A tile celebrating Joseph Ndo will be the first part of the next section of the Bit O’ Red Wall at Sligo Showgrounds.

The first phase, made up of 315 individual tiles, was erected last year. It is part of the impressive new outdoor museum, immediately opposite the dressing rooms on the Treacy Avenue side of the ground.

According to Sligo Rovers chairman, Tommy Higgins, “ fans recognise that the Wall is one more way to celebrate the special bond between the club and the community. Behind every tile there is a story about the relationship between an individual or a family and Sligo Rovers. After the warm reaction to the first section, we promised that we would add to it. We are ready to begin that work.”

Joseph Ndo signed for Sligo Rovers from Bohemians in March 2010. He became an influential force during the most successful period in the club’s history. As well as being an elegant midfielder, he was a clever tactician and his reputation and influence attracted a number of other key players to The Showgrounds.

The tile, donated anonymously by a fan, will read
Joseph Ndo
SRFC Legend
Gentleman

The renowned Boyle-based stonemasons, Feelystone, will again have responsibility for the craft work. Each tile, costing €100, will accommodate 3 lines, with 16 characters including spaces per line.

The Wall provides fans with the chance to have their permanent place in The Showgrounds. It also allows supporters who are living away from Sligo to celebrate their links with the club. Another dimension of the project is it gives an opportunity to remember deceased family members and their long association with The Showgrounds.

As well as enhancing the ground, the Bit O’Red Wall helps to provide funds for Sligo Rovers. It is one more example of the initiatives taken by the club to make the Showgrounds as the beating heart of Sligo and a standard-bearer for the League of Ireland.

It is anticipated that fans may wish to purchase a tile in the wall as a Christmas gift. Shane Crossan is overseeing the work. Tiles may be bought by using the Sligo Rovers website or by phoning Shane at 087-7526445.

To order a tile online, you can click here.

Alternatively, to purchase a tile over the phone, or to seek more information, you can contact Shane at the above number.

An order form is given below for anyone who wishes to print an application form and return it to The Showgrounds or the club shop in Barton Smiths.

The Showgrounds Scheme is organised by a group including Frank Beirne, Michael Clancy, Kevin Colreavy, Shane Crossan, Mark Cummins, Andy Dodd, Colin Feehily, Tommie Gorman, Sandra Healy, Rory Houston, Paddy Houze and Brendan Lacken.

The FAI Cup quarter-final between Sligo Rovers and Derry City has been postponed following an outbreak of Covid-19 within the Candystripes camp.

The match will now take place next Wednesday at 7.30pm

Voting is now open for the Wehrly Bros’ Sligo Rovers Young Player of the Year and Senior Player of the Year.

The young player of the year is open to players under the age of 22.

Ed McGinty, Niall Morahan and John Mahon are nominated.

To vote click here.

The senior award sees 12 players nominated on a criteria where there must be a minimum of 11 starts to be eligible.

To vote click here

Voting concludes on Friday.

Sligo Rovers defender Kyle Callan-McFadden is departing the club today as he is relocating to England for family reasons.

After four seasons with the Bit O’ Red, including becoming captain at the age of 22 in 2018, Kyle moves on with great wishes from everyone at the football club.

He will join King’s Lynn in England, a club located in Norfolk where his wife’s family are based and has secured employment.

Callan-McFadden explains: “During the first lockdown I got the phone call. I know the manager as he was part of the first-team coaching staff at Norwich when I was there. We spoke about it as a family and we thought it was right to move back to England. It has been six years since Ella has been living near her family and friends. We had a great life in Ireland but Ella has a job secured in the NHS. It came fast but it’s the right time to move on. It’s a wee change for me after four years here. It’s more a family decision than football but it’s a change for us all. We’re looking forward to it now.”

King’s Lynn play in the National League in England and earned an upset victory in the FA Cup over Port Vale last week. They have been rising through the leagues in England and are just one tier away from League 2.

“When a club shows ambition to get up the ladder in England, it’s good of course. I spoke to some players I know over there from my time at Norwich and they all said positive things. They have an aim in place for two to three years and that’s something I want to be part. I’m looking forward to it. Sadly my time at Sligo had to come to an end.”

Callan-McFadden leaves after his best season for the club after finishing fourth in the table.

“There is a bit of mixed emotions. It couldn’t happen to a better bunch of lads to finish fourth this season. They are a great group with no bad eggs. They deserve every success and the coaching staff as well. They have worked tirelessly with us, even through the lockdown, sending us programs and keeping us fit. It obviously worked because we hit the ground running and we haven’t really stopped. Hopefully they can go on to win the FAI Cup.”

After his first season under the manager Dave Robertson, Gerard Lyttle was then appointed and made Callan-McFadden captain alongside John Russell, sharing it over the season. He won Player of the Year in 2017.

He reflects warmly on the managers that have shown a great deal of trust in him at The Showgrounds

“I think I’ve developed loads over the four seasons. I was almost chucked in at the deep end at 22 being captain. I probably felt the pressure a bit more being captain by myself in the second year. It was probably one of my worst years playing for the club, I dipped in form massively. It was not nice to see Ger move on as he showed great faith in me.

“Liam Buckley has come in and it has been a breath of fresh air for everyone. I started to find my feet again. I did a bit of a stint in midfield in the first season. I’ve definitely developed and especially playing different positions. To be captain of a senior club rather than a youth team and leading the team to a FAI Cup semi-final last year was brilliant. This year has been a strange year but a brilliant one for us on the pitch. Sligo definitely helped me develop into the player and person I am today.”

Buckley has brought in more experienced players to the group, something which Callan-McFadden feel has helped, along with the array of young talent in the group.

“It’s definitely made a difference to me and the squad. Johnny Dunleavy, David Cawley, Ronan Murray and Garry Buckley, all of them boys and more. That definitely helped me and even now the young boys now buy into leadership more like Niall Morahan. He has been fantastic and our player of the year in my view. Everyone has pulled in the one direction this year. If you have a bad game, there is always a player to rely on to pick you up and help you go again. That has been proven this season.”

The 25-year-old has also paid tribute to Liam Buckley and the management committee for facilitating the move.

“I spoke to the manager after lockdown, he was brilliant. I told him King’s Lynn had contacted me and I told him what was being offered and how it would suit our family, and he stood by me with it. He told me it was a big opportunity to go over and make a name in England again. He said if you keep playing as you are, then it won’t be a problem. The board have been understanding as well. I can’t say a bad word about the club on how they’ve dealt with me on this or over these last four years. They’ve looked after me brilliantly.

“The supporters and the people in Sligo have been great too so they have. We’re very grateful for the life we had here in the last four years and especially for our family.”

Callan-McFadden will be able to play for King’s Lynn immediately once international clearance comes through, but will not have a game on 20 November and he will watch his former team-mates in FAI Cup action against Derry City on WATCHLOI.

“I’ll 100% be watching. I texted all the boys to let them know I’ll be looking out for them and rooting for them, I really genuinely do hope they go on and lift that Cup now.”

The club would like to thank Kyle for his tremendous service, professionalism and representing Sligo Rovers in such a dedicated way over these four seasons.

We wish Kyle and his family great times ahead and look forward to welcoming them back for visits to The Showgrounds in the future.

There are now just six weeks to go until the annual draw, with €10,000 raised for the club so far.

With a special emphasis on online sales this year due to Covid 19 restrictions, the club are asking as many supporters as possible to purchase their tickets online.

There are 10 prizes to be won in total, including two €500 vouchers for Petstop Discount Warehouse & Fuel Centre along with a mouth-watering €5,000 first prize.

Tickets are priced at €10 and can be purchased here.

All support is greatly appreciated and a special thanks to everyone who has supported the draw so far.

Sligo Rovers profited from another goalkeeping gaffe for Dundalk at Oriel Park to give themselves a chance of European football next season.

After criticism of Aaron McCarey’s display in the 4-3 Europa League defeat away to Rapid Wien last Thursday, Gary Rogers was one of six changes to the Lilywhites side selected by interim head coach Filippo Giovagnoli.

However, the veteran was caught all at sea for the opening goal in the game after just 10 minutes when a cross from wide on the right looped over his head and into the net. Ronan Coughlan would add a stunning second deep in stoppage time to ensure the three points for the visitors on a night when the home side never really showed up.

Those goals were enough for Liam Buckley’s side to claim fourth place in the table, which could be enough for a Europa League spot if one of the three sides above them in the table goes on to win the FAI Cup.

That would be a tremendous achievement for a Sligo side who were bottom without a point when the league resumed at the end of July.

While they sweat over whether or not they will be in Europe next season, Dundalk can perhaps count themselves fortunate to be there already.Defeat to the Bit O Red meant that they needed a favour from Finn Harps to finish third. 

This was another insipid display from the dethroned champions who finish the campaign a massive 22 points off Shamrock Rovers and 11 points adrift of Bohemians.

They still have the FAI Cup and three Europa League games to come in the coming weeks but for many this may have been an Oriel Park farewell after a forgettable domestic season.Jordan Flores had an early effort for the hosts which was straight at Ed McGinty but after that the visitors took control.

Their first chance arrived in the ninth minute when Ryan De Vries found space on the right to cross to the unmarked Ronan Coughlan but he could only glance his header across the face of goal and wide.Within a minute the Bit O Red were in front.

De Vries showed remarkable skill to spin away from two challenges before releasing Jesse Devers on the right with his cross/shot deceiving Rogers as it flew over his head into the top left hand corner.

Dundalk were fortunate it wasn’t 2-0 two minutes later as Coughlan found space at the edge of the box to get a shot away only to fire straight at Rogers.

The striker would have another chance soon after when he met Regan Donelan’s corner at the near post but on this occasion he couldn’t keep his header down.The home side did have a few chances before the break with Flores firing over from Stefan Colovic’s lay off before McGinty did well to save a deflected effort from Sean Murray from the edge of the box.

The Republic of Ireland U-21 squad member then produced two stunning saves two minutes before the break when he firstly clawed away a hooked effort from Daniel Cleary from a Colovic corner before making an even better stop from the follow up corner when he tipped Brian Gartland’s header around the post.

After surviving a scare when Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe was unmarked at the back post but fired tamely at Rogers, Dundalk’s evening then went from bad to worse in first half stoppage time when top scorer Patrick Hoban limped off with a serious looking injury.

Sean Gannon was also introduced on the wing at half-time but it was right back Sean Hoare who created the first chance of the second half on 53 minutes when his cross picked out the unmarked McMillan whose header was well saved by McGinty at the second attempt.

There were few further openings after that with McMillan unable to capitalise on other half chances. Cleary was even deployed up front towards the end as they went in desperate search of a leveller.It almost arrived two a minute from the end when Hoare’s header from Colovic’s corner was turned goalward by Gannon but again McGinty was equal to it as it was turned around the post.

Daniel Cleary had a couple of bites at the cherry to grab an equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time but it was Sligo who would be celebrating in the 96th minute when Coughlan rifled a stunning shot past Rogers to complete the victory.

Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Hoare, Brian Gartland, Daniel Cleary, Cameron Dummigan; Greg Sloggett, Jordan Flores (John Mountney 74); Stefan Colovic, Sean Murray (Sean Gannon HT), Nathan Oduwa; Patrick Hoban (David McMillan 45+2). Subs not used: Aaron McCarey, Darragh Leahy, Jamie Wynne, Andy Boyle.

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Lewis Banks, Garry Buckley, John Mahon, Regan Donelon (Alex Cooper 64); David Cawley, Niall Morahan (Will Seymore 79); Jesse Devers, Ryan De Vries, Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe; Ronan Coughlan. Subs not used: Luke McNicholas, Danny Kane, Darragh Noone, Darren Collins, Sigitas Olberkis.

Sligo Rovers play their final game of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division on Monday against Dundalk at Oriel Park, kick-off 7.30pm, live on WATCHLOI.ie.

The Bit O’ Red go in search of a first top-half finish since 2016 and could end in fourth place depending on results elsewhere.The last time Rovers finish as high as that was third place in 2013. 

Rovers have earned 22 points in 13 matches since the restart, the third best in the division.

Earlier this season Rovers were 3-1 winners over Dundalk in The Showgrounds as part of seven wins from the last eight games in league at home.  

Away from home has proven much trickier for Rovers in 2020, failing to score in seven of eight games so far, with the only goals coming in the 2-0 win over Derry City.

That stat must be improved upon for the Bit O’ Red to secure the finish desired in the league.

Incidentally the last Rovers last win in Oriel Park came in the 2016 campaign.

In team news, Teemu Penninkangas and Mark Byrne are slight doubts with knocks but could be available.

Johnny Dunleavy (knee) and Ronan Murray (toe) are definitely out. Ryan De Vries (knee) is available after being forced off at half-time against Cork City.

Liam Buckley said: “We’re looking forward to the game certainly. When the season restarted, if you told us that we’d have the chance to finish fifth and possibly get fourth which could be Europe, and with an FAI Cup quarter-final to come, we would have taken it without doubt.

“It’s a good outcome to be in this position from where we were on 31 July. There is this opportunity for us and unquestionably there’s a huge amount on the line in this game.

“It’s a difficult one when you are facing Dundalk away from home, we know that. They are looking for a result as well to seal third place. But it’s a chance for us and we’re going there with that in mind.

“We had a very tight game in The Showgrounds where we produced a performance and scored goals. We managed to get the win that day.  We’re looking to try to do that again and see where that take us.

“There are a lot of permutations about what could happen, I’m sure there’ll be twists and turns over the evening. From our point of view we’re looking forward to the game and trying to get the result we want.”

Sligo Rovers are delighted to confirm that David Cawley has signed a new two-year contract with the club today.

The 29-year-old will enter into his eighth season the club in 2021 and becomes the third player to commit to the club for the next campaign.

Niall Morahan and John Mahon signed for 2021 last month.

Cawley admitted that it is hard to believe he has had such a long time in a Rovers shirt.

He spent one season each at St Patrick’s Athletic and Galway United, but have return to the Bit O’ Red in 2018, the Ballina man has firmly established himself as a mainstay at The Showgrounds over much of the last decade.

Cawley said: “The years have flown by. I think it’ll bring me into my eighth and ninth season. It’s great. I was delighted to be approached about a new deal. It was only going to end up one way. The deal was straight-forward and I couldn’t wait to sign.

“The bit of security means a lot to players at the moment. It is hard to come by, especially in this league. It shows the club is moving in the right direction. Before this contract runs out, as a player I want to pull the club further forward.

“I know this year has been strange but after the restart we really kicked on moved up the table. I think we’ve moved forward with the way the season went, but we’d like it better of course

“It’s hard to reflect on it overall. It has been such a strange year. The break did us the world of good but from the position we were in, we knew we had to be and that it was about points straight away. At one stage we were third after a win.

“Expectations rose and we were performing to our potential. A few weeks passed on and we had a bit of a bump again. If you look at every club, bar Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians, everyone had their ups and downs.”

Having seen the club grow through his time at The Showgrounds, Cawley is keen to prove that this year’s side are making progress, with the best possible chance to do so coming this month with a match on Sunday to finish in a high position in the league against Dundalk and an FAI Cup quarter-final to come against Derry City.

“We can say we’ve improved if we do finish the season well. Consistency has not been great for us for a few years really. When we were in that good run this season, we were dominating games.

“Some of them we won by a single goal and we had serious chances. The wins should have been bigger. We had a little luck along the way and now it’s going against us. That’s football. We’ve lost 1-0 in some games and it hasn’t gone our way.

“In the Waterford game they scored a screamer early in the game through their only shot and we couldn’t break them down.  We were creating a lot of chance and we were aggressive in our play. That died out of us a bit. I can’t really tell you why. It just happened. We didn’t want it to happen and we’ve discussed it.

“Maybe teams sussed us out and that we were a harder team to face than before. I’m not too sure. Hopefully we can finish it strongly.  That would be ideal. Wherever that may leave us, we want to finish as strong as we can.”

Cawley was part of the Rovers side which enjoyed great success between 2012 and 2014.

At 29, he is all too aware that the years are going by for chance to repeat such moments. The ambition is most certainly there.

“I can’t finish up my career without winning something again. It would torture me. I know I’ve won trophies but when you do win something you want to win it again. You have to be hungry. We’re in the Cup and I’d like to get to the semi-final of that and see from that.

“We had a couple of semi-finals and we were close to getting that big day back again. I know the FAI Cup semi-final with Dundalk had a full house and we hadn’t see that in a while, but ideally we’d like to go on further and get to a final.

“I don’t want to see out contracts and just be happy enough that I’ve won one league, one FAI Cup and whatever else. I want to do it again. I’m not here to play and that’s it. I want to win something.”.

Liam Buckley added: “We’re delighted to get David signed today. He has been a fantastic player for the club for a long period and he is very important to the side here.

“A two-year contract is good for both the player and the club so that aspect is welcome too. David is very keen to be part of a successful Sligo Rovers and that’s what we want.

“Next season is just around the corner so planning is crucial. We have to plan as best we can. This is another good move in doing so.”

€8,000 has been generated so far in the Sligo Rovers Annual Draw.

There is a special emphasis on online sales this year, due to Covid 19 restrictions.

Of the total money raised so far, over €5,000 has been raised online.

There is €5,000 to be won along with nine other prizes including two €500 vouchers for Petstop Discount Warehouse & Fuel Centre.

Tickets are priced at €10 and can be purchased here.

All support is greatly appreciated.

We are delighted to bring our supporters our brand new range of club merchandise for 2021 with thanks to Joma Sport.

We have purchased a range of merchandise in time for Christmas and have made it as easy as ever to shop online with us and get your favourite Bit O’ Red items, without having to leave your home.

Our range of merchandise is available now at our official online store, www.srfcdirect.com

We are now offering a FREE home delivery service on any orders with an address of within a 10km radius of The Showgrounds. In December, during the busy Christmas period, we are operating this service right up until Christmas eve. Simply select ‘Click and Collect’ option but leave us a note saying you’d like us to deliver it, and include your address, and we will be in touch.

We also have a click and collect service available at The Showgrounds, and when our store opens in town for Christmas, all click and collect items can be picked up at Barton Smith, where we will be once again opening in December, with an exact date to be confirmed.

We have a range of brand new training gear for kids and adults, as well as some new ladies wear items. Full kid’s tracksuits proved popular last Christmas and we have our nicest ever this time. A range of club merchandise will also be available soon, including bobble hats, scarves and new Bit O’ Red mugs, available in the coming days.

We also continue to sell our Annie West designed posters for €12, which can also be delivered free of charge to your home or you can pick it up from us. These are a fantastic design and have been ever popular over the last couple of months.

You can pre order your Christmas items today and we guarantee you will have these when the stock arrives in just over a fortnight.

We also encourage supporters to take a book of annual draw tickets to support the club, and you can help sell them to your friends or family.

To view our new range visit www.srfcdirect.com