The 500 Club members draw for October, November and December was made recently by the 500 Club Committee.

These monthly draws see ten members drawn each month for cash prizes, with the top prize being €500.

The 500 Club continues to be one of the club’s most important Fundraisers and we wish to thank all members, and the 500 Club committee for their continued hard work.

October 2023

• €500 Michael Cawley – Castletown, Waterford
• €100 Eddie Grey – Cartron Heights, Sligo
• €100 Blaine Gaffney – Summerhill Village, Sligo
• €100 Michael Morahan – Leitrim Village, Co. Leitrim
• €100 Geoffrey Rose – Bennets Bridge, Co. Kilkenny
• €100 David Cummins -Hazlewood Ave, Co. Sligo
• €100 Marcel Gordon, Knocknahur, Co. Sligo
• €100 Dermot O’Hara, Five-mile-bourne, Co. Sligo
• €100 Mark Dunne, Charles St., Sligo
• €100 Bryan Armstrong, Rosses Point, Co. Sligo

November 2023

• €500 Joe Gilroy – The Orchard, Kevinsfort, Sligo
• €100 Paul Mulligan – Rosehill, Sligo
• €100 Jane Nugent – Ballygawley, Sligo
• €100 Brian McDonagh – Strandhill Rd, Sligo
• €100 Michael McDonnell – Knocknarea, Co. Sligo
• €100 Conal McGlone – Knocknaganny Park, Sligo
• €100 Peter Houze – Cartron Bay, Sligo
• €100 Ray McSharry – Pearse Rd, Sligo
• €100 James Cafferty – Charlestown, Co. Mayo
• €100 Peter Kilgallon – The Mall, Sligo

December 2023

• €500 Brenda Kearns – Boyle, Co. Roscommon
• €100 James Creed – Rosses Point, Co. Sligo
• €100 Ryan Quinn – Tonaphubble, Sligo
• €100 Padraig McGlone – Chapel St, Sligo
• €100 John Toolan – Gurteen, Co. Sligo
• €100 Eamon Fox – Crozon Downs, Sligo
• €100 David Chatterton – Homechurch, Essex, England
• €100 Ciaran Coleman – Riverstown, Sligo
• €100 Eoin Armstrong – Rosses Point, Co. Sligo
• €100 Gary Kelly – Carndonagh, Co. Donegal

The club are pleased to announce the signing of Ellis Chapman from Cheltenham Town FC. The 22 year old midfielder will join the club on loan until the end of June.

John Russell:

“Yeah, I’m really happy to get a player like Ellis into the club. He’s a box to box midfielder with a really good passing range. For such a young player he has a really good pedigree of experience, he’s only 22 but he has played a lot of games at a high level.

“He was with Cheltenham when they won League Two, and played a lot of games with them in League One as well. In conversations with him I know he is excited to come over big impact on the team, and I’m delighted to get him on board”

Ellis Chapman:

“I knew about the club and the ambition the club had from obviously Reece Hutchinson who I’m very close with. Then meeting up with the manager confirmed everything for me, talking about the way his team plays and the ambitions he has with the team.

“Coming to Sligo will be a new, fresh start for me which is something I’ve been looking for, I would like to get a run of games and show the fans and the club what I can do. I’m really looking forward to the challenge and with no hesitation I will give my all for the club. I cannot wait to get started and with hard work hopefully getting the club back competing towards the top end of the division”

The club would like to thank all supporters who have purchased their Season Tickets for 2024, and expect to announce more squad news in the coming weeks.

https://srfcdirect.com/season-tickets-2024/

The club are pleased to announce Simon Power has joined the club for the upcoming 2024 season.

The 25 year old Greystones native joins following a number of seasons with Shamrock Rovers. Prior to this he had a successful period in the UK where he made 39 League Two appearances for Harrogate Town.

The winger can play on either wing and becomes the third new addition to the squad following the addition of JR Wilson and Wilson Waweru.

John Russell:

“I am delighted to get Simon to the club. He is an exciting attacking player with the ability to get fans out of their seats. He has experience in the League of Ireland and League Two and at 25 I feel he is hungry to show the quality he has at this club.”

Simon Power:

“I am delighted to sign for the club, it’s good to get the deal done as it’s been in the works over the last few weeks.

“I am still young but I have a lot of games under my belt. My main attribute is pace and power and can get bums off seats and get the crowd going. I am looking forward to getting going now.”

The club today also unveiled a new away kit, which will join our current home and away jersey for 2024. The new kit is available for purchase at our Showgrounds Megastore which is open every day until Christmas Eve.

Sligo Rovers are pleased to announce our commitment to significantly enhance the club’s community work and engagement with the appointment of a full-time Football & Social Responsibility (FSR) Officer next year.

While the club has been heavily involved in community activities for many years, Sligo Rovers will, for the first time, advertise for the position of a full-time FSR officer in the first week of January.

The new role, supported by Sligo County Council, will involve using the attraction of football to have a positive impact in many areas of social importance in the Region. 

This will include the delivery of football themed socially focused programmes and events, developing the Clubs community relationships, as well as sustainability measures in line with UEFA’s football sustainability strategy 2030.

Chairman Tommy Higgins said this will be a major boost to the Club’s involvement and activities in the community:

“This is an exciting new chapter in our club’s history. Support of the community has always been at the heart of our club and we see this appointment as a vital element in the future development of Sligo Rovers.

“It will mean as a club we will be able to further our work in the community and make a hugely positive impact across the region”

Full details of the post and closing date for applications will be advertised in the first week of January.

John Russell has added his second new addition to his squad for the upcoming 2024 season. 

22 year old centre forward Wilson Waweru joins from Galway United after a successful loan spell with Cobh Ramblers where he scored 13 goals from open play last season. The player joins on a two year deal.

John Russell:

“Wilson is a very good player that I am excited to bring to the club. He came through the Galway United academy and always stood out when he broke through to their first team. 

“I have tracked his development and he is moving to us after scoring a lot of goals at Cobh last year. 

“He is a natural finisher, he’s quick, strong, and capable of running in behind. He comes to us at a good age and is a player I’m excited to have with us next year”

Wilson Waweru:

“I am very happy to join the club. I see myself as an out and out number 9 and a focal point up top. I was happy to make the move to Cobh last year particularly with the quality of the goals scored and assists I made. 

“I am looking forward to the step up in quality in the Premier Division. I feel I am becoming a better player every year, with the quality of players at this club I feel I can bring that form with me next year.

More news is expected this week as John Russell continues to build his squad for the upcoming season.

Long serving Sligo Rovers volunteer and Club Vice President Ray Gallagher was honoured by Sligo County Council on Wednesday evening at its annual Cathaorleach’s Awards ceremony. Ray won the ‘Community Individual’ Award category for his lifetime of exemplary service.

Presenting the award on behalf of the Awards Committee, Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady said has spent most of his 86 years serving the people of County Sligo, and highlighted in particular his work in developing the Showgrounds.

‘Ray served as Chairman of the Management Committee and subsequently the Ground Development Committee, under his stewardship the Treacy Avenue stand was built, a new all weather pitch was laid and a car park and boundary wall were provided in a partnership with Sligo Borough Council.

During his lifetime of service to Sligo Rovers, has made an enormous input in many areas, arguably his most valuable contribution was in relation to the Showgrounds. In 1968, Ray played a key role along with Albert Higgins and then Mayor and Club Chairman the late John Fallon in acquiring the two estates that made up the Showgrounds, the Fowler and Campbell estates, thus providing Sligo Rovers with a permanent home. In 2016, under Ray’s leadership, the ground was legally registered as a Charitable Trust, thereby ensuring it is preserved in perpetuity as a community and recreational facility for the people of Sligo.’

Councillor O’Grady concluded her tribute by noting ‘Ray’s modest and unassuming nature, which ensured he never sought the limelight or any acknowledgement for his lifetime of voluntary service, but his vision and drive in securing the Showgrounds bestows a priceless legacy for future generations of Sligo people.’

Sligo Rovers is pleased to announce that Will Fitzgerald has signed back with the club for the upcoming 2024 season.

The 24 year old attacking midfielder will line out for his third season with the Bit O’Red.

“I’m delighted to sign back with the club for next year.

Ever since I first arrived at the club, I’ve been made feel welcome by everyone in & around the club.

It’s a great club with even better people involved & I know how much it means to the supporters & community to see it thriving.

I am loving my football here & I look forward to hopefully making my 100th appearance for the club, which if that happens is something that I’ll be forever proud of.

I can’t wait to pull on the Rovers jersey again & I’m looking forward to us pushing on next year”

John Russell:

“I’m delighted Will has agreed a new deal with the club.

Will is a top professional who brings so much to the team in terms of his energy, work rate and quality.

He has an excellent mentality and is exactly the type of character I want at the club.

I’m excited to have him with us again as I feel he can take his game to another level next season.”

Fixtures for the upcoming season are due to be announced this week. Season Tickets sales are on sale together with our new 2024 training merchandise at https://srfcdirect.com/

Sligo Rovers are pleased to announce Niall Morahan has re-signed with the club for the upcoming 2024 season.

The 23 year old has been one of the most consistent performers of 2023 and has now committed to extending his time with the Bit O’ Red.

John Russell expressed his delight with the retention of Morahan for 2024

“Niall is a key signing for us going into next year, he’s a player that has come up through the academy so he understands the DNA of the club”

“He is an outstanding midfielder who has over 150 appearance for us, and his game has continued to improve over the last year or two”

“He will be 24 next year and I feel in addition to the qualities he offers us in midfield, he is also growing as a leader. He will be a real driving force for us in midfield again next year, I’m delighted to have him with on board for next season”

The Leitrim Village man was in the Showgrounds earlier today and added:

“It wasn’t the season we were expecting last year, particularly with the expectations we put on ourselves, but we are eager to put it behind us now, and focus on next year”

I am delighted to sign today and am already really looking forward to the start of next season”

The club is expecting more announcements in the coming weeks as we build our squad for 2024.