Sligo Rovers will permit 50 supporters to attend next Tuesday’s SSE Airtricity Premier Division match against Waterford FC in The Showgrounds.

The Bit O’ Red will contact 50 season ticket holders who have applied for the Waterford game and they will be in The Showgrounds for the first home game since the restart.

The 50 supporters will be contacted in the next 48 hours.

A ticketing system will be in operation on the night.

The club will take contact details, a new entrance system will be in place at the Showgrounds office and identification will also be requested.

Supporters must wear masks on entry and in the ground. Strict social distancing measures will be in place.  

The club will also permit the same number of fans for the match with Shelbourne, but it will be a different set of 50 fans in order to satisfy as many fans possible.

A total of 200 people can attend the event but this includes players, coaches, officials and match night events.

That figure is just under 150.

No other person will be allowed access to the stadium.

Season ticket holders who are not successful in the ballot can apply to stream the game for free via a complimentary season pass for WatchLOI.ie

Non season ticket holders can purchase at WatchLOI.ie

Sligo Rovers are thrilled to announce the signing of Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe, top scorer in the SSE Airtricity League last season, for the remainder of the 2020 campaign.

The striker moves from Israeli Premier League club Hapoel Hadera and will join Rovers pending work permit and international clearance.

Junior scored 14 goals in the 2019 Premier Division with Derry City, impressing throughout the season during a loan move from former club Colchester United.

He moves to Sligo for the remainder of this season, and will join his team-mates following a two-week period of quarantine.

Junior said: “I’m very happy to be back in the League of Ireland. I really liked the league here and I’m excited by the challenge of coming to Sligo Rovers. I know they haven’t picked up the results wanted at the start of the season and there’s only 14 games to play. I’m looking to take it step by step and win a few games as soon as we can.

“It has been a frustrating year for me. I left Israel when the league was stopped due to Covid-19 and I just wanted to be closer to home. When the offer came in to be back in the League of Ireland, it appealed to me.

“I remember Sligo were tough opponents. My time at Derry was great, getting to Europe and there is good football played in Ireland. This spell I hope to get more goals and help Sligo get up the table for the next months. I’m very keen to be back on the pitch as soon as possible.”

Liam Buckley said: “It’s a very good signing for us I feel, we’re looking for Junior to come in and hit the ground running as soon as he’s eligible to be involved.

“We have some good options in the forward area, Junior can play across the front three and he scored some very good goals last season. I remember in particular he did well against us, so we’re very aware of his talent.

“We know he can be a very good player in this league and we want him to have the same impact here that he had with Derry City.

“The Israeli League is a good standard and I think he would have showed his ability there if Covid-19 hadn’t changed the landscape. It is to our benefit that he wanted to come back to these shores so I’m delighted he is a Sligo Rovers player now.

“We’re still in the market, but there is nothing further to say on that right now. We have a friendly on Saturday in Galway and we’re gearing up for next Friday’s game in Derry. Every game is going to be very important and we’ll need to be ready for a hard game.”

Below are some questions that we believe fans will ask following the release of the platform;

Do Sligo Rovers profit from this?

Yes, the club receives a share of the revenue split between all league clubs

Do I get a free pass if I’m a season ticket holder?

Yes, all Sligo Rovers season ticket holders must apply through here between now and Thursday 30 July.

How much is the FAI making from this?

€0, the FAI is covering all production costs and all revenue from the platform will be split between the clubs.

I only want to watch Sligo Rovers; can I just buy a club pass?

No, currently you can purchase a season pass which will give you access to all league matches shown on the platform or you can purchase access on a match-by-match basis for just €5.

Will every league match be shown on the platform?

On the Island of Ireland, all matches apart from those shown live on Eir Sport are available via the platform. Outside the Island of Ireland, every match is available.

If I’m a non season ticket holder, what do I do?

Buy a season pass or a per game at €5 on WatchLOI.ie

Will the matches that are shown live on EirSport be available to watch in Northern Ireland?

Yes, you will be able to watch them via EirSport. They will not be available on WATCHLOI.

Is the current league fixture list correct?

No, the time and day of matches will be reviewed constantly to best suit streaming, live TV and the clubs. Fixtures have been set for the first few weeks and the following weeks will be reviewed in due course.

I am not based on the Island of Ireland, do I still pay €55?

No, you will pay €69 or $79USD as you will have access to more matches than those in Ireland.

How many cameras will be at each game?

Unless the match is also being broadcast on TV, there will most likely be one camera at each match, but some games will have a two-camera setup.

Who are the commentators?

The commentators are being provided by RTÉ and most will be easily recognizable to league fans.

Will matches be available for catchup on the platform?

Yes all matches will be available until after the end of the season.

Can I access my account from any device?

Yes

Can I watch on mobile?

Yes

If I live in Ireland and I travel abroad, can I still access my account?

Yes, you will have access for what you signed up for

WATCHLOI, the SSE Airtricity League’s new streaming platform, is now live.

WATCHLOI was showcased at a media event today in Fuel Studios on Camden Street, Dublin. It is the league’s first-ever streaming service which will deliver SSE Airtricity League Premier Division football to all supporters in Ireland and around the world.

Sligo Rovers season ticket holders can apply for a free pass here, paid for by the club.

Non season-ticket holders can purchase via WatchLOI.ie

The Football Association of Ireland and RTE Sport, in collaboration with GAAGO, have partnered to deliver a world class streaming platform which will guarantee supporters can watch the #GreatestLeagueInTheWorld wherever they are on watchloi.ie.

Each Premier Division fixture, as well as selected Extra.ie FAI Cup matches, will be live streamed with RTE Sport’s cameras and commentary team set to create a fantastic production for supporters to enjoy.

Season passes went on sale this morning on the watchloi.ie platform at just €55 for supporters in Ireland and €69 for the rest of the world. It will be the perfect way for supporters to support their club with revenue created set to go to each club and with over 55+ matches set to be on the platform, it is also great value.

The SSE Airtricity League is set to restart on Friday, July 31 with Derry City v Sligo Rovers to be the first match streamed on the platform, kick-off at 5.45pm.

“We’re absolutely delighted to launch our new streaming service, WATCHLOI,” said FAI Commercial & Marketing Director Mark Russell.

“Working with RTE Sport and GAAGO will guarantee that we will have a best-in-class product which SSE Airtricity League supporters will be able to enjoy around the world.

“Especially with COVID-19 restrictions, this is the ideal time to launch this service but with the revenue it will generate for the clubs, this is also a major moment for the league and a fantastic opportunity to promote and enhance the domestic game in Ireland.”

Declan McBennett, Group Head of Sport, RTÉ said: “In these uncertain times, when dedicated fans are unable to attend games in large numbers, we are delighted to bring the games directly to them via WatchLOI. 

“This is a chance for the whole of the Irish footballing family to get behind the SSE Airtricity League and lend their support in every way to the clubs as the heartbeat of the association.”

Sligo Rovers are now accepting applications from season ticket holders to attend matches in August.

The games are:

Tuesday 4th August vs Waterford – 7:45pm
Saturday 8th August vs Shelbourne – 5pm
Saturday 22nd August vs Dundalk – 5pm

How to apply:

Click here to apply and submit the form with all details filled out.

Applications will close on Thursday 23rd July at 1pm. We wish to remind supporters that we will be adhering to guidelines from the HSE and FAI.

How we deal with submissions: 

Following the result of the submissions, the club will randomly allocate season ticket holders to each game. Season ticket holders can apply for multiple games but after a successful application, the queue is reordered. This will ensure as many season tickets holders as possible can benefit.

Super Reds will also be included but must tie-in with parental or family season ticket passes. 

Our online submission form will ask what type of season ticket you hold, whether Super Reds tickets are tied in with family or adult tickets, in order for us best to deal with your request.

Inevitably demand will outweigh supply as the number of season ticket holders the club has far exceeds our permitted capacity. 

We feel this is the fairest way to deal with the issue and allow greatest control on hosting safe matches in The Showgrounds. 

What do I do if I’m successful in the ballot?

Supporters will be contacted at least a week from the fixture to see if they still wish to attend. 

Safety guidelines will be published on our website in advance of the game and we will also seek contact info and be in touch on game week.

Streaming passes:

Applications for free season passes for streaming for all season ticket holders will open on Friday afternoon.

Attending matches  – Please note all is subject to change: 

If phase 4 of the government Covid-19 roadmap proceeds as planned, a limited number of people can be in The Showgrounds for our first three league matches. 

These are:

Tuesday 4 August vs Waterford – 7:45pm

Saturday 8 August vs Shelbourne – 5pm

Saturday 22 August vs Dundalk – 5pm

It is hoped that more can attend later in the year. A decision on matches after 31 August will be taken in line with FAI and government advice.

Players, match officials, club volunteers, visiting officials and all personnel key to running a match event at The Showgrounds will be part of the number of permitted attendance.

As a result, in terms of supporters attending for our first three games, the number will be very limited. A final league wide guideline is awaited in line with HSE recommendations. 

How it is distributed: 

The club are extremely fortunate to benefit from many loyal supporters.

Following a meeting of the management committee, it was felt imperative in this scenario to prioritise all 2020 season ticket holders for the division of match tickets for games. 

Other factors will not enter into how tickets are distributed. 

From this week we will ask season ticket holders to apply online to attend our first three games. That portal will open in the next 48 hours. Again we must state there is no guarantee of supporters being allowed to attend.

Season ticket holders who do not apply will still be contacted by the club but we encourage all season tickets holders to use the online method and provide contact details in order to make the process as fast as possible for the club.

We are particularly mindful of those who do not access our media channels so please encourage fellow season tickets holders to log online. 

Only season ticket holders will be eligible to apply to attend matches. 

How we deal with submissions: 

Following the result of the submissions, the club will randomly allocate season ticket holders to each game. Season ticket holders can apply for multiple games but after a successful application, the queue is reordered. This will ensure as many season tickets holders as possible can benefit.

Super Reds will also be included but must tie-in with parental or family season ticket passes. 

Our online submission form will ask what type of season ticket you hold, whether Super Reds tickets are tied in with family or adult tickets, in order for us best to deal with your request.

Inevitably demand will outweigh supply as the number of season ticket holders the club has far exceeds our permitted capacity. 

We feel this is the fairest way to deal with the issue and allow greatest control on hosting safe matches in The Showgrounds. 

What do I do if I’m successful in the ballot?

Supporters will be contacted at least a week from the fixture to see if they still wish to attend. 

Safety guidelines will be published on our website in advance of the game and we will also seek contact info and be in touch on game week.

Streaming:

The club will purchase a streaming pass for all Sligo Rovers home and away matches for our season ticket holders in order to watch the Bit O’ Red in action. This is at a cost of thousands of euro. 

There will be no charge to our season ticket holders for this pass. They must apply for the pass, we will post on www.sligorovers.com this week on how to apply. After Tuesday 28 July, this offer will no longer be available. No exceptions will be made. Households with multiple season tickets will be asked to apply for one pass.

Non-season tickets holders will be able to purchase the pass for a fee, to be confirmed next week.  

Message from Management Committee:

We will try continue to accommodate all our fans as best we can within the current restrictions. That is not easy in the current circumstances but we hope the combination of free streaming for all our matches including away fixtures and limited home attendance will appeal to our season ticket holders.We will continue to operate within the guidelines as the situation changes and will update supporters regularly.

Finally, a huge thank you from the club for the tremendous support for the Gofundme appeal organised by the Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust, it really demonstrates what the club means to people and is a massive help in filling the big financial gap we have been left with. 

Sligo Rovers Management Committee

Sligo Rovers will play in the first game of the resumed SSE Airtricity League of Ireland on Friday 31 July against Derry City at 5:45pm in the Ryan McBride Brandywell.

In a busy opening week, Rovers then play at home on Tuesday 4 August at 7:45pm in The Showgrounds.

On Saturday 8 August, Shelbourne are the visitors to Sligo for a 5pm kick-off.

The new match times are for streaming purposes. Full fixtures are available here.

Sligo Rovers have received a bye into the second round of the Extra.ie FAI Cup.

Rovers were one of the 13 clubs to receive a bye to the second round of the competition, due to the shortened 2020 season format. 

The teams to receive a bye were drawn first. Rovers were fifth out of the draw.

St. Patrick’s Athletic will travel to Finn Harps, Cork City take on Longford Town at Turner’s Cross. 

Dundalk will face Waterford. 

Extra.ie FAI Cup – First Round Draw

Cork City v Longford Town
Dundalk v Waterford
Finn Harps v St. Patrick’s Athletic

Byes

Athlone Town
Bohemians
Bray Wanderers
Cabinteely
Cobh Ramblers
Derry City
Drogheda United
Galway United
Shamrock Rovers
Shelbourne
Sligo Rovers
UCD AFC 
Wexford

Sligo Rovers recorded a 1-0 win over Galway United last Sunday in their first friendly game ahead of the resumption of the SSE Airtricity League season.

The match was played behind closed doors in The Showgrounds.

Rovers were without nine players for the match. Teemu Penninkangas, Will Seymore, Ryan De Vries, Alex Cooper and Lewis Banks are quarantining until Wednesday, while John Mahon, Johnny Dunleavy, Danny Kane and Ronan Murray are injured.

Garry Buckley played at centre-half for the Bit O’ Red – the same role in which he played in the match before the league was shutdown against Shamrock Rovers.

Fit again Regan Donelon played at left-back, while Scott Lynch was at right-back.

Another IT Sligo student, Mark Byrne, started on the left side for Rovers.

Galway started the half the better but it was the home side that created the most chances in the first period.

In the 14^th minute Byrne played the ball down the left side for Coughlan. The striker held his run to remain onside and checked back onto his right side, but the shot was blocked. Jesse Devers took possession, beat his man and crossed for Byrne, but Galway goalkeeper Kevin Horgan was equal to the header.

Five minutes later David Cawley chipped the ball over the top for Coughlan who attempted to lob Horgan in the goal, however his effort went wide of the post as Rovers attacked the Pet Stop stand.

Cawley teed up Darragh Noone when the Mayo man picked up the loose ball from a set piece. Noone pointed to where he wanted the ball 15 yards from goal and it was a fine pass by his fellow midfielder. The shot was just over the crossbar.

The best move of the half came on 22 minutes as Callan-McFadden played a confident pass from halfway which Noone turned and ran towards goal. He found Byrne on the left side, surrounded by Galway players, with Donelon running on to support. The left-back gave it to Coughlan on the edge of the box, who spun and shot and at a second attempt sent an overhead kick just above the crossbar.

Francely Lomboto sent a ball across the Rovers six yard area on 33 minutes as Galway threatened on the break.

Farragher headed a Jesse Devers cross out for a corner when Noone and Coughlan were waiting at the back post three minutes later.

Horgan had to be alert to tip over Donelon’s free-kick which was a cross aimed towards goal.

The best opening of the half came down the right side again with Devers. He slid the ball across the area which couldn’t get a touch on. A Galway defender looked to have made contact with the Rovers striker, but the referee waved play on.

Rovers spent the half-time break on the pitch for social-distancing reasons. Galway made eight changes for the second half, including former Bit O’ Red players Michael Schlingermann and Vinny Faherty.

Darragh Noone was pushing further up the field for Rovers. Galway had the best opening of the a quiet first 15 minutes of the second period.

Carlton Ubaezuonu was causing some problems on the left side and he produced a lovely cross for Faherty to head over. The veteran striker was furious with himself as it was a glaring opening.

Rovers would then go ahead. The move start at the back as Scott Lynch sent it down the channel, Noone showed good composure to see Cawley who dinked it over the United backline for Devers in space.

The former Galway player sent in a sublime first-time cross for Mark Byrne to come rushing on to and he beat Schlingermann from close range for his first senior goal.

Darren Collins of the Under-19s and Darragh Reilly – an Under-17 player and former captain of the Republic of Ireland Under-16s, were introduced for Devers and Lynch on 62 minutes.

Reilly slotted in at right-back to make his senior debut at just 16 years of age.

There was little other incident in the second period. Garry Buckley shot from 25 yards which was comfortable for Schlingermann. Rovers were in retreat for the closing stages and had a very youthful side – as well as tiring – with Liam Buckley unable to make wholesale changes due to so many absentees.

The lively Byrne played a brilliant ball through for Coughlan, who saw his attempt to beat the final man thwarted as it was sent out for a corner which Buckley just missed out on.  

Schlingermann was injured later on, hobbling on his ankle, so striker Faherty had to go in goal for United for the closing stages as they finished with 10 men.

The teams could meet again in this pre-season, with Liam Buckley’s men set to play two more games.

Sligo Rovers team: Ed McGinty, Scott Lynch (Darragh Reilly 62), Garry Buckley (Johnny Dunleavy 75), Kyle Callan-McFadden, Regan Donelon; David Cawley (Kailin Barlow 81), Niall Morahan, Darragh Noone; Mark Byrne, Jesse Devers (Darren Collins 62); Ronan Coughlan.