Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce that the club has tied down the services of centre half Gareth McElroy for the next two-and-a-half-years.
This new deal extends Gareth’s current contract with the Bit O’Red to the end of the 2028 season.
The 21-year-old joined Rovers’ Abbvie Academy when he signed up with the club three years ago. A native of Burnfoot in County Donegal, McElroy made his first team debut in a win over Waterford at the Showgrounds in August 2024 and has since established himself as a valued member of John Russell’s squad.
The powerful defender has to date made 41 senior appearances for Rovers, scoring twice. This is McElroy’s second senior professional contract.
He signed his first one with Rovers at the end of the 2024 season having impressed at both first team and U20s level that year.
A recipient of a scholarship as part of the link up between Sligo Rovers and ATU Sligo, McElroy has been involved in each of our 17 league games to date. He says he is looking forward to furthering his career at the Showgrounds and with the likes of Ollie Denham and Sean McHale competing with him for places, he’s thriving being kept on his toes.
“It’s been a huge pleasure representing the club and the Sligo area over the past three years”, Gareth tells sligorovers.com.
“It was an easy decision when the club approached me about extending my stay. It’s a real buzz for me to get this settled.
“I feel a lot more established now. I feel as if I’ve grown a lot in such a short time. But I know I still have a long way to go and a lot more to learn from the players and coaches here.
“It does feel like Rovers is the best place for me at this stage of my career.
“That’s because there’s huge competition for places. But it’s great because it pushes you on to improve further. It’s tough to get into this team and even harder to stay in it but the competitiveness is healthy.”
McElroy has been present for every minute of every game bar one since the beginning of the second series of Premier Division games, in which Rovers have won 12 points from eight games, the division’s third best record.
Speaking about his ambitions for the rest of the year, McElroy is only looking up. He also focused in on the input of the current management team and is looking forward to pushing on with vital games against Shamrock Rovers and Bohs to come before the summer break.
“We had a slow start but I feel as if in this section of the season, we’re showing the quality we have”, he continues.
“The league is so tight, even one win and the three points can move you up a few positions. We definitely have a squad good enough to finish a lot higher up the table than where we are.
“I just want to keep going and keep learning. I want to keep gaining experience here and a goal or two would be a boost.
“John (Russell) and Ryan (Casey) have been so influential for me and the other young lads that are here. They gave me my chance to play senior football and they are so keen on seeing everyone improve and standards rising.
“They squeeze everything they can out of themselves and the players. I love that. They have huge hunger and ambition and I want to be part of that.”
Describing McElroy as ‘one of the best young defenders in the country’, first team boss Russell welcomed the former Derry youth’s decision to commit his future to Rovers.
“Gareth is still very young but has learned so much and developed so much in a short space of time”, he says.
“He has shown real leadership qualities, even during his first few games. It was very noticeable.
“For me it was very important that we got him signed and committed to Rovers for the near future as I believe he has massive potential to develop further.
“He’s nearly hitting 50 senior appearances and that bodes very well for a lad who hasn’t hit 22 yet. We’re looking forward to working with him over the next few years.”
David Goulden