Tickets for our final game of the season away to Shamrock Rovers are now on sale.
#bitored fans are asked to note tickets are only available online and will not be available after Thursday
Buy here now: https://www.shamrockrovers.ie/away-fans-tickets/
As Sligo Rovers Football Club prepares to play host to Drogheda United at The Showgrounds on Saturday evening, the club announces its partnership with The Rio Ferdinand Foundation through the International Fund for Ireland Beyond the Ball Project.
Established by former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand, The Rio Ferdinand Foundation has worked across the island of Ireland since 2016, providing mentoring and employment pathways to help young people in disadvantaged communities.
This partnership builds on the work of the Rio Ferdinand Foundation in Sligo, Mayo and Leitrim in recent years, and will form the major hub in the southern border counties for the cross border Beyond the Ball project.
Beyond The Ball is a major partnership between the Rio Ferdinand Foundation and the International Fund for Ireland – bringing young people together across eight counties on the island of Ireland to build shared experiences, undertake training and accreditation, deliver shared social action projects, and engage with policy makers, to shape their own future.
The relationship will also see the Rio Ferdinand Foundation delivery team based in The Showgrounds and deliver community projects and training initiatives for young people in the Sligo / Leitrim region and host events and exchanges with young people and colleagues from Northern Ireland and Britain.
The working partnership announced today with Sligo Rovers, signals a significant step for the Rio Ferdinand Foundation’s work on the Island of Ireland to empower equality and create opportunities for young people.
Speaking on the partnership, Sligo Rovers Football Club Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Feakins said:
“Sligo Rovers Football Club are proud to announce a working partnership with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation. As a community owned club, we see numerous synergies between our organisations and look forward to expanding and creating new outreach programs for young people and adults.
“Using football as a vehicle, we will strive to develop ongoing opportunities to engage a wide variety of people to address racism, inequality and develop inclusion across communities in our region. The love and passion for football transcends boundaries, forges friendships, develops confidence and resilience, builds fitness and positive mental health whilst creating longstanding community integration.”
Rio Ferdinand said: “The Beyond the Ball project is a flagship programme for the work of my Foundation on the Island of Ireland and this new partnership with a club of the stature and reach of Sligo Rovers will add fantastic value to our work.
“Rovers are a community club that share many of our values in tackling inequality, building communities, and providing opportunities for young people and I am proud of the fact that my team will be working alongside the club and its people on this important piece of work.”
Paddy Harte, Chair of the International Fund For Ireland, said:
“Sport undoubtedly has the power to bring people and communities together. It can transform people’s lives, broadening their horizons and providing opportunities to develop friendships that they would not otherwise have been able to do.
“Sport makes it possible to have friends in even the most difficult times, and particularly for young people who get the chance to develop friendships across social and economic divides.”
Sligo Rovers play their final home game of the League of Ireland Premier Division season on Saturday evening against Drogheda United.
The Bit O’ Red play the team directly above in the table with United occupying seventh spot.
Rovers have yet to record a win against Drogs – the latest game finished in a 2-2 draw after John Russell’s side had taken a 2-0 lead.
Reece Hutchinson will have a late fitness test. Greg Bolger and Robbie Burton return from suspension.
Russell said: “We’re very keen to finish off the home season with a win. We want to give our home fans something to smile about after a tough year.
“We know we need a win in one of our final two matches and we’ll certainly be looking to win the game on Saturday.
“Drogheda have had a good season. I felt we should have won the last game when we were the goals ahead and we let that slip.
“Every game we go into, we’re looking to try and win, there’s a game plan, there’s a focus.
“Ultimately, when you cross the white line you have to produce and you have to play well.
“We need to find a big performance like we have had in some of our home games here.
“I wanted a reaction last Monday night and felt we got that with aspects of our performance, even in defeat. We have to take the same level of application and put the chances we create away to get the three points.”
Kick-off is 6pm.
The Minister for Sport, Thomas Byrne TD, will be a guest at Sligo Rovers final home game of the season against Drogheda at the Showgrounds on Saturday night.
A native of Drogheda, his late father, Tommy Byrne, played for Drogheda United in the 1960’s and was player-manager of the club for a time.
During his visit to Sligo the Minister will be given an update on the Sligo Rovers Development Project, including the appointment of a Design Team after Sligo County Council granted planning permission for the plan.
His wife, Ann (Hunt), is a native of Doon, Gurteen Co. Sligo and she has an impressive track-record in sport. She won a Sligo championship with her local Eastern Harps Ladies Gaelic team in the early 1990’s and also played football with Gurteen Celtic at the time.
We look forward to welcoming Minister Byrne to The Showgrounds on Saturday.
Tommy Hewitt will become the new manager of the Sligo Rovers women’s team next month.
Hewitt will take over from Steve Feeney following his decision to step away the role for work and family reasons
The Athlone native was voted SSE Airtricity Manager of the Year in the Women’s Premier Division in 2022 after leading Athlone Town to second in the League and runners-up in the FAI Cup.
He has served as assistant manager with the Athlone Town men’s team and was also head coach with the Irish Defence Forces team at the Military World Games.
He spent four seasons with Athlone’s women side before opting to resign last June.
Speaking this afternoon he said: “I’m very pleased to become manager of Sligo Rovers next month.
“I spoke to the committee and the staff at the club when the opportunity arose. The vision and plan Sligo Rovers have for the women’s area of the club was very impressive.
“First and foremost I want to commend Steve Feeney. When he took over at the formation of the team, I was immediately on the phone to him to wish him well and offer any advice that I could and have done during his time. He has done an absolutely fantastic job over the two seasons.
“The foundations that have been laid are another reason why the job is so appealing.
“I’ve always had the hunger to return to management. I think the break has served me well. I want to build on what has been done already and try to push it on further. For me there is no reason why Sligo Rovers can’t climb the table next season.”
Hewitt retired from playing at 25 due to injury but did play against the club in the 90s to give him some experience of Sligo Rovers.
“I’ve always found The Showgrounds a special place. There’s a really family vibe to the club. You walk in and you feel the history. The club is very well organised, open and always willing to help. They want to back the manager whether it’s the men’s or women’s team. I can see that already because they’ve been very encouraging to try to be as successful as we can in 2024.”
Hewitt had a very fruitful spell with Athlone as manager, becoming their first-ever manager when the team was formed and went on challenge for the two major trophies last year
They won the President’s Cup at the start of this season.
Looking at the Women’s Premier Division overall, he said: “There has been rapid growth and it is exciting times be part of the league.
“There are 11 teams and I feel privileged to be managing a club like Sligo Rovers. It’s a real honour to lead it.
“I know the importance of building on the squad we have here and I will be doing my utmost to do that. That will be my first goal.
“I attend a lot of games in the region so I have seen some matches and I’ve been doing as much research as I can since accepting the role. I will continue to do that when the team play their final two matches, watching on from the stands.”
Steve Feeney, who chairman Tommy Higgins paid tribute to this morning as he stepped away for family reasons, will formally depart on Sunday 11 November.
Again the club wish to thank Steve for helping in the period of transition.
Higgins added: “I’m delighted to welcome Tommy Hewitt to Sligo Rovers. Tommy’s pedigree within the league speaks for itself and we feel he is the ideal candidate for the position.
“We will be supporting Tommy and the players as much as we can to continue to develop the women’s team. He shares our ambition for women’s team but also to develop young players through our academy and he will work with Conor O’Grady on that. I think the 2024 season has great promise with Tommy and the players.”
Sligo Rovers were extremely saddened to learn of the passing of Anthony Connolly earlier this week.
Anthony was a beloved member of the sporting community in Sligo.
His warm sense of humour, contagious laughter and sense of fun made him a popular figure at our matches, those of Sligo GAA and any sporting occasion in the area.
Anthony was also a keen photographer, capturing countless Rovers games over the years.
We extend our sympathy to his family, his friends and the hundreds of people who encountered Anthony in his life, particularly in Riverstown, an area in which he took great pride and was a huge part of.
As well as a photo of Anthony, we also attach a photo he took of Sligo Rovers supporters in Slovakia a decade ago.
We will remember him at Saturday’s home game against Drogheda United, kick-off 6pm.
May he Rest in Peace.
Sligo Rovers can confirm that manager Steve Feeney will step down from his position at the end of the season due to work and family reasons.
Feeney became manager two years ago following the formation of the Bit O’ Red’s team in the Women’s Premier Division.
He quickly assembled a squad of players and recorded a memorable first season, accumulating 20 points and a stunning 3-2 win over the present champions Shelbourne in The Showgrounds.
This season Feeney’s side reached an FAI Cup semi-final with Athlone Town as over 1,100 fans attended a historic occasion in The Showgrounds.
Having laid his name in the history of the club by being the first-ever manager of a Sligo Rovers women’s side in the league, he informed the club of his decision to let 2023 be his last season earlier in the year.
He said: “I spoke to the club a few months back to let them know that I would be stepping down. The role is very demanding and with a young family and a work life I had to acknowledge it would have a certain period that I could commit.
“At the time we came to an agreement to continue for the rest of the season. I wanted to give the club time to find a successor most importantly so that there would be a smooth transition.
“I’m very proud that I managed Sligo Rovers firstly. As a former player and Sligo person I know what it means and that I can say I was a player and manager of the club is very special.
“Secondly I’m very proud of the group of players. The first two years just showed how much the region needed this team. There is a very exciting future ahead for women’s football with the club.
“The players have been brilliant. There is a lot of young players and while you want to develop them as players most importantly, it was also great to see them mature as people as well and gain self-belief and realise they are good enough to compete at this level. They will go on to become better and better.”
Speaking about the influence the team has had so far, he said:
“I’ve got three young girls at home who are always asking me about the team so I know first hand the impact the players and Sligo Rovers women have had.
“We have had some tough lessons this season, at times where we let ourselves down, and it will be a learning season. The FAI Cup run was fantastic and it was a very special occasion in the semi-final. I feel the players can go on to create more big days like that.
“I want to thank my backroom team. They have given up so much of their time and brought a level of expertise that we needed. They’ve gone above and beyond at times and it was greatly appreciated.
“I also want to thank the club as well. They’ve been hugely supportive since day one.”
Sligo Rovers chairman Tommy Higgins said: “When we made the decision to join the Women’s Premier Division, we needed a manager who was not only going to lead a team but also going to lay down a marker for the future of our female division.
“Steve has done a magnificent job. He showed enormous commitment and hard work to not only build the team but also bring so many great players to the club and develop them. Together they achieved some tremendous results over the last two years.
“We owe him a debt of gratitude for creating a high-level environment that is in place for his successor and all of the players both now and in the future.
“On behalf of Sligo Rovers I want to thank him for his great contribution to the club and women’s football in the region.”
Reflecting on his time as manager Steve Feeney concluded “I’ve loved it. Working with a good group of players and management team was hugely enjoyable. The workload was significant but we all shared it as well.
“I will take a break but I certainly hope to return to management in the future when the time is right.”
Sligo Rovers will appoint a new manager shortly.
Sligo Rovers play their final home game of the season against Drogheda United on Saturday in the League of Ireland Premier Division.
Kick-off is the earlier time of 6pm.
Match tickets are available to purchase here.
Sligo Rovers face St Patrick’s Athletic in a re-arranged Premier Division match in Richmond Park on Monday night.
The game was deferred due to the Saints progressing in the FAI Cup.
Kick-off will be at the earlier time of 7.30pm.
Rovers recorded their last away win at the venue and also had a 2-1 success early in the season in The Showgrounds. Pat’s won the previous meeting in Sligo.
In team news Reece Hutchinson (knee), Robbie Burton (suspended) and Greg Bolger (suspended) miss out.
Manager John Russell said: “We’re delighted to have a game first and foremost because we have to try and put things right from Friday night.
“It wasn’t acceptable. We were second best, we lacked energy and intensity.
“Maximum desire, working hard and doing the basics at every opportunity is what we look for. We didn’t see that throughout the team. We will pick a team for these final three games based on those characteristics.
“We’ve done well in games with St Pat’s this season. We’ve shown our quality in two wins we have had.
“It’s extremely important we show it in these final games.”
Tickets for Monday’s away game with St Patrick’s Athletic on Monday night are available here.
Please note the earlier kick-off time of 7.30pm.
