This remarkable statistic is no doubt the envy of clubs throughout the country and has reinforced the support of local communities for ‘The Bit O’Red’ throughout the North West region, undoubtedly laying the foundations for the future generations of sports fans.

Whilst the club’s senior and under-age teams are leading on the pitch, the work of the Club’s development committee since 1999 has, with the cooperation and support of the local community and the substantial backing of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, and the Football Association of Ireland, transformed The Showgrounds in to a first class stadium that is more than ready for the Premier Division.

The team’s most recent success has whetted the appetite for the future and with the FAI’s technical plan setting the benchmark for the improvement of playing standards, the efforts off the field will have to redouble so that the club can establish itself as a regional centre of excellence for players of all standards.

COMMUNITY SETTING
Sligo Rovers is the first major soccer club in Europe to operate on co-operative principles. Since 1998, it has been owned and controlled by the community of Sligo and is operated solely for the benefit of the community. The club’s management committee is elected by its shareholders, and policies and objectives are determined by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting.

The home of Sligo Rovers, the Showgrounds, was purchased in 1968 by a trust foundation which ensures the ground can never be sold, mortgaged or used for any purpose other than sport and leisure.

CHALLENGING FOR HONOURS
Team manager Sean Connor has assembled a squad that led the promotion race virtually from the off and were finally rewarded with the First Division title at the Showgrounds in November 2005. His astute blend of youth and proven experience has provided the basis for an excellent season, and the club received plaudits for their consistent form throughout the League campaign.

Everyone at the club believes that Sligo Rovers’ rightful place is in the Premier Division, and are determined to build on the foundations of this year to consolidate their position in the top division next year.

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
Delivering success in any sporting endeavour can be very transitory unless it is placed in the context of a proper strategic plan. For that reason Sligo Rovers has invested heavily in recent years in developing the ground, and in doing so is building for the sustainable long-term growth and development of the club.

DEVELOPMENT BACKGROUND
Five years ago Sligo Rovers launched a three-stage development programme, with the objective of transforming the Sligo Showgrounds into one of the premier venues in the League of Ireland. The first phase in the programme was the construction of a new all-seater stand, the second phase involved the provision of an all-weather training facility, and the third and phase will see the development of a Coaching and Development Centre.

PHASE 1 -NEW WESTERN STAND
The construction of the new western stand was the first phase of the development programme. In keeping with its community ethos, the project was launched in the local community hall, where the views and suggestions of the residents in the area were ascertained before the plans were finalised. This consultation process ensured that the stand development proceeded with the full endorsement and support of the local community.

In the critical early stages of the project, funding was generated by a way of a share drive backed by the club’s supporters. Over the course of the development, over 200 supporters signed on to a share drive, thereby playing a pivotal role in the most ambitious development undertaken by the club.

Sligo Rovers wish to acknowledge the substantial financial backing from the Department of Sport through its annual capital grants programme, and the Football Association of Ireland and the National League.

Consulting Engineers for the project were Horgan Lynch & Partners, who have extensive experience in all aspects of sports infrastructure. The main contractors were Cedar Construction.

It is generally acknowledged that the new stand ranks with any such facility in the country, both in terms of its quality and its value for money.

PHASE 2 - ALL WEATHER PITCH
Phase 2 of the development programme was the construction of an all weather training area.

This facility provides year round training for the Sligo Rovers senior and youth teams, and regularly hosts local clubs, schools, community groups and FAI Soccer Camps.

The development was part funded by a grant assistance in the sum of €300,000 from the Department of Sport. The Regional Development Officer of the Football Association of Ireland, Niall Harrison, maintains that the new all weather surface is the best such facility he has visited in his many years experience of coaching in this country.

As part of this development it is also intended to install a ‘mini-pitch’ measuring 70m x 40m behind the station goals, which will provide an all-year round training area for the club’s youth team.

PHASE 3 – COACHING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
This two-storied facility will be a multi-purpose facility with the focus on youth development and enhancing coaching capacity within the club, the community and the region.

The development will feature a ground floor gymnasium and will be serviced by ample car parking. The upper storey will also offer a prime view of the pitch, and will include access to an exclusive seating area.

PREPARING FOR THE EUROPEAN STAGE - CLUB LICENSING
The FAI commissioned three reports in order to evaluate Sligo Rovers application for Club Licensing. The club has to obtain an ‘A’ Licence before it can compete in the Premier Division of the League or in European competition.

Inspections of the ground were carried out by firms of consulting engineers and dealt with the areas of floodlighting, structural survey and electrical survey. The works identified in the report are now underway and should ensure the club is in possession of an ‘A’ Licence before the start of the next League Season.

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE – NURTURING THE YOUNG TALENT IN SLIGO
Sligo Rovers have devoted considerable resources into its youth and under-age teams, and this investment has provided the club with a solid foundation on which to challenge for future honours.

The club's under-age teams have excelled in recent seaasons, with the u-18 and u-16 teams being honoured for their achievements at regional level in their respective leagues.

The club believes that its firm commitment to youth and under-age development provides its blueprint for the future. By encouraging and developing local talent, we not only establish a sound platform for the senior team, we are also adhering the club’s community remit.

The club’s support base covers a wide area, extending beyond Sligo to the counties of Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Donegal. This is reflected in the number of young players from these counties training and playing under the Sligo Rovers ‘umbrella’

THE PARTNERSHIP APPROACH
The Showgrounds development programme is transforming the ground into the most attractive Eircom League venue in the country. The key to the success of the development programme is the dynamic partnership between the club and its key stakeholders – its shareholders, supporters and sponsors, and the relevant Government and Sporting agencies, The Department of Sport, Football Association of Ireland and the Eircom League.

Another critical factor is the active involvement of Sligo Borough Council. The Showgrounds are of pivotal importance in the Local Authority’s recreational strategy for Sligo, and the Council hopes that the continuing development of the ground will provide an invaluable outlet for the young, urban population of Sligo and the surrounding area.

In April 2005 the Borough Council allocated funding of €200,000 towards the club’s development programme, and this funding is being used to construct a new boundary wall. Work on this project commenced in October 2005.

3. SUMMARY
Despite its peripheral location, Sligo Rovers has flown the flag for senior soccer in the west of Ireland for over seventy-five years. With its committed core of support, and its clear mandate from the local community, the club is confident about its future.

We will continue our simultaneous developments on a number of fronts – on the field, we expect our focus on youth and underage football will yield substantial long-term benefits. Off the field, our ambitious development programme will ensure that the ground will very shortly be the best League of Ireland venue in the country, befitting Sligo’s status as a Gateway City.