Sligo Rovers Heritage Group have published a special 12 page Christmas supplement in The Sligo Champion, out now.
Included are features on soccer in Sligo during Christmas of 1894, an Irish Independent preview of 1939 FAI Cup Final, a piece on the recent award winning Rovers documentary, and an extract from Paul Little’s forthcoming book on Dixie Dean, focusing on his time in Sligo.
For more buy the Sligo Champion hard copy or subscribe to the e-paper at www.sligochampion.ie
Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce the signing of winger Karl O’Sullivan from Finn Harps on a two-year contract.
The 22-year-old has made over 100 club appearances between Harps and his former club Limerick.
O’Sullivan has scored several goals against Rovers, including a double for Limerick in an FAI Cup tie, and now joins the Bit O’ Red.
He said: “I’m thrilled to be here. I’ve been speaking with Liam for the last couple of months and he told me what he felt I could bring to the team. As an opposition player you would dread coming to Sligo and especially when they are going well. There is a great atmosphere in The Showgrounds and the club has a very big following. I’m hoping to chip in with goals and assists from as early as possible.
“I’ve played everywhere with Harps and Limerick but I feel winger is my strongest position. It’s a fresh start for me. I really enjoyed my time with Finn Harps, everyone at the club is brilliant. I’ve been putting the work in this month in order to ready for pre-season and I can hit the ground running here. I’m very excited to play for the club and in the last two seasons Liam has led the team to the top four which is what you want. There’s European football as well so I can’t wait to get started.”
Manager Liam Buckley said: “It’s another really good addition. We’ve looked at areas we wanted to improve on and they include getting more balls into the box and having better deliveries.
“Karl will bring those qualities and I feel he comes to us at a good age. Despite just turning 22 a couple of months ago, he has had several seasons in the league and we’ve tracked him since his Limerick days. I think he will make an impact and he will fit in well with within the group. It’s great competition in the squad to bring in Karl and Will Fitzgerald. Our overall goal has been to build a stronger group and I feel we will do that. This is another good step in that direction and we look forward to working with Karl.”
The Annual Draw for 2021 took place this evening at The Showgrounds with ten entrants drawn by Senior Men’s team player John Mahon and Women’s Under 17 & 19 star Nola Eivers.
The draw took place in the presence of peace commissioner Thomas Cummins and members of An Garda Siochana in The Bit O Red Supporters Trust Clubhouse.
The first prize drawn was €5,000 which went to Kathleen Henry from Ballintogher. A massive congratulations to Kathy from all at Sligo Rovers.
Second prize was a €500 PetStop Discount Warehouse voucher which went to David Ronayne, c/o Clifford Electrical, Sligo. We wish to thank John McKeon for sponsoring this prize.
Third prize went to Michael Lyng from Kilkenny who wins a one night B&B at our partner Clayton Hotels in Liffey Valley. Huge thanks to Delatta Group and Clayton Hotels for this prize.
The €250 voucher for Harvey’s Point was won by Evan O’ Neill, c/o Sally Gardens with Hugh Pitt, Carlow winning a Sligo Rovers 2022 Season Ticket.
Ex Bit O’ Red academy player Jordon Loftus won two premium level tickets to a Republic of Ireland international in 2022 while Ray Gallagher from Strandhill Road won two tickets to a Liverpool FC game at Anfield.
A Kate’s Kitchen hamper sponsored by Andy Dodd was won by Paul Walsh in Clogher, Mayo.
The final two prizes went to Reuben Mortyn from Rosses Point who wins a Sligo Rovers jersey and Ian Shovlin from Maugheraboy who takes home a Republic of Ireland jersey.
We wish to thank all Bit O’ Red Supporters for once again contributing massively to this important fundraiser.
Special thanks must go to Mark Cummins and the rest of The Sligo Rovers management committee who spent the last couple of months distributing tickets to friends and family and fellow supporters.
The final total raised was €49, 660.
List of winners:
1st: Kathleen Henry, Ballintogher
2nd: David Ronayne, c/o Clifford Electrical, Sligo
3rd: Michael Lyng, Lyng Motors, Kilkenny
4th: Evan O’ Neill, Sally Gardens
5th: Hugh Pitt, c/o Sheehy Motors, Carlow
6th: Jordon Loftus, Castlebar, Mayo
7th: Ray Gallagher, Strandhill Road, Sligo
8th: Paul Walsh, Clogher, Mayo
9th: Reuben Martyn, Rosses Point, Sligo
10th: Ian Shovlin, Maugheraboy, Sligo
All winners will be contacted in due course regarding their prizes.
Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce the signing of defender Paddy Kirk.
The left-back, formerly of Longford Town and Bohemians, had an excellent season at Longford.
Kirk is 23 and spent three years at Bohs before moving to the midlanders in search of being a first-team regular.
He becomes the second new signing for the club.
Kirk said: “It’s a great move for me. The opportunity to come to a club like Sligo Rovers was one I had to take really. I’m really looking forward to it. I spoke to people about the town and they said it’s brilliant. It’s exciting and while it will be different, it’ll be part of the challenge and something I’m looking forward to.
“I met with Liam Buckley a couple of times and he told me how much he rated me and the attributes I had. He said he felt I could improve the team and that the most important thing was to have the most rounded team possible. He feels bringing me in will help it. It was a nice after a tough year to get that.
“When I was at Bohs I was in competition with Darragh Leahy and Anto Breslin so competition is something I’m used to. It helps to improve your game, such as your application in training, when you have so many good players around you.
“The opportunity to be full-time in Sligo was particularly appealing. It’s not just that at Sligo Rovers, it’s the fact the club has been in the top four for a couple of seasons now. There’s a hunger to improve and the manager has told me he wants to be right up there again. There’s no reason it can’t be better again next season and that is something I wanted to be part of.”
Liam Buckley said: “I think Paddy is a real talent. He broke in at Bohs as a teenager and did well there before joining at Longford. He joins us at a really good time and while last season was a difficult one for his club, Paddy showed the character and qualities he has.
“It’s a signing that strengthens us significantly. We want firstly a bigger squad and secondly greater balance this coming season. Paddy will bring that competition and equally we know other players, like Robbie McCourt or our other full-backs, can slot in elsewhere. That’s another positive of this signing because the four full-backs give us a degree of flexibility.
“When I look through all of our defenders, they’re physically strong, they can play, obviously most importantly they’re top class defenders and they’re good on the ball. Paddy fits very much into that mould.
“We’re really looking forward to working with Paddy next season.”
Sligo Rovers can confirm John Mahon has signed a new two-year contract with the club.
The recently-turned 22-year-old has made over 100 appearances for the club and was voted Player of the Season in 2021.
Mahon’s contract had 12 months remaining but has now penned a longer deal to the end of the 2023 season.
He made his senior debut in April 2017 after playing for the Under-17 and Under-19 side having signed from Ballisodare United.
He was Young Player of the Year for the club in 2018, first-choice defender in 2019, helped Rovers reach Europe in the 2020 season and did so again this campaign when voted the Player of the Year.
Mahon said: “I had one year remaining but I spoke with my family and my agent and I felt it was going to benefit me and the club to extend my contract.
“When I broke my leg, I had the security of the longer contract and that meant a lot at that time. From that experience I know it’s important and most of all I don’t want the distraction when we have such important matters on the pitch. I can focus on my football and not have it an issue for anyone.
“I have a desire to go on to play outside of the League of Ireland and I hope to complete that one day. For now my ambition is to help Rovers win things. We’ve made progress, we can all see that by being in the top four for two seasons, but silverware is the overall target now.”
Mahon was the outstanding player in 2021 and is looking to repeat his own high standards.
“It could have gone to a number of players. As the season was coming to an end I had completed what I wanted to do and that was to play almost every game and do well so it was great. The likes of Ed, Niall and myself are still young but we are getting older too and we see the likes of Johnny Kenny stepping into our shoes now.
“We want to take on that extra responsibility that comes with it and all of the lads have contributed massively.”
Manager Liam Buckley said: “John has had a great season once again. He is a leader in the team and a really strong character.
“His partnership with Garry Buckley was superb. John has been first choice from my first day at the club and he fully deserves this contract. We know John is proven at this level and has the potential to play at a higher one so securing him on this deal is the best way both for the club and John.
“There are a lot of top class centre halves in the league and John is right up there, as is Garry. Given he has just turned 22, that’s a great place for John to be and I know he has a desire to get better and better.
“We want him winning trophies for Sligo Rovers and I believe he can do that.”
Sligo Rovers will begin the new SSE Airtricity Premier Division season at home to Bohemians on Saturday 19 February.
The Bit O’ Red host the Gypsies for the fixture as Rovers begin the new campaign at home.
Two away matches will follow – Derry City and St Patrick’s Athletic.
The matches with Derry City and Finn Harps are the midweek rounds in the new league year. In order to facilitate this, the season will not run
International breaks replace the mid-season break.
The league will finish on 4 November also against Bohemians.
Sligo Rovers season tickets are on sale now here.
We are currently on the look out for a new Primary Sponsor for our Women’s Under 17 team that will compete in the Women’s National Under 17 League in 2022.
The team will play in their fourth season next year and will be our youngest female squad at the club with our Under 19 and Senior teams also playing at a national level.
The sponsorship will include a logo on the front of all playing kits for the duration of the deal as well as a pitchside advertising sign at The Showgrounds which would be in place for our Men’s and Women’s league games with added potential for TV and streaming coverage.
The Women’s Under 17 Season is set to begin in February or March 2022.
For full details you can email colinfeehily@sligorovers.com
Our monthly 500 Club draw took place this week with our 500 Club Committee drawing 11 names from it’s members list, each of who have won a cash prize.
The winner of €500 was Stephen Gilroy from Tonaphubble. Stephen has been a loyal club volunteer for many years and is a fully deserved winner.
Full list of winners:
€500 – Stephen Gilroy, Tonaphubble
€100 – Alberto Conz, Newtown Abbey, Co Antrim
€100 – Barbara McLynn, Old Market St, Sligo
€100 – Blaine Gaffney, Summerhill Village
€100 – Declan McGarragly, Rathcormac, Sligo
€100 – David Taylor, Dunally, Sligo
€100 – Stephen Crossan, Woodtown Lodge, Sligo
€100 – Liam Rooney, 4 Lynndale, Sligo
€100 – Alan Fox, Rathmines, Dublin
€100 – Greg McCullagh, Coolaney, Sligo
€100 – Paddy Colgan, Mullingar, Westmeath.
Congratulations to all our winners in December.
You can enter our 500 club for as little as around €5 per week. You can enter here https://srfcdirect.com/fundraising/500-club/
Sligo Rovers chairman Tommy Higgins has welcomed the appointment of Steve Feeney to the role of women’s manager.
Feeney has been recruited from Ballinamallard to be in charge of the side and will shortly build a backroom team.
The Rovers CEO has heralded the appointment amid an exciting time for the women’s game.
“Steve is greatly admired in football in Sligo and I believe this is a wonderful appointment for the club.
“The position is a coveted one – a historic first senior women’s manager of Sligo Rovers – and in Steve we have a respected figure who is already a hugely talented coach. He has experience of several years at Ballinamallard and their disappointment in losing him speaks volumes about what a great acquisition it is for Sligo Rovers.
“This is a first managerial step for Steve and while we understand the job is going to take a lot of work in these early years, we will support him in whatever way we can.
“Steve’s remit as he takes on the job will simply be to develop the team, transition the players into senior football and be competitive. Conor O’Grady will work with Steve and the academy coaches as they grow the female side of the club. The potential is enormous and our players now have what we believe will be a fantastic manager.”
Sligo Rovers head of academy Conor O’Grady will liase with Feeney, along with CEO Colin Feehily, as they develop the side.
Sligo Rovers head of academy Conor O’Grady: “When I joined the club as head of academy and I spoke to Colin Feehily and the committee about coaches I think would excel at the club, Steve was right up there at the top of the list.
“The position of women’s manager has materialised and I think Steve is the perfect candidate so I’m delighted he has taken the role.
“In the coming days and weeks, both Steve and I and the academy coaches will be covering every base on how we grow the player pool for the senior team. That will include some academy players stepping up to senior obviously and overall I want the pathway of Aaron O’Connor to Darragh Healy to Steve Feeney, ie Under-17 to Senior, joining up together.
“That will start from the very first days and continue forever more.
“I’ve known Steve for a long time as a player in Sligo and we spent a lot of time together with Ballinamallard as well. He’s very intelligent and a deep thinker as a person and a coach. He will fit naturally into the club and his manner will be perfect for the role and especially at the stage we’re at.
“Expectations need to be sensible early on. There will be hard days and our academy girls have done so well since joining the WNL in the last couple of years. We should be very proud of that. The step up to senior is a very different level as you’re facing international players in many games.
“It will take time and as a club we’ll take on the tough early days and keep in mind our overall goal to have a very competitive Sligo Rovers team. It may take several years to grow to where we want to be one day – down the line – and I stress that it will take that time period – challenging amongst the most experienced sides in the country.
“I look forward to working with Steve and linking the academy and senior side for the betterment of football all over the region.”
Steve Feeney has been appointed as the first ever manager of the Sligo Rovers women’s team ahead of their debut season in the Women’s National League.
A former Sligo Rovers player, Feeney has spent the last decade with Ballinamallard as a player and coach.
Whilst playing under Paul Cook in the Showgrounds, he was part of the underage and A team coaching staff as well as taking some senior sessions.
Feeney has coached with Summerhill College and local teams intermittently but following his retirement he became a coach at the Northern Irish side.
Today he has returned to Sligo Rovers as he takes on the task on managing the new Rovers side.
The UEFA ‘A’ licence holder said: “It’s very exciting. It’s my first senior job as a manager so that alone is exciting, but the fact it is Sligo Rovers and the first ever WNL team is something else really.
“It was a privilege to be offered this position. Leaving Ballinamallard was a very tough decision, working under a brilliant manager like Harry McConkey. It was a little bit sad to leave it behind but the opportunity and the challenge here was too appealing to turn down.”
Feeney’s immediate task will be to assemble a Rovers team. Plans have already been made ahead of a series of meetings this week with club staff and officials.
Part of the appeal of the job was the credibility the club had built up in supporting its academy teams and Feeney sees that as a model to build his side.
In recruiting players, he wants ambition to be just as important as talent.
“We need to get a team in place, players signed, before we then move on to pre-season plans. We have a list of players we are going to make contact with imminently.
“We also have the academy players so we’ll be talking to the coaches about who are ready to step up.
“We have our link-up with IT Sligo and I’ll be building relationships there as soon as possible. The scholarship system is brilliant and offering education on top of playing at this level is a massive bonus. It’s a great link-up and I think it could get stronger and stronger if we all work together.
“I think it’s important that it is not just a gesture that Sligo Rovers are going to put a women’s team in the league for the sake of it.
“If you look at the underage system here, it’s a good example of how the club has approached things. At the time it could have just been a licencing necessity and over the years it has been shown that the club has really backed it.
“The girls at the Under-17 and Under-19 are heading in the same way so it’s great now that we have a senior team.
“The league table in the WNL shows a gap between the top three, then a few more, and then the last three. It was a three tier league so we’ll see how we go.
“The big thing for us is to get players on board and find a way of playing that works for us. We have to focus on us and make sure we are competitive in every game. Where we can pick points up, we’ll need to do it. I have no doubt it will be a tough league. But at the same time, it’s a great opportunity and challenge for our players. The top teams will have two or three Irish internationals playing for them.
“Any player who signs for us, they will be facing international players and if that doesn’t excite them, then it probably isn’t for them. We will look at ourselves and push to win points when we can.”
Rovers will play matches in the Showgrounds and Feeney hopes to see supporters get behind the team.
“It would be brilliant to get big crowds and the fact the games are on the main pitch. As well as supporting our own players, we’ll have these big name players in opposition that you would normally only see in Dublin or on TV.
“We hope the Sligo Rovers fans get behind this team from the off and our plan is to make them all proud and the women’s side of the club gets stronger and stronger.”
