Leah Kelly has joined Sligo Rovers ahead of the new season in March.

Templeboy native Kelly is the latest signing for the new WNL senior side.

As a youngster, Kelly loved attending the Bit O’Red summer camps, and now she gets the opportunity to don the red and white of Rovers.

The 22-year-old played for Strand Celtic until she was 16, before moving onto Ballina Town for two seasons.

The central midfielder has played for the University of Limerick’s team since 2018.

Kelly is also a talented GAA player and plays for St. Farnan’s and Sligo, alongside the UL team.

She previously went to the Gaynor Cup as part of the Sligo/Leitrim team from 2012-2016, and won the Under 14 Connacht Cup with Strand Celtic in 2012.

Kelly is in her final year in UL studying PE and Geography teaching.

She said: “I’m delighted to get the opportunity to play for Sligo Rovers. It’s great to have a team here and the support so far has been amazing. I remember when I was younger coming to the Showgrounds every summer for their camps so it’s mad to be coming back now to play.”

Erin Coyle has signed for Sligo Rovers as manager Steve Feeney makes his latest signing.

Coyle puts pens to paper having impressed since joining up with the squad.

The Donegal native is currently a first year student in IT Sligo studying Health Science and Physical Activity.

The midfielder has previously played for Moville Celtic and Greencastle.

She played for the Inishowen girls academy from Under 12 until Under 16, representing the academy in the Gaynor Cup.Coyle was part of the Moville Community College side who were crowned 2018 and 2019 All Ireland champions, and she won the National Cup with Greencastle in 2019.

She said: “I’m delighted to have signed for Rovers and be apart of their first WNL team . 

“It’s a great opportunity training with the girls and working with the management has been brilliant, I’m really looking forward to the season ahead and getting more games in.”

Central midfielder Lauren Boles has signed for Sligo Rovers for the club’s first season in the Women’s National League.

The 27-year-old has plenty of WNL experience having played in the inaugural season in 2011 with Castlebar Celtic.

The Ballintogher native spent two seasons with Celtic, before signing for DLR Waves in 2013, returning to Castlebar for a year in 2014.Boles was part of the Republic of Ireland Under 17s squad in 2011/12, where she played alongside players such as Katie McCabe.

At underage level, Boles played with Ballygawley Celtic Under 12s and Strand Celtic girls Under 16s and Under 18s.

She has also represented the region in the Gaynor Cup across all age groups.Boles is also a talented GAA player, and with no outlet previously to play football, she has focused on playing with her club St. Michael’s and the county side.

She recently completed a masters in agricultural innovation at NUIG and currently works for the HSE.

Boles said: “I’m delighted to have signed with Sligo Rovers and I’m really looking forward to the challenge ahead. It’s a brilliant opportunity to play WNL in Sligo and gives a pathway to aspiring young girls in the area. 

“It’s a credit to the work done at underage level within Sligo Rovers which has provided a foundation for the senior team. I’m delighted for these young girls who now have the opportunity to play at the highest level in Ireland.

“I am very proud to be part of the first Sligo Rovers to take part in the WNL. It’s exciting for me and my family and I can’t wait for the league to start.”

Boles is delighted to get the opportunity to play WNL locally in Sligo. 

“Steve is meticulous in his approach to training and he has formed a great management team. Training have been really enjoyable. 

“I started playing with Emma Hansberry while in Ursuline college, we played centre mid together there and also at Castlebar Celtic.

 “It’s great to see girls who may not have had the opportunity to play WNL otherwise, now get that opportunity with Sligo Rovers. The squad has been building over the last few weeks and there is a great mix of young and not so young!”

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

The club are thrilled to announce an extended sponsorship agreement with Verus Metrology Partners and our Women’s National League Under 17 team.

Verus will once again have their company logo placed on the front of all our Under 17 Ladies team shirts for the 2021 season. The agreement began in early 2020.

Verus Metrology Partners is a world-leading provider of turnkey bespoke metrology solutions. Having developed significant expertise in traditional and next-generation metrology, their diverse range of precision-led fixtures advance the process of measurement and the technologies used in several global MedTech and FMCG organisations today.

Verus COO Michael Nugent explained the reasons behind getting involved with the club for a second consecutive year:

Verus Metrology believes in giving back to society and the Sligo Rovers Women’s U17’s is a big part of our community. We are delighted to continue our sponsorship of Sligo Rovers Women’s U17’s for another year and on behalf of everyone at Verus Metrology, I would like to wish them the very best for the season ahead.”

Sligo Rovers Head of Academy, Conor O’ Grady expressed his thanks to Verus Metrology Partners:

‘’I would like to thank Verus Metrology for their support of the girls again this year. They were an important part of last season for the team, and we are delighted they are extending the sponsorship this season.

It will be nice to be able to invite them in to see a few games later in the summer hopefully, if restrictions are lifted.

Verus Metrology Partners are based in Cleveragh Industrial Estate at Doorly Park.

Visit their website at verusmetrology.com

Facebook/Twitter: @verusmetrology

Instagram: @verus_metrology

Darragh Healy has been appointed manager of the Sligo Rovers Under 19 Women’s National League team.

The Ballisodare native takes over from the outgoing Danny O’Leary who was in charge for the formation of the side.

Darragh brings with him a wealth of experience, thanks to his involvement in football in the community and has been kit and equipment manager in the first-team foe two years.

He was a member of the coaching staff with the Rovers Under 19s, and headed the Rovers primary school programme, which involves visiting schools, coaching and delivering workshops.

He has also served as head-coach of IT Sligo women’s team, and also assistant coach of the IT Sligo men’s A team.

Sligo Rovers head of academy Conor O’Grady said: “Darragh was a very deserving choice for this position.

“He has done a wealth of coaching in Sligo and within Sligo Rovers and he will know exactly what is needed as the Under-19 women begin their first ever season.

“Darragh will continue his other roles within the club in which he had gained even more experience. We’ll be supporting him as much as we can, and Scott Lynch will be added to Darragh’s backroom team as he is someone we believe can progress up the ladder here.”

Expressions of Interest

Sligo Rovers FC is seeking expressions of interest from potential players for our Women’s National League Under 17 team, and a potential Women’s National League  Under 19 team.

Our Women’s Under 17 team have enjoyed three seasons since entering the league, and it is hoped that we can build on our efforts by adding a Women’s Under 19 team for the coming season.

As the FAI sought interest from clubs already involved in the WNL to enter teams to a potential new U19 league, we have expressed our interest in entering a team, although we await confirmation on whether or not this league will go ahead.

We continue to grow as a club, and we understand that there is a wealth of talent within the locality. Women’s football is very much part of the club’s long term aims, and therefore we wish to continue our commitment to the game by adding another team.

While we await confirmation on the Women’s Under 19 league, we wish to invite expressions of interest for both the U19 team, and our U17 team which will be in its fourth season come 2021.

Players born in 2002 – 2006 are eligible. 

Please see link below:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1U6wOEeUaJzxnI4XF1YhJ_CkZiCuVjJfrSDmz2STfQCk/edit?usp=sharing

As part of Sligo Rovers FC’s long term plan for the women’s team, we are looking to expand our coaching team ahead of the new season in 2021.

It is hoped that in 2021 we will have two underage teams in the Women’s National League, adding an Under 19 team alongside our Under 17 team which will enter its fourth season in the league.

We are seeking coaches to work alongside Head-Coach Danny O’Leary who this year took over our Women’s National League Under 17 team.

We await approval from the FAI on the new Women’s National League Under 19 team, and have expressed our desire as a club to enter a team in the league, as we look to grow our involvement in the women’s game.

Job Description
– Help club achieve its vision to ‘Build a brand that is associated with excellence on and off the pitch for women’s football, to be considered as an example of excellence and best practice, and one of the major developer of players within the country at underage, and eventually senior level’.
– The development and nurturing of a pool of elite players to facilitate their current and future success as individuals and as a team.
– Organise, plan and deliver a suitable player development programme in line with the FAI and Sligo Rovers coaching syllabus.
– Uphold the clubs code of conduct and implement club’s vision on and off the pitch.
– Set high standards for the players both on and off the pitch.
– Create and maintain appropriate communication with players / parents / clubs / leagues and any stakeholders relevant to the team
– Ensure the club adheres to FAI & Women’s National League rules and regulations and competition rules. . 
– To ensure that all delivery satisfies the clubs safeguarding and welfare procedures 
– The successful candidate will report to the Women’s Football committee within the club. The women’s committee includes members of the club management committee and is governed by the management committee of Sligo Rovers.

Job Specification:
The ideal candidate will have skills and experience in the following areas:

Essential Criteria
– A current valid UEFA B Licence holder as a minimum (for a head-coach role).
– Successful candidate will be subjected to garda vetting clearance. 
– Up to date Safeguarding 1 / Child Welfare Certificate.
– An ability to produce verbal and written reports.
– Access to both email and phone.
– Experience and enthusiasm for coaching and mentoring elite young players and coaches.

Desirable Criteria
– Administrative and organisational skills.
– Previous experience of coaching in female game.
– Coach mentoring experience.

To express your interest in joining the coaching team, please send your CV to sligoroverswomen@gmail.com by 5pm on Wednesday 23rd December 2020.

The newly-appointed Sligo Rovers Women’s Under 17 head coach Danny O’Leary says he cannot wait to get the season up and running, after the first game was postponed this weekend.

The outbreak of Covid-19 delayed the season, and the late start meant that Martin McManus was unable to continue working with the girls.

Experienced coach O’Leary, who had a lengthy League of Ireland career as a player, has also enjoyed a spell as Head of Youth Development with Rovers along with coaching the U-17 boys with Colm Jinks and has been involved in coaching for years.

O’Leary has also coached Mayo senior side Manulla and the Mayo League Oscar Traynor team for a brief period. 

O’Leary told sligorovers.com: “I took this role because I want to get back coaching elite level players. The club made contact and it appealed to me straight away because they are elite level players. They’re a very good group of players, so it was something I wanted to get involved in. ”

O’Leary stresses that he sees this group as a squad of elite footballers, and they will continue to be treated as such.

“Football is football. The girls and boys are separated just by gender. The game of football is exactly the same. For me, it’s no different as in the coaching side of football is no different whether it’s elite level boys or elite level girls.

“It’s just they’re a different group and they have different needs at different times, no more than the boys will have different needs in where they want to go in football and education.”

In terms of his goals and objectives for the year, O’Leary is keen to help develop his players and prepare them for senior football.

Winning isn’t his priority, but it would be nice: “I said to the girls when I first came in, results are not important to me really. Obviously it’s important that girls know how to win and how to lose games, how to play against opposition. Winning isn’t the be all and the end all.

“My personal objective is to get them ready to play senior football in this country. For the girls in the group, we want to make sure that when these girls advance from the U-17s that they are ready to play senior football in this country.

“Hopefully if we do get a senior football team up and running soon so that we can hang on to players. In the meantime if they’re going to Athlone or someone like that, they might come back to us because they enjoyed it, and they were coached right.

“So when we do have a senior team, these girls will be well able. Hopefully we will win games but winning the competitions (is not a priority), if  it happens it happens.”

He has been impressed with the talent within the squad since he took over and is hopeful that he can give his players the right guidance.

“They’re all very talented, we’ve got a serious group of players. We’ve got 17 and I know there’s a lot of girls coming through from Sligo Leitrim who are excellent as well.

“The talent is there definitely and I think they might just need a little bit of guidance here and there to get them that extra step to make sure they’re playing international football for that little bit longer or playing senior football which gives them a chance further down the line of getting a call up.”

O’Leary took charge of his side for a friendly against the emerging talent U15s last week. Peamount were due to travel this weekend, but the game was called off as they have some players from counties in lockdown.

“We played our first friendly there last week against the Sligo/Leitrim team. It was good to see girls in positions and see what they’re capable of in units, defenders together and midfielders together because there’s only so much you can do in training to work on that.

“The girls are raring to go and I’m raring to go and I can’t wait to see them on the pitch when we do have a game. They’re such a talented group and such a great group to work with. They’re very receptive to any new ideas I’m throwing at them because I am going to challenge them.

“They’ve got to be challenged if they want to play senior football. I’m going to challenge them throughout the season. ”

Sligo Rovers Women’s Under 17 team are seeking applications for the role of head coach, as we move closer to the WNL U17 season getting underway.

Due to the season’s delay as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Martin McManus, who had been appointed head coach for the season, has indicated that he will unfortunately be unable to take charge of the team for this delayed season.

We would like to thank Martin for all his hard work. The squad has already been assembled following trials earlier this year, and our players are back in training as they await fixtures for the revised season.

The Bit O’Red girls enjoyed a fantastic year in 2019 under Darragh Healy and his team of Jason Quinn, Martin McManus, Hugh Cunningham and Yvette Edwards.

Reaching the semi-finals of both the cup and the league, the Rovers girls were impressive throughout their second season in the Só Hotels Under 17 Women’s National League. There was also a number of international call-ups.

The position of Under-17 Women’s Head Coach is key to the ongoing development of our elite underage players and will play a significant role in their development. The position will be on a voluntary basis. The role will provide valuable experience for the successful candidate of working with an elite group of players.

Job Description
– Help club achieve its vision to ‘Build a brand that is associated with excellence on and off the pitch for women’s football, to be considered as an example of excellence and best practice, and one of the major developer of players within the country at underage, and eventually senior level’.
– The development and nurturing of a pool of elite players to facilitate their current and future success as individuals and as a team.
– Organise, plan and deliver a suitable player development programme in line with the FAI and Sligo Rovers coaching syllabus.
– Uphold the clubs code of conduct and implement club’s vision on and off the pitch.
– Set high standards for the players both on and off the pitch.
– Create and maintain appropriate communication with players / parents / clubs / leagues and any stakeholders relevant to the team
– To work with the media in any area regarding Sligo Rovers FC.
– Ensure the club adheres to FAI & Women’s National League rules and regulations and competition rules. . 
– To ensure that all delivery satisfies the clubs safeguarding and welfare procedures 
– The successful candidate will report to the Women’s Football committee within the club. The women’s committee includes members of the club management committee and is governed by the management committee of Sligo Rovers.

Job Specification:
The ideal candidate will have skills and experience in the following areas: 

Essential Criteria
– A current valid UEFA B Licence holder as a minimum.
– Successful candidate will be subjected to garda vetting clearance. 
– Up to date Safeguarding 1 / Child Welfare Certificate.
– An ability to produce verbal and written reports.
– Access to both email and phone.
– Experience and enthusiasm for coaching and mentoring elite young players and coaches.

Desirable Criteria
– Administrative and organisational skills.
– Previous experience of coaching in female game.
– Coach mentoring experience.

Abilities / Skills / Knowledge: 
– Has the leadership ability to inspire a team to play to their maximum potential.
– Ability to communicate and implement club’s philosophy as head coach.
– Excellent communication skills with the ability to build meaningful, strong strategic relationships with players, staff and officials.
– Understanding of learning, development and high performance with a proven ability to create optimum and challenging learning environments for players.
– Strong existing relationships within women’s football in North-West.
– Must be available for games / training at weekends and evenings.
To apply for this position please email your CV with a cover letter by Monday, July 27th at 5pm to Jane Nugent, Secretary, Women’s Football Committee, Sligo Rovers FC at sligoroverswomen@gmail.com