Sligo Rovers are thrilled to announce that midfielder David Cawley has signed a one-year contract extension today, keeping him at The Showgrounds until at least the end of the 2023 League of Ireland season.

Cawley is the club’s all-time record European appearance holder and captained the side in our 2022 European campaign earlier this Summer.

Cawley, from Ballina, will go into his tenth season at the club next year during two different spells here from 2012 to the end of 2015 and re-signing before the 2018 season until now.

In that time, he has made over 250 appearances and scored over 25 goals, making him an important part of the club and an influential player to the younger members of the Bit O’ Red squad throughout his time here.

The Mayo man underwent a minor procedure on his hip before the end of the season to ensure a faster recovery well in time for a return to training when the squad assembles in January.

Manager John Russell is delighted to retain Cawley for another year:

‘’David has been a brilliant player for this club. He is now moving into his tenth season with Sligo Rovers and, he is still as hungry as ever to be successful.

‘’He has won trophies throughout his career and understands what it takes to win matches.

‘’He is an intelligent footballer who will play a big part both on and off the pitch with his quality and in setting standards around the club.

I feel he will be like a new signing after his recent operation and I’m delighted he has re-signed for 2023’’.

In 2012, Cawley was a key part of the club’s SSE Airtricity Premier Division title win under then Manager Ian Baraclough. Cawley signed for the Bit O’ Red at the start of that season from Ipswich Town, where he signed as a teenager from his home-town Ballina.

Cawley also played an important role in our 2013 FAI Cup winning season as well as our Setanta Sports Cup win in 2014, where we defeated Dundalk 1-0 at Tallaght Stadium.

The midfielder is thrilled to sign an extension with the club today:

‘’I am going into my tenth season here at Rovers and I have loved every minute of it, with plenty of ups and downs.

‘’I have managed to win a League, an FAI Cup and a Setanta Sports Cup and captaining the club in the last few years has been a big honour for me.

‘’Our European run a few months back was something else, it was great to see a buzz like that at The Showgrounds and it reminded me of the time we won the league ten years ago. Special moments like that don’t come around too often.

‘’We were disappointed to miss out on Europe for next season, but we aim to get back there next year and have a better run in the cup. We are due a good cup run and hopefully make it to the Aviva again.

‘’From the players we have already and the young lads coming through I have no doubt the future is bright. Add to that the new lads coming in that John has signed and we have a right good group.

‘’The intensity John and Ryan have brought to training since they’ve been appointed has been brilliant and something I believe as a player is how it should be.

‘’You should train as you intend to play and they both demand that, which really helps the squad and the young lads develop.

‘’I am looking forward to playing under John again next season’’.

Cawley returns to pre-season training in January with his fellow Rovers’ team-mates who met up this past week for the first time since the end of the 2022 season.

Cawley’s signing means that John Russell now has 18 professionals signed for 2023.

Sligo Rovers Football Club are delighted to announce that today we have lodged a planning application with Sligo County Council for the first phase of our Master Plan.

The application was prepared by Rhatigan Architects and includes the redevelopment of the Showgrounds to exceed the minimum requirements of a UEFA Category 3 stadium, achieved as follows;

• Redevelopment of the Showgrounds to be an all-seated stadium with a capacity in excess of 6,100 seats
• Construction of a new Spectator Stand at the Church Hill Road End (approx. 1,370 seats),
• Construction of a new Spectator Stand in place of the current Jinks Avenue Stand (approx. 2,060 seats),
• Minor alterations to the Tracey Avenue Stand including the erection of a TV gantry at the rear of the stand and the provision of new toilets beneath,
• Provision of a cantilevered roof to the existing Pet Stop End,
• Provision of additional turnstiles at the rear of the new Jinks Avenue Stand for away supporters,
• Upgrade of the carparking facilities on site including resurfacing, line marking and lighting,
• Upgrade of the playing surface to a higher specification whilst enlarging the pitch towards Church Hill Road to meet UEFA Category 3 pitch size standards.

Sligo Rovers Chairman Tommy Higgins:

“This is a great day for Sligo Rovers Football Club and the first phase of our Masterplan we announced last year.

‘’In order to stay competitive in the Premier Division we have to bring more income into the club and The Showgrounds redevelopment is a vital part of our plans”

FAI CEO Jonathan Hill:

“Sligo Rovers to me epitomise all that is great about League of Ireland football with their commitment to providing the best pathways for male and female players of all ages. These plans for The Showgrounds also confirm the club’s desire to provide the very best facilities for all their players, members and supporters and they provide an example of how we can all work together – our clubs, the FAI and local and national Government – to drive Irish football forward within the framework of our FAI Strategy 2022-2025.’’

The new stands will accommodate multipurpose spaces, match night catering facilities, shop, gym, corporate and sponsors facilities, offices and meeting rooms, new media centre, changing rooms to serve the existing Astro pitch, toilets and ancillary spaces. The stands have been designed with a focus on capturing the special match-night atmosphere in the Showgrounds, with the three new roofs joined to enhance the feeling of enclosure and to assist in capturing and containing the noise of the supporters. Externally the exposed concrete structure will provide a strong new aesthetic to the grounds as fans enter via Church Hill Road.

League of Ireland Director Mark Scanlon:

“Sligo is and always has been a hotbed of football and these ambitious plans for the future of The Showgrounds reflect the desire of Sligo Rovers FC to be at the heart of the game in a real football town. We support these exciting plans for the new stadium which will provide modern facilities for the fans to enjoy and a fitting stage for Sligo football for many years to come.”

Following a successful application for Sports Capital Funding the Club is also about to go to tender for the upgrade of the floodlights to UEFA standards. This will be achieved through the provision of 2 new corner columns on the Jinks Avenue side in line with the planning grant received last year and the retrofitting of the existing floodlights on the Treacy Ave side with LEDs. 

Pending receipt of Planning Permission in early 2023 the next step for the club will be to pursue various funding streams to bring this exciting project to the next stage which will include detail design and tendering.

The club would like to thank Rhatigan Architects and their team for their work to date on this project.

Sligo Rovers Treasurer David Rowe:

“The completion of the development of The Showgrounds outlined in the Master Plan would be a game changer for the Club’s finance, in addition to providing our supporters in the community with a well-deserved state of the art facility”

Walter Holleran, FAI Head of Grant Funding & infrastructure Development:

“The FAI welcomes the announcement by Sligo Rovers of their application for planning permission for the redevelopment of The Showgrounds stadium. The ambition shown by the club within these plans should be commended and we look forward to working with the Club on the development of the stadium and all facilities for all their teams.”

Sligo Rovers are thrilled to announce that defender Danny Lafferty has signed for the club from Derry City today.

Lafferty was part of The Candystripes’ FAI Cup winning squad this season and finished second in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.

The defender has had spells in Scotland, signing for Celtic in 2006, and England where he joined Burnley in 2012, making fourty appearances for them before loan spells with Rotherham United, Oldham Athletic, Sheffield United and Peterborough before returning to the League of Ireland to sign with Shamrock Rovers in 2019, where he won an FAI Cup that season and a League title in 2020.

In 2021, Lafferty signed a two-year deal with Derry City and joins Rovers today until at least the end of the 2023 League of Ireland season.

Danny has 13 caps for Northern Ireland between 2012 and 2016 and brings a wealth of experience to the Bit O’ Red squad.

Manager John Russell commented:

‘’I’m delighted we have announced the signing of Danny Lafferty.

‘’Danny is a player of immense quality. He is an attacking full back who possesses a great passing range and crossing ability.

‘’Danny knows the league well and brings a wealth of experience having played for his country and spent the majority of his career in the UK.

‘’He is a player I’ve always admired and I’m excited to start working with him’’.

Speaking today as he reported to his first session as a Sligo Rovers player, Lafferty is delighted to sign for the Bit O’ Red:

‘’When I spoke to John I was immediately taken aback by his ambition for the club, and it aligned with what I want as well.

‘’I’m looking forward to getting in and getting going, meeting all the lads.

‘’I’ve always liked coming to play at The Showgrounds and even more so now next year.

‘’I can’t wait to be playing in front of the Sligo Rovers fans’’.

Lafferty joined the rest of his Bit O’ Red team mates this morning as John Russell’s squad assembled for the first time since the end of the 2022 season.

With season tickets launched earlier today, and the signing of Lafferty announced this evening as well as more signing news to come, excitement is building ahead of the new season.

2023 Season Tickets are now on sale with tickets in a number of different categories available.

Season tickets represent the best value option for attending Bit O’ Red fixtures with a saving of around three matches in the 2023 season if you were to pay on the night for each game.

You can buy your tickets online: https://srfcdirect.com/season-tickets-2023/

Sligo Rovers are a community owned club and have many challenges each year in competing with other benefactor owned clubs and these challenges mean that an increase in ticket pricing overall was necessary in 2023.

The club are aware that many supporters are currently experiencing an inflation in prices in general day to day living and the club are experiencing this in all areas as well as costs increase across the board in all club operations, including travel costs which has increased 30% in the last three years with the addition of more Academy and Women’s teams.

There are many things to look forward to with the club currently in an active planning stage of our Masterplan, where we hope to upgrade our Showgrounds home to a new, modern, state of the art sporting facility over the next few years.

Treasurer David Rowe commented:

“In reality, the club costs three times as much to run as when we last had an increase in gate admissions prices back in 2005. At that stage the club had finished 7th in the First Division and was strangled by debt. Much has changed since then, with more to come, but our reality is that in order to remain as competitive as possible on the pitch, we must do all we can off it to help maintain the club’s financial stability. This includes increasing attendances, increasing merchandise sales and fundraising, which the supporters are unbelievably supportive with.

‘’To keep our model of a community owned and funded club, competing at the top level, continued success such as qualifying for European football is essential, as well as being competitive in the League (which goes hand in hand) and strong cup runs.

‘’Last year’s run in Europe was helpful, but a slight increase in pricing is necessary to remain competitive in the league, have exciting stadium development plans and maintain a healthy Academy and the cost of running eight teams in an ever-growing club is exacting, particularly without UEFA prizemoney in 2023.’’

The club will introduce categorized fixtures in 2023, with fixtures against Shamrock Rovers, Derry City, St Patrick’s Athletic, Dundalk and Bohemians listed as ‘Category 1’ and fixtures with Shelbourne, Drogheda United, Cork City and UCD lists as ‘Category 2’ fixtures.

Admission for ‘Category 1’ fixtures:

• Adult admission: €20
• Elderly, Students, Under 16’s and Concessions: €12
• Under 12’s: €5

Admission for ‘Category 2’ fixtures:

• Adult admission: €15
• Elderly, Students, Under 16’s and Concessions: €10
• Under 12’s: €5

Gold Season Tickets will be priced as an odd on of €60 which allows supporters to have their name on their chosen seat within the stadium. These seats will be applicable for all League and Cup games throughout the season, however supporters will need to purchase a single ticket for any cup games as normal.

An adult supporter will save €60 over the course of the season, with a Senior Citizen or Student saving €30.

Super Reds receive their very own Sligo Rovers official training top and special invite to our 2022 Meet and Greet with the Bit O’ Red squad in February 2023.

Family rates have been re-introduced for 2023 as follows:

• 1 Adult + 2 Children Under 12: €350 (normal price €400)
• 2 Adults + 2 Children Under 12: €560 (normal price €660)

Our Women’s team will also introduce a 2023 Season Ticket at a special price of just €50 for the season.

Supporters have the option to include a WNL Season Ticket with their Men’s Season Ticket for just €25.

Both Season Tickets will be different in colour and design to be easily identifiable.

The club will hold a Fan’s Forum on Wednesday November 30^th at 8pm at The Clayton Hotel Sligo with supporters free to attend the event with First-Team Manager John Russell, Assistant Manager Ryan Casey and members of Sligo Rovers Management.

The agenda for the forum will be an update from John on his plans for 2023 and general club updates looking ahead to next year and beyond, with supporters having an opportunity to ask questions from the floor.

Our 2023 training and leisure wear range is now available to buy exclusively on srfcdirect.com

There is a range of training tops, t-shirts, pants and shorts as well as our brand new travel range, which will all be worn by the Bit O’ Red team in 2023.

We offer free click and collect from The Showgrounds Monday to Friday.

The easiest way to buy is to order online and we’ll ship it anywhere in Ireland for just €6.50, with all orders dispatched Monday to Saturday on the same day you order. Sunday orders will be dispatched on Mondays.

Your Bit O’ Red Christmas presents couldn’t be easier to buy.

Our 2023 Home kit has gone down a storm today with over 100 orders placed online and many supporters already picking up their shirts at The Showgrounds via the click and collect options.

Did you know we do Infant kits which include the new jersey and a pair of replica shorts for children aged 3 months to 24 months.

We also have replica shorts to match our home jersey for kids from 3 years to 14 years.

You can get all you need on www.srfcdirect.com with next day delivery on all items via our shipping partners DpD.

Sligo Rovers are delighted to reveal our brand-new home jersey for the 2023 season, 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, now moved into their fourth season with Rovers, with new kits brought out in 2020 and 2021, with the most recent home shirt lasting two seasons as the club decided to give back to supporters during tough economic times by choosing not to bring out a new shirt. 

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

The announcement was made alongside the news of our first off-season signing with the arrival of defender Johan Brannefalk on Monday and the extension of midfielder Greg Bolger’s contract on Wednesday.

There is more signing news expected within the coming days along with 2023 season tickets and other exciting club news.

The jersey is available to order on our official club online store www.srfcdirect.com which offers next day delivery on all orders via our shipping partners.

You can also order the shirt online and pick it up at The Showgrounds.

We have beautiful Infant kits for our youngest Bit O’ Red supporters aged from 3 months to 24 months, which includes a pair of striking red shorts.

Shirts then start from 3 years to 14 years for children and from small adult all the way up to 4 XL.

We encourage supporters to buy online and use our shipping service which is the best way to order your shirt. We ship worldwide five days per week.

Sligo Rovers CEO Colin Feehily said:

‘’We have been excited about this new shirt for some time now. It has been a couple of years since introducing our last home shirt after our unique decision last year to keep the same jersey for 2022.

‘’We always aim to make the shirt appeal to all our supporters and, we feel like we have done so again with this latest edition.

‘’There are nice shirts and shorts for children and plenty of choice size wise and we’re looking forward to seeing the shirt on the pitch in 2023’’.

Shirts cost €65 for Adults, €55 for Children sizes and €30 for Infant kits.

To buy, click the link below:

https://srfcdirect.com/kits/

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce midfielder Greg Bolger has signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until at least the end of the 2023 SSE Airtricity League season.

Bolger will begin his third season at The Bit O’ Red when pre-season returns in January under the guidance of Manager John Russell.

Since arriving from Shamrock Rovers two years ago, Bolger has made 56 appearances for the club and will also be part of our coaching staff in 2023 as Russell uses Bolger’s expertise and experience in the league to guide a young Bit O’ Red.

The decorated midfielder has won three League titles, two EA Sports Cups and four FAI Cups in his career to date after spells with St. Patrick’s Athletic, Cork City and Shamrock Rovers.

Bolger, from Wexford, has made Sligo his home in the last two years and has settled into life in the North-West and looks forward to another season here:

‘’Obviously, I am delighted to have signed for another year with Sligo Rovers.

‘’I am excited about 2023 and what lies ahead for the team and the club under John Russell.

‘’I’ve loved my time here at the club, from a living aspect, the community side of things and the fans, it’s unique really so, I’m delighted to get this deal done.

‘’First and foremost I am signed as a player but the club and John have gave me an opportunity to dip my hands into the coaching side of things for next year which I’m very grateful for and want thank the club and John for the opportunity’’.

Bolger is no stranger to John Russell with the pair playing together at St. Patrick’s Athletic in their League winning 2013 season and of course working together since Bolger joined Rovers in 2020.

Russell is delighted to have Bolger at his disposal as both an important player in the squad and a key part of his coaching staff:

‘’I’m delighted Greg has agreed to extend his stay at the club while also taking up a coaching role in the first team set up.

‘’Greg is a top player who has won numerous trophies throughout his career.

‘’He’s a big influence both on and off the pitch.

‘’He is driven and ambitious and those are the type of players I want to have at the club’’.

It brings to 14 the number of players currently signed for 2023 with a number of other signings to come in the coming weeks before the start of the new SSE Airtricity League season in February.

Season Tickets go on sale this week and we encourage all supporters to get behind John and the team as we look forward to another big year for the club.

Sligo Rovers goalkeeper Conor Walsh started in today’s Under 18 Republic of Ireland win over Sweden in Croatia, the first of three games in the space of six days.

The sides meet again this Friday before Ireland take on hosts Croatia on Monday.

Conor has represented his country at various age levels in the last few years and recently made his Rovers debut against Bohemians at Dalymount Park.

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce our first new signing ahead of the 2023 season is Johan Brannefalk, who signs from Norrby IF in Sweden.

The 24 year-old right back has spent his last two seasons at Norrby and had spells at Ljungskile and Trelleborg after spending time as a youth player with Malmo.

Brannefalk will move to Sligo and begin preparations along with his new team-mates next week when the team reports back for the first time since the end of the 2022 season.

Bit O’ Red Manager John Russell is thrilled with the signing:

‘’I am delighted to secure the signing of Johan Brannefalk.

‘’He is an attacking full back who will fit in perfectly in how we want to play. He possesses a great passing range and crossing ability.

‘’Johan comes to us at a really good stage in his career. He has plenty of experience in the top two tiers in Sweden and I know he’s looking forward to this new challenge at Sligo Rovers’’.

Russell continues to work behind the scenes on completing his squad for 2023 with more signing and contract extension news expected in the coming days and weeks.

Our new defender has spoken to sligorovers.com for the first time and expresses his delight at his move to Sligo:

‘’I was flattered to hear Sligo Rovers were interested in me and I started to research how the club played football and how I would fit in at the club and in the league. It became very clear to me that playing for Sligo Rovers was the perfect next step for my career. And the picture of the club matched my expectations when I spoke to John.

‘’The main reason is the ambition for the club, all the fans that support the club, and the vision I have for myself playing for Sligo Rovers.

‘’My ambitions for 2023 is the same as all the club’s. I want to win every game we play. That is of course not realistic but that is the mindset I go into every game with’’.

‘’I heard of Sligo Rovers when the club played in Europe this summer, and watched the team play since I heard about their interest in me’’.

Brannefalk is new signing number one in this off season with 2023 Season Tickets set to be launched this week as well as brand new 2023 merchandise and home shirt coming soon, there are exciting weeks ahead at the club.