Rovers. One of the best days of my career was probably playing against Sligo when winning the league with St Patrick’s Athletic. One of the worst was as well the year before in that 3-2 game when Mark Quigley scored. Many memories, always difficult, with the crowd and the atmosphere they bring. It’s one I’m looking forward to next year being on their side.

“I’m ready to go. Obviously I had a bad injury where I was out for five months. It’s a case of now I’m going to keep training and I’ll be ready to go to fire on all cylinders come pre-season.

“I played with Russ (John Russell), I have a very good relationship with John and I’m looking forward to working under him. I know he knows the game inside-out. That was another appealing factor. I won a league at Cork with Garry Buckley and he’s a great guy and a great player.

“I know some of the rest from some battles over the years, the likes of David Cawley. There’s young players there who have great talent and potential. This is a moment in my career that I’m really looking forward to. I’m very excited today.”

Liam Buckley said: “It’s an exciting signing for us. Greg has had massive success at many clubs and he’s hungry for more. I’ve worked with him, I know what he brings. He is a proper pro is the best way to describe him.

“I feel he will be a good influence in the dressing-room, but first and foremost he’s a talented player who will add a lot to our group I feel. That is why we’re bringing him here. He’s very keen to achieve more in the game and he is driven to do so.

“He’s recovered from the injury, similar to John Mahon actually, and he’s 100% again. When we see him pre-season I think he’ll be itching to start playing.

“This is another important signing for us. We’re working very hard to try to add more players and hopefully that will happen this side of Christmas. We’re ahead of where we were this time last season. We’d like to get more done soon.”

Sligo Rovers is delighted to reveal our brand-new home jersey, created by the Bit O’ Red’s kit and sportswear partner JOMA Sport, in association with our main sponsor Avant Money.

Our current sponsor, Avant Money, has recently changed its name from Avantcard following the launch of their new mortgage products in September, reflecting the company’s ambition to provide a broader range of consumer finance products and grow the business. 

The new Avant Money branding will be extended to the rest of its existing business in the Spring of next year. This has offered us the opportunity to create a great new jersey for the 2021 season.

It also marks the third year of our agreement with JOMA, who have been a hugely supportive partner for the last five seasons.  

Today marks the beginning of a new Bit O’ Red – reflecting the club’s ambitions to continue to progress with a fresh look and maintaining the progress we have made alongside our key sponsors.

The announcement was made alongside the news of a significant new signing for the club for 2021 as Greg Bolger joins the club ahead of a campaign next year that will include European football.

A marketing campaign will also begin today in conjunction with Avant Money as we mark coming through the challenging 2020 period to believe in new, brighter and bigger days ahead for the club, our supporters and loyal sponsors.

The jersey is available to order now for collection from next Friday, December 18^th via our click and collect service or in store at our club shop in Barton Smiths. Online orders between now and next Friday will be compiled and posted out on that day. While orders will be posted on Friday the 18^th, we cannot guarantee Christmas delivery due to the huge strain on our couriers during the Christmas period.

“Therefore, we encourage supporters to buy online and use our click and collect option or purchase their jersey in store at Barton Smiths. After that date, we will still ship jerseys daily, however Christmas delivery would be increasingly unlikely and deliveries could arrive some days after Christmas.

Sizes are Small adult to XXLarge and begin at 4-6 years for kids up to 13-14 years.

Sligo Rovers CEO Colin Feehily said: “We’re delighted to unveil our new home jersey for 2021. We are maintaining the stripe look as we will indefinitely look to do now. This shirt is a bespoke design, and exclusive to Sligo Rovers, which we are proud of and excited about.

“It was a popular move to return to the origins of the club and this variation is something we feel will be equally exciting for our fans. We hope exciting times await for our players and supporters in this new Bit O’ Red look.”

JOMA brand manager Susanne McNamara “We were delighted to launch this new 2021 jersey in conjunction with Sligo Rovers.

“We feel it maintains the club’s historic values with the traditional stripes whilst embracing a fresh, new look. We hope the Bit O’ Red supporters like it as much as we do and wish Rovers the very best for the season. This shirt is tailor made by Sligo Rovers for Sligo Rovers, so that’s something special”

Chris Paul, Avant Money’s CEO, said: “After an unprecedent year of challenges, both Avant Money and Sligo Rovers have emerged stronger than ever.  A fresh start in the form of our new Avant Money name along with a fabulous new home jersey for the Bit O’ Red, sets us up nicely for what promises to be an exciting year ahead of us.”

Robbie McCourt has joined Sligo Rovers today for the 2021 SSE Airtricity League season.

The versatile Dubliner moves to Rovers from Waterford FC where he enjoyed an excellent season at the RSC.

The 22-year-old can operate in defence and midfield. McCourt spent five seasons with West Bromwich Albion in England before returning to Ireland with Bohemians in mid-2018.

The former Under-19 international, who was also part of a squad at Under-21 level under Stephen Kenny, switched to Waterford in 2019 and missed just one game in the season as he became a key part of their side.

He can play at centre-half, as well as midfield, and has played on the left side as well. McCourt: “I think it’s a very good move for me. Liam sounded very interested in me and when he gave me the call, the only thing on my mind was to get down and sign.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE SLIGO ROVERS MERCHANDISE IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

“I had a few offers but really as soon as I spoke to Liam he seemed so interested. He really liked me as a player and didn’t stop making contact. I wanted to get it done quickly then.

“I started off with St Kevin’s in Dublin, joined West Brom at 15 and played there for four or  five years. I enjoyed my time there. I came back and signed for Bohemians.

“I was still young when I came back to Bohs. It’s not always easy. Bohemians had their team set already so I found it hard to break through. I did well but I wasn’t playing as much as I wanted. It was time to move on.

“I dropped out of football for a few months, played with my local team and Alan Reynolds called me and said he’d love me at Waterford. I had a great season with them.”

Now officially a Rovers player, McCourt said the surroundings in The Showgrounds and the knowledge he has of the Bit O’ Red convinced him to join.

“I’m very excited. It’s always a club I didn’t like travelling down to because I knew it was going to be a tough game. That was with both Bohs and Waterford. It was always a tough place to pick up results. But when you’re there and you look around the place with the facilities and all, it’s top of the range and looking at it. It’s probably one of the best in the country.

“The manager spoke to me about the aims he has. What the club wants to do is something I want to be a part of. I can’t want to get down to Sligo now. Hopefully we can do something special in 2021.”

As the season did resume in mid-2020, it was in defence where McCourt shone for the Blues.

“At the start of last season before lockdown, I was playing centre-midfield or left-wing.

“When the season resumed John Sheridan came in and started me at centre-back and I did well. It wasn’t new to me play at centre-back. I started my career at that position. It was grand and I fitted in well.

“Liam knows I can play a few positions. It’s just a matter of finding out where he wants to play me but I’ll play wherever he wants me to play. I think I’ll fit in anywhere. Centre-back would probably be my most comfortable position as I probably played there most of my career and then left-back. Those two would probably be my preferred.”

Liam Buckley said: “He’s a very talented player. I think he’s going to appreciate the environment here and the best is yet to come from Robbie.

“From a youngster in Dublin and going over to England, he has been a technically good player. Last season was a very good one for him in Waterford and I felt he did well at Bohs.

“The versatility he has will be a help to us. Robbie will be comfortable in a couple of positions.

“We already have good players in the group and I believe he will add to it. He will improve with the better quality of player around him and my job is to make this group better.

“We are trying to do that over the coming period.”

Eleven players are now contracted professionally for the 2021 campaign.

Under contract at Sligo Rovers for 2021 so far: Ed McGinty, Luke McNicholas, Lewis Banks, Garry Buckley, John Mahon, Robbie McCourt, David Cawley, Niall Morahan, Ryan De Vries, Romeo Parkes, Mark Byrne.

Sligo Rovers are thrilled to announce that Romeo Parkes has signed for the 2021 season as the striker moves to The Showgrounds for a second spell.

The 30-year-old was top scorer for the club in 2019 with 11 goals in 30 league games, as well as two in the FAI Cup.

Parkes was an instrumental player for Rovers in that season.

He returned to America for personal reasons in 2020 and he has penned a deal for the new season in Sligo.

Manager Liam Buckley said: “We kept the door open for Romeo if circumstances did work out because we didn’t want to lose him for 2020.

“We were hoping he would return for 2021 and today we’re very pleased it has come to fruition.   

“He did very well for us in 2019, scored double figures in the league and he’ll come back looking to make another big contribution.

“It wasn’t just goals, there were some standout performances during that season and he complimented a lot of players we have here.

“We are building a squad as best we can with the view to being as strong as we possibly can and make further strides next season.

“Romeo will be another strong addition to the group. We’re making more progress and we have more to do so that work continues.”

Romeo Parkes said: “I’m coming back with a feeling of unfinished business. I feel I owe something because I remember that FAI Cup semi-final with Dundalk when I had to come off early on. We didn’t make the final and I haven’t forgotten it.

“European football is something I’m looking forward to. I like the manager and I look forward to playing with all of the guys again.

“I’ve very happy to be coming back. I really like the club, the place and the fans and we can go further. I’m coming back to finish what was started.”

Under contract at Sligo Rovers for 2021 so far: Ed McGinty, Luke McNicholas, Lewis Banks, Garry Buckley, John Mahon, David Cawley, Niall Morahan, Ryan De Vries, Romeo Parkes, Mark Byrne.

Garry Buckley has signed a contract with Sligo Rovers for 2021, the club are delighted to announce this morning.

The 27-year-old joined the Bit O’ Red this year and ended up as a first-choice centre-half, forming a pairing with John Mahon.

Buckley impressed throughout the year and commits to Rovers today, saying he is staying at The Showgrounds with a target to win trophies and make qualifying for Europe a regular occurrence.

“I saw the potential in the club when I joined and I think that potential is growing stronger. Getting to Europe this season was a bonus when you consider the start we had and our target was getting out of a tough position after the lockdown.

“There are top players at the club and the manager has targeted improving it even further. There is a core of a group that can go on to be among the best in the country.  I know how good this group is, it’s the best I’ve been involved in for a while.

“I had spoken with the manager for about going to centre-half one day, it was a position I felt I’d be comfortable in. I was injured in the first game back against Derry and that put me out for a month which was tough to take.

“But coming back I formed that partnership with John which I enjoyed and thought worked well. I get on well with John and I think we complement each other.

“I moved to Sligo for a new challenge and I’m delighted with how it has worked out so far. My girlfriend moved up here with me and she loves it too so I can have no complaints. We’re also a close group of players who live close to each other and get on well.  Next season has to be one where we find a consistency over the course of the year. We need to get the form we had after the season resumed and do it over the season.

“I’m here to win trophies, play in Europe and achieve things. I know the potential and we have to capitalise on it. It won’t be easy in this league, every other club is looking to do the same. Talent wise we have the basis to do it.”

Liam Buckley said: “Garry has had a good first season here.

“He has shown what a good a defender he is and that he can play either position to a high standard. The partnership with John Mahon worked well for us. I do feel next season that partnership can develop even more.

“Garry is a very accomplished footballer and with the style of play we are trying to develop here, he will be an important player for us from that end. He brings that experience of winning big matches and trophies and I know he’s determined to achieve more.

“That is what we want here. It’s another great addition for our group, we’re very happy he’ll be with us for next season.”

Under contract at Sligo Rovers for 2021 so far: Ed McGinty, Luke McNicholas, Lewis Banks, Garry Buckley, John Mahon, David Cawley, Niall Morahan, Ryan De Vries, Mark Byrne.

Remembering the 1970 Cup Final team 50 years on

To mark the 50^th anniversary of Rovers appearance in the FAI Cup Final in 1970, Sligo Rovers Heritage Group have produced a special supplement which will be published in ‘Sligo Champion’ edition of 8^th December.

It will include details of the three match epic that saw a brave Rovers team lose out in their quest for a first Cup success, interviews with goal scorer Johnny Cooke and Tony Fagan, who would lift the Cup 13 years later

The supplement will also include features on other Rovers legends and characters of the past, a piece on Rovers outdoor Museum, as well as  a recollection of our first European adventure in Belgrade in 1977

Ryan De Vries has signed a new contact with Sligo Rovers for 2021.

The New Zealand international was a vital player for Rovers over the 2020 campaign. 

He played 17 games out of 21 overall, having only signed three games into the season, and scored against Dundalk and Finn Harps. 

“I’m delighted to have signed back with Rovers, we’ve done well over the year and obviously the league finish was good.

“I’ve enjoyed my time here so signing back was something I wanted to do. It’s a different country and I had to settle in. With the pandemic I was only here for less than two weeks and then had to make that 38-hour trip a couple of times!

“It’s hard being away from home and my wife and child and she is due our second next year. Football keep me going and the two lads (housemates Lewis Banks and Darragh Noone) kept me company and made it easier. I think we made it easier for each other and the group and people around the club are very good. 

“I had a knee injury late in the season which meant I missed some minutes or had to play through but that will recover now and my aim is to come back next year and start firing.

“I’m definitely excited for Europe. To come from the bottom to finish where we did was a good achievement and the FAI Cup run was unbelievable because I could see what it means to do well in the Cup here. Losing the semi-final gives us something to Improve on and look forward to next year to try to get to a final. If we could do that I can imagine what it would be like for the fans and people around the club. Europe will be a great experience and we have to target winning games in that. I’m excited to be part of next chapter here. 

“We have to be competitive in the league and give the fans here something to shout about when they do come back, I want to be here for that and improve on what’s been started. The environment around the club is something I like being part of so 2021 is one to look forward to.”

Liam Buckley said: “Ryan is technically excellent and has shown he’s a very good footballer. He can play in three or four positions and he’s made a valuable contribution to our year.

“I’m delighted to have him with us. I think a second season will see Ryan get better as he will be more experienced in the league and settled. 

“It was tough for Ryan being away from his family and we valued him commitment as we do for all our players in the squad. 

“We’ve made good progress this week, we still have more to do and we are making changes to the squad as happens every year. We’ve got more to do as the budget becomes clearer, and I think we can be pleased so far.”

Our current sponsor, Avantcard, has recently changed their name to Avant Money following the launch of their new mortgage products in September, reflecting the company’s ambition to provide a broader range of consumer finance products and grow the business.

The new Avant Money branding will be extended to the rest of its existing business in the spring of next year.

This has offered us the opportunity to adapt with Avant Money for the 2021 season.

Stay tuned for more details on this shortly.

Lewis Banks has signed a new contract with Sligo Rovers for the 2021 season, the club are delighted to announce today.

The 23-year-old will enter a third season with the Bit O’ Red, having won the club’s Player of the Year in 2019 and helped Rovers to fourth place in the league this year, our highest since 2013.

Banks’ season was hindered by a persistent injury at the start of the season but he ended up missing just six games overall in the campaign.

“I’m over the moon to get it across the line. We can look forward to 2021. My first year went well and it was a very long period out. I didn’t come back fit enough to play at the start of the season. I was always playing catch-up then later in the season and some of the games didn’t go as well as I’d like.

“But I felt towards the end of the season I got some form back. The season came to an end just as I felt I was getting back to form but there is that positive to take into next year now.

“The pandemic came while I was injured. It was obviously hard for everyone. The break did work well for us in relation to getting players back and get myself near to where I played games. When I came back to Ireland I had to quarantine so the pre-season was just a week or so. I missed the Derry and Shels games and then I played 30 minutes and gradually got back into it.

“There is a small part that wishes it wasn’t over, but it was a long season. Hopefully I can take my form now into next season and kick on with the team. ”

Rovers did turn around their season following the restart, reaching the FAI Cup semi-final and winning eight of the 14 league games remaining.

“When something like it happens it can bring you together, and especially the way we were almost written off as we came back in July. That may have spurred us on. We came back stronger and finished the season well.

“Our approach was just take on each game. We were rock bottom with no points. Europe wasn’t mentioned, but we knew if we put a run together it would put us close to the top half.”

The final day of the season was the defeat to Shamrock Rovers, a game in which Banks stood out as one of the top performers for Liam Buckley’s side on the day.

It was a second loss at the semi-final stages for Banks, so while Europe is on the horizon, there is an incentive to get better.

“We’d much rather have won the game and still be in Ireland, preparing for Sunday’s FAI Cup final, but it wasn’t meant to be. To get Europe and finish on a high, it does motivate you when you think we’ve lost two semi-finals now in the last two seasons.

“That heartbreak and hurt can motivate us to go one or two better. We might have paid them a bit too much respect in the first 20 minutes and sat off them a bit. We certainly showed at the end of the first half and in the second half that we can compete with the top teams.

“Europe was mentioned when I first signed. I’m really excited and so are my friends and my family. They are looking forward to a European trip and not just one I hope. It’s something to look forward to because you’ll back on your career think I did play in some country that you wouldn’t normally play in. It’s a thing to look forward to.

“You have to try to improve season on season. If we don’t improve teams will improve and catch us up. That’s the challenge for us as players and the whole club, not just settle for fourth.”

Banks was one of the players from outside of Ireland who was not able to return home since coming back to Sligo in July.

“It was tough at times, but there was obviously a few of us who were the same. I was living with Darragh Noone and Ryan DeVries. Ryan was in a similar situation with his family back home in New Zealand.

“Luckily with technology you could FaceTime and whatnot which meant it wasn’t too bad.”

Manager Liam Buckley said: “Lewis is another important part of the squad. He was our player of the year in 2019.

“The injury hampered him a bit this season, and particularly with the disrupted calendar, so when we get a complete pre-season into him next year, I feel we’ll see the very best of him again.

“He was still able to make an important contribution this season. I have no doubt he can be a big player for us in 2021. We’re delighted to have him on the board.”

Under contract pros at Sligo Rovers for 2021 so far: Ed McGinty, Luke McNicholas, Lewis Banks, John Mahon, David Cawley, Niall Morahan, Mark Byrne.