Sligo Rovers can today announce the launch of our Annual Draw for 2020, with sales moving to an online platform and set to run for the remainder of the year to aid finances for the club.

The Bit O’ Red hold an Annual and Christmas Draw every year but are this year amalgamating them into one with an increase in the value of additional prizes.

The main prize is €5,000, with vouchers for Pet Stop, Flynn Hotels and Cat and the Moon totalling at €1,450.

There are also a host of Sligo Rovers, Republic of Ireland and Premier League related prizes, including season tickets, match tickets and jerseys.

The Annual Draw finances a major part of Sligo Rovers’ income each year, generating up to €80,000 for the club.

CLICK HERE TO BUY ANNUAL DRAW TICKETS

Much of this is sourced in door to door sales around the north-west as well as through businesses and individuals who meet socially.

This year, with many of those opportunities restricted, we are asking fans to move their purchasing and sales online where possible.

Books of 10 tickets and individual tickets are now available on SRFCDirect, with tickets set to be sent via e-mail before the draw.

Click here to buy individual tickets

Click here to buy a book of 10 tickets

Sligo Rovers CEO Colin Feehily said: “We are beginning our Annual Draw at a most challenging but essential time. We are asking people who generously buy a ticket in a coffee shop or bar or from their home to try to support us online.

“We are keen to limit the interaction of individuals as much as possible for safety reasons in the Covid-19 environment.

“We will also have a phone service from 10am to 4pm in The Showgrounds during the week where people can purchase from our staff.

“Committee members can also distribute tickets and have books returned in a safe method. All of our ticket sellers will be briefed on how to do so, but where possible online sales are our preferred method. We are providing phone numbers to contact, below, for purchasing and the sale of books.”

Sellers

• Mark Cummins – Strandhill & Sligo Town  – 087 9293527
• Brendan Lacken – Skreen & West Sligo– 087 6175235
• Andy Dodd – Calry & Hazelwood – 087 2464131
• Michael Toolan – Tubbercurry & Ballymote – 087 9293318
• David Finn – South Sligo & Tubbercurry Area – 086 1774448
• Michael Clancy  – Glencar & Sligo Town – 087 2388215
• Anthony Quinn – North Sligo – 086 1963073
• Gary Kilcullen – Sligo Town – 087 6492752

Feehily added: “It’s been a really unique financial year for the club. Like every business we have had to adapt and adjust and manage our way through the last few months as best possible without the regular income from supporters attending matches.

“The Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust GoFundMe was obviously a huge factor in getting us here, along with the 500 Club and the various methods of fundraising we have. We’re very appreciative of that. The Annual Draw will be combined with the Christmas Draw primarily with the remainder of 2020 in mind. The income will be used to fund the club for that period.”

Club chairman Tommy Higgins added: “The Annual Draw is the most successful yearly individual fundraiser in the league. We will adapt our techniques over the coming months, we ask fans our fans to try to go with us in that. It won’t be easy but we will do our best and history has shown we can be inventive and reach our goals. Over the coming weeks we will be revealing our plans for 2021.

“The rest of this season is still to play out but we look back on some of the moments since 31 July fondly and know that all of the efforts to restart and revive our season have been worth it. There has been nights to bring us the type of happiness we associate with Sligo Rovers, even when we couldn’t be there, and when those moments can be harder to find right now in day to day life.

“I want to thank anyone and everyone that supports the draw in whatever way they can. As we know one €10 ticket or €100 book quickly adds up to the remarkable sums we have seen raised in recent years. I look forward to speaking more to you all soon.”

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE ANNUAL DRAW

Work on a masterplan to curate the future of Sligo Rovers is ongoing by Rhatigan’s Architects, with the plan set for completion before the end of the calendar year.

A sub-committee has been elected to assist Rhatigans as they work on the project, made up of representatives of the club’s management committee, the Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust and former committee members.

They will provide guidance for the research and logistics in completing the masterplan, consultation will now take place with a host of groups and individuals to devise the plan.

Separately, pictured at The Showgrounds to mark the ongoing work were chairman Tommy Higgins, Dorothy Clarke – Chief Officer, Sligo Local Community Development Committee, Hugh MacConville – Assistant Chairperson, Sligo Local Community Development Committee, Cllr Dara Mulvey – Cathaoirleach, Sligo County Council and Shona Heffernan – Programmes Co-ordinator, Co Sligo LEADER Partnership and Colin Feehily, CEO of Sligo Rovers.

Sligo Rovers wish to thank all parties for their ongoing assistance.

The fixture list for the remainder of the season has been altered to factor in cancellations due to Covid-19.

The SSE Airtricity League Premier Division season will now conclude on Sunday November 8 while the FAI Cup has been brought forward to Friday 30 October.

If Rovers progress to the semi-finals, the match will take place on weekend of 21/22 November. 

The decision to extend the 2020 season has been ratified by the National League Executive Committee with the final rounds of both divisions pushed back for competition integrity purposes, with all fixtures scheduled for the same time and date.

An update on whether fans can attend the FAI Cup game will follow when possible.

Sligo Rovers schedule:

Sunday 18 October – Shelbourne away – 5pm

Saturday 24 October – Cork City home – 5pm

Friday 30 October – Derry City home (FAI Cup) – TBC

Sunday 8 November – Dundalk away – 7:30pm

Sligo Rovers’ final match of the season against Dundalk has been moved from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November.

The change is due to Dundalk’s progression to the Europa League.

Kick-off will be 7.30pm in Oriel Park.

Sligo Rovers play Shamrock Rovers on Friday night in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division in Tallaght Stadium, kick-off 7:45pm, live on RTE2. 

The Bit O’ Red, fourth in the table, take on the leaders. The previous meeting ended in a 3-2 win for the Dublin side, prior to the shutdown of the league. 

Last Tuesday’s win over Derry City brought Liam Buckley’s side to 19 points, all achieved in the 10 games since the league restarted.

Fifteen have come in home matches, with an away win over the Candystripes and a point in Richmond Park against St Patrick’s Athletic.

Ryan De Vries scored his third goal of the season on Tuesday, one behind Ronan Coughlan who turns 24 on Friday, while there was a clean sheet for Ed McGinty, his third of the season.

In team news, Danny Kane and Sigitas Olkerkis are on the verge of returning. They will come into contention for the Shelbourne game on 18 October. Johnny Dunleavy is out with a knee problem.

David Cawley returns from a suspension. Regan Donelon is a doubt with a groin problem picked up on Tuesday night vs Derry.

Liam Buckley said: “I thought we played well against Derry. We had to keep going and the goal came late on. I felt it was deserved and the players got their reward. Our control of the ball and control of the game was good. We passed it better, linked it in better, and I was chuffed for the players because I want them to keep possession because it will lead to more chances and get results.

“If we can bring similar displays into the last four games, we’ll pick up more points. I don’t know how it will turn out when you see how the table is. All we can do is try to keep putting in performances to win one game. There’ll be more twists and turns and we have to dig in and give ourselves a chance of a strong finish. It’s important to be attached to the top end of the table, it can change in an instant.

“We’re playing the champions in waiting. It’s a tough game without doubt and a new challenge to take on. But it’s a one-off game. We got a point there last year and we had to really dig in. I’ve said to the boys that we need a big effort to finish off this season to make sure we stay away from the bottom and get up as high as we can. It would be a great result for us to come away with something and I do feel we can do it certainly. We’ll go there with that belief.”

Sligo Rovers send our condolences to the family of Robbie Brunton following his sad passing at the age of 47.

Robbie played for the Bit O’ Red over two seasons, 1994-1995 and 1995-1996, and certainly made a big impression on our supporters.

He played 60 matches and scored three goals.

He was part of the Rovers side which beat Floriana in our first ever European victory, and also helped us to two FAI Cup semi-finals and a League Cup final.

A talented full-back, he was at the beginning of a great career in our league. Robbie’s committed performances

In the 1994–1995 season he was voted Rovers player of the year, named in the league team of the season and also nominated for the PFAI Young Player of the Year award.

We will remember Robbie’s performances at the club fondly and his great contribution to a memorable time for the Bit O’ Red.

Our thoughts are with his wife Celine and his family and friends.

Ryan De Vries’ winner three minutes from time moved Sligo Rovers into fourth spot in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division as they edged past Derry City at the Showgrounds.

The New Zealander’s goal was reward for Liam Buckley’s side who shaded a closely fought contest and claimed their first win in four.

Having gone three games without finding the net, there were a few hairy moments for Sligo early on.

Goalkeeper Ed McGinty spilled Adam Hamill’s second minute corner, but had stand-in centre half Garry Buckley to thank when the Corkman swept the ball to safety with City dangerman Walter Figueira close-by.

Rovers’ hearts were in mouths again five minutes later when their defence allowed another Hamill corner flash across the face of the home goalmouth.

While Jack Malone fired Derry’s next effort across the target 22 minutes in after good work from Figueira through the middle.

Rovers slowly grew into this tie but struggled to find that telling decisiveness in the final third.

Ronan Coughlan thought he might have had a spot kick on the half hour when he felt the hand of a Derry defender on his back as he challenged to get on the end of a Regan Donelon cross.

Referee Neil Doyle didn’t entertain Sligo’s limited calls for a penalty before the ball finally fell to Jesse Devers. The Ballina native slicing his half volley high and wide over Pete Cherrie’s goal.

Rovers’ top scorer Coughlan should have had his fifth league goal of the season nine minutes from the break.

The busy Devers saw his initial volley pushed away by Cherrie. The ball landed to Coughlan who, from three yards, could only strike it off the already grounded goalkeeper.

Former Derry attacker Junior showed some silky touches to pull off a series of one-twos with Coughlan on 54. The latter squared for Niall Morahan who dragged the ball wide of Cherrie’s post with an unconvincing strike.

Cherrie got in the way of Donelon’s attempt shortly after when the full back aimed for the bottom corner. While City skipper Conor McCormack couldn’t make the most of the space in front of him when he shot wide from a quickly taken free 30 yards out.

Derry substitute Steven Mallon went close from the angle on 64 as both sides continued in search of an opener.

It was then the visitor’s turn to spurn a clear goal-scoring chance when the sliding Figueira knocked the ball against the woodwork, after Ibrahim Meite’s squared ball had left the Londoner facing an empty net.

Declan Devine’s charges were to regret that miss when Sligo struck for the winner soon after.

City failed to clear their lines as Alex Cooper’s swerving cross was allowed make its way towards Cherrie’s back post. De Vries on hand to nod home for his third goal of the year.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Darragh Noone, Teemu Penninkangas, Garry Buckley, Regan Donelon (Alex Cooper 80); Niall Morahan, Will Seymore; Jesse Devers (Lewis Banks 84), Ryan De Vries, Junior; Ronan Coughlan.

Derry City: Peter Cherrie; Darren Cole, Eoin Toal, Cameron McJannett, Ciaran Coll; Conor McCormack, Jake Dunwoody (Ciaron Harkin 84); Adam Hamill; Jack Malone (Steven Mallon 60), James Akintunde (Ibrahim Meite 73), Walter Figueira.

Referee: Neil Doyle

Sligo Rovers play their penultimate home game of the season against Derry City at The Showgrounds. The match is live on #WATCHLOI and Ocean FM.

Rovers were defeated 1-0 by Waterford in a close game on Saturday evening. As a result the Bit O’ Red are sixth in the table, with City three points behind. 

This game is brought forward from 11 October due to international call-ups. No other date was available for the fixture. 

Danny Kane (ankle), Darren Collins (ankle), Sigitas Olberkis (hamstring) and Johnny Dunleavy (knee) are out. David Cawley will serve a one-game ban. 

Liam Buckley said: “It was a fantastic goal out of nothing that won the game, a brilliant strike and they didn’t trouble us much thereafter. It was their only really chance. We huffed and puffed, we made some openings, we could have produced more. You need a bit of luck and it just didn’t fall for us. I thought we could have got the draw but it didn’t happen for us. It was frustrating, but we’re still in there. I said to the players that we have no time or reason to look back on that game and feel sorry for ourselves. We’ve got five matches to try to win, we’re looking at every game as must-win because of what it can do. You see St Pat’s moving up with one win, how close Derry were to joining them last Friday.

“They would have felt aggrieved with a draw against Bohs so to lose the game must have been tough to take. They were the better side. Both teams will see this game as a chance to be better and get the points. 

“We got to keep focused, in this context it doesn’t matter how quick the games get thrown at us. We’ve got five games to get the points we need to take us up the table and we’ll give it our all on Tuesday to do so.”

Matthew Smith’s stunning goal was enough for a 1-0 win for Waterford over Sligo Rovers in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division this evening at the RSC.

Smith’s volley flew into the top corner after nine minutes and was enough to give Fran Rockett his first win as manager. Rovers had most of the play thereafter, but were largely ineffective and Waterford saw it out comfortably to move into third position in the table.

The home side made two changes from the 6-1 defeat to Shamrock Rovers on Monday. Michael O’Connor departed for Ross County this week, so Niall O’Keeffe started. Will Fitzgerald was also included at the expense of Kurtis Byrne. 

Sligo opted for a much more attacking line-up after failing to  score in their last two games. Ryan De Vries, Alex Cooper and Niall Morahan came in to the side, with Will Seymore, Jesse Devers and Teemu Penninkangas dropping to the bench. Garry Buckley lined out at centre-half. 

It was a tepid opening to the game, which was brought to life by Smith’s opener.

Ali Coote’s knockdown fell into the path of the former Dundee United forward and he gave Ed McGinty no chance in the Sligo goal. 

Sligo’s best opening of the period came when Alex Cooper dispossessed Oluwatunmise Sobowale and was in on goal. 

The winger went around Brian Murphy but the angle meant he couldn’t shoot and the cross was cleared away by the Waterford defence. 

Liam Buckley’s men looked dangerous without creating any great chances, Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe was prevented from shooting by Murphy after David Cawley’s crisp pass on 28 minutes. 

Tyreke Wilson’s free-kick went over McGinty’s crossbar with 10 minutes left in the half and then a neat Sligo move involving five players ended with Cawley powering a cross into the box, but there wasn’t a red and white shirt there to convert. 

Ronan Coughlan’s best moment in the game came just 25 seconds into the second half as he advanced towards goal, cut onto his left foot and shot straight at Murphy who parried it away. 

Sligo had come out firing, it was Ryan De Vries’ turn next as he got in behind and tried to pick out one of three team-mates arriving into the box. Again, it didn’t land for the visitors, in what was a theme for the evening. 

Will Fitzgerald had a rare opening for Waterford as he was unmarked when Wilson crossed. However, he failed to get a proper connection on the head and it trickled wide. 

Sligo built a head of steam and were really pressurising a strongly-performing Waterford defence. Ronan Murray and Jesse Devers were introduced, Junior’s overhead kick failed to connect with just Murphy to beat and Regan Donelon couldn’t convert the follow-up. 

While it looked life Sligo were going to lay siege in the final 15 minutes, it certainly didn’t materialise as Waterford grew more into the game and comfortably saw it out, Buckley’s men creating no further chances of note. 

Sligo must now regroup for a must-win game against Derry City on Tuesday, while Waterford face the same opposition three days later, knowing they are now in pole position to repeat their finish of the 2018 season, and possibly challenge Dundalk for third position. 

Waterford: Brian Murphy; Oluwatunmise Sobowakle, Jake Davidson, Robbie McCourt, Tyreke Wilson; Alistair Coote, Robert Weir John Martin (Kurtis Byrne 71); Niall O’Keeffe (Shane Griffin 74), Matthew Smith, William Fitzgerald (Will Longbottom 84).

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty, Lewis Banks, Kyle Callan-McFadden, Garry Buckley, Regan Donelon; Niall Morahan, David Cawley, Ryan De Vries (Jesse Devers 70); Alex Cooper (Ronan Murray 70), Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe (Darragh Noone 84), Ronan Coughlan.