Sligo Rovers are excited to announce we will host a mid-season friendly with Celtic FC ‘B’ at The Showgrounds on Tuesday, July 11th at 7pm.
The game will see the Scottish side travel to Ireland as part of their pre-season preparations.
There are a number of connections between the clubs, most notably the likes of former Rovers’ man Willie McStay who was Player/Manager from 1992 to 1994 where he won the FAI Cup, First Division and First Division Shield in the 93/94 season. Willie is currently Head of Academy Scouting at the club.
Sean Fallon was born in Sligo in 1922 and joined the Bit O’ Red in the late 1940’s before joining Celtic a couple of years later. Fallon went on to become a Celtic legend, making over 250 appearances in Glasgow over an eight-year period.
The Sligoman would then go on to become the club’s Assistant Manager from 1962-1975, taking the team shortly afterwards as Caretaker when Manager Jock Stein was involved in a near-fatal car crash.
In 2014, The Showgrounds All-Weather pitch underwent development works to improve the club’s facilities and it was announced that the new facility would be named in Fallon’s honour and to this day is named The Sean Fallon Centre, the home of the Bit O’ Red’s Academy.
Speaking on the announcement of the game, Manager John Russell is looking forward to welcoming Celtic to The Showgrounds:
‘’It promises to be a good occasion for both clubs here at The Showgrounds.
‘’I know there is a good history between the clubs with various players or staff having played or managed both here and in Scotland.
‘’It will be a good test for us, and it will also be good for the supporters of both clubs to come to The Showgrounds and see a good game of football’’.
Club Chairman Tommy Higgins:
‘’We are very happy to welcome Celtic Football Club to The Showgrounds on July 11th.
‘’The game will hopefully be an entertaining one for the supporters and we hope to see a large Celtic support here on the night too.
‘’Celtic are a hugely followed club around the world, particularly here in Ireland and we are all looking forward to the game’’.
There is one more, possibly the most important Sligo link to Celtic. Founder of the club, Brother Walfrid was born in Ballymote.
Walfrid founded the club in 1888 as a means of raising funds for the Catholic Community in the area.
He is remembered at both Celtic Park in Glasgow and the Community Park in Ballymote where there are two sculptures in his honour.
Tickets for the match are now available on https://srfcdirect.com/match-tickets/ and are priced at €15 for Adults, €10 for Seniors and Students and €5 for Under 12’s.
We look forward to welcoming Celtic to The Showgrounds.