The 2020 Super Reds open day will take place this coming Sunday, February 2nd in The Showgrounds.

Registration for the event itself will open from 1.15pm in our new clubhouse, with activities on the day commencing from 2pm and finishing at 4pm.

Please note this event is exclusive to our Super Red members for 2020.

Our Super Reds will receive their free training kit on the day along with their 2020 season ticket. (Providing the application was received by the club before January 24th).

Along with this, every Super Red member will get the opportunity to meet our first team players whilst also enjoying fun and games on the clubs astro pitch with them.

The club requests that all Super Reds must be accompanied by a parent on the day.

The clubs merchandise shop will be open from 1.30pm.

If your child has applied to be a Super Red for 2020 and you are unable to attend on Sunday, please contact Shane at the club on 071-9171212 or email him Shane@sligorovers.com

If you would like your child to become a Super Red for 2020 there is still time. You can apply here.

Two families with very similar tales are our Stories from the Wall this week and share a strong Sligo name.

To date, 210 tiles have been sold for the new wall with the deadline this Friday to buy one to be erected in time for the new season.

Buy your tile here

The Kearins family in New York sent a video this week telling the story of how their grandfather is part of Sligo Rovers folklore and will be remembered on the Wall.

Laura Kearins, who is based in the Bronx, has helped carry on the tradition of supporting the club from her father Tony Kearins and grandfather Michael Kearins.

Michael remortgaged his home during a difficult time for the club early in its history in order for it to survive and to celebrate their great commitment to Rovers, they have bought several tiles.

Tony, Lena, Leo, Nancy, Debra, Michael, Brenda, Tara, Oisin, Ansela, Nan, Tess, Mickey, Julia and Theresa have bought seven tiles between them.

Brenda and Alan Kearins are among our most dedicated supporters here in Sligo as part of the Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust.

As Laura said in a video recorded at her residence in the Bronx: “I’m asking for everyone to support the Bit O’Red and buy a tile at The Showgrounds as most of us Kearins’ have already done here in New York and Sligo. The Kearins family will be reunited at The Showgrounds through the Bit O’ Red Wall.”

The Kearins family are part of the history of our club.

There is another Kerins Family who have purchased three tiles and reside in New York, although no relation.

Donie Kerins made the purchase on behalf of his late brother Tom and father Tommy who supported Rovers all his life.

The family originally had connections in Grange and lived on the Mall. Donie’s mother still lives in Sligo.

The message from Donie has the family name with messages on each tile

Bit O’ Red Forever

Rovers Forever.

(Click here to buy a tile)

Sligo Rovers were 5-1 winners last night against Ballinamallard in our latest pre-season friendly.

The game was played on the astro pitch at Ferney Park due to inclement weather.

Ronan Coughlan scored a hat-trick, while a trialist also scored two.

Regan Donelon was forced off in the first-half with a suspected shoulder injury.

Next up is Athlone Town away on Saturday at 2pm.

This year Valentine’s Day falls on the opening night of the League of Ireland season – which isn’t ideal for around 600 Sligo Rovers fans planning on travelling to Finn Park for our first game.

We have many couples that follow the Bit O’ Red but also, begrudgingly, accept that partners sometimes do not bond over a night watching the Rovers.  

So far two buses – including a double-decker – have been filled with fans set to travel to Donegal. More are expect to follow with over two weeks to go.

The course of true love may not run smoothly if you do not create a plan for Friday 14^th February – so we have come up with a solution.

You can download your Sligo Rovers-themed Valentine’s Day Card for your loved one as you confess your undying love – with a message subtlety added that you are moving the love-filled day until Saturday so you can travel to Finn Park.  

The final part even includes our new signing Will Seymore informing you that Saturday will in fact be a much more romantic day that Valentine’s Day.

Download the card below, print two pages and combine them. More importantly, see you all in Ballybofey.

Sligo Rovers take on Ballinamallard in our next pre-season friendly on Tuesday night in Ferney Park, kick-off 7:45pm.

Rovers beat Drogheda United last Thursday in United Park.

A friendly with Athlone Town follows on Saturday afternoon.

Sligo’s most renowned soccer ambassador, Sean Fallon and a former Editor of the Sligo Champion, Seamus Finn are among those who will be remembered on The Bit O’Red Wall at the Showgrounds.

Tiles for the wall, being created by the Boyle-based firm Feely Stone, cost €100 each and the closing date for inclusion in the first section of the wall is January 31^st.

To date, 200 tiles have been sold. Get yours here

Sean Fallon was born in Sligo in 1922.  He was a sports all-rounder and after playing for Sligo and Glenavon, he signed for Glasgow Celtic and would later captain the famous club and play for Ireland.

He became a Celtic legend as was always conscious that the club was founded by Andrew Kerins, a Marist brother from Ballymote Co. Sligo.  Sean was assistant manager to Jock Stein when Celtic won the European Cup, defeating Inter Milan 2-1 in Lisbon.  Sean would later manage the famous club.

He and his family maintained their links with Sligo and regularly spent their summer holidays in Rosses Point.  Shortly before his death, Sean passed on his Irish international caps to his grandchildren.  Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, always acknowledged that Sean had a huge influence on his career and he delivered the eulogy at his funeral in Glasgow in January 2013.

Seamus Finn was the editor of the Sligo Champion who resisted several job offers in order to spend his journalistic career in his native Sligo.

Jim Gray, his twin brother, Leo and Michael Moran, who all worked with Seamus decided it would be appropriate to honour the contribution of their deceased colleague on The Showgrounds Wall.

Buy your tile

According to Jim: “ Seamus had the distinction of once being banned from the Showgrounds because his reporting for The Sligo Champion and for RTE annoyed some of the club’s committee.  

“But peace soon broke out and Seamus returned to the work that he loved.”

“Seamus always felt there was a whole world in the local.  As well as editing the Champion, he developed a great interest in photography and his empathy with Sligo was reflected in his photographic work.  

“We learned a lot from him and we are delighted with the opportunity to see that his contribution is remembered and celebrated in The Showgounds.”

The Sean Fallon tile will read

SEAN FALLON

SRFC and CELTIC

LEGEND

The Seamus Finn Tile will read

SEAMUS FINN

1947 – 2017

A SLIGO CHAMPION

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce a new partnership with Elite Athletic Performance who have come on board as our academy teams’ strength and conditioning partner for 2020.

Based out of Summerhill College’s fantastic sporting facility, our underage players will go through a pre-season programme each week between now and March, which will be overseen by Garry O’ Hehir and Ross Chrystal of Elite Athletic Performance.

Club CEO Colin Feehily expressed his delight at the new arrangement:

“It’s something I felt was missing last season from our underage system. It’s important for us as a club to give the academy players as much as possible to help them get better and develop in their time with us.

“Strength and conditioning is vitally important nowadays, and we are happy to have this boxed off for them. It’s a great location for us, just up the road from The Showgrounds and no doubt many of our players are familiar with it as they attend the school there.

“We feel as a club it’s important to give the youth teams as much as possible to try and mirror what the first team do and mirror their training methods. We’re all trying to be on the same page here.”

Each team have attended Summerhill College this week and have began testing sessions and will begin individual and team programmes from now until their season starts in mid-March.

Garry O’ Hehir of Elite Athletic Performance:

“Myself & Ross are delighted to be on board with the Rovers academy teams for the coming season. It’s something we like to focus on, developing young, local talent which is definitely the case here.

“We’ve seen all the lads so far this week and we’re excited to start working with them ahead of the new season.“

Visit Elite Athletic Performance on Instagram: @elite_athletic_performance_ire or on Facebook: Elite Athletic Performance

Sligo Rovers were saddened to hear of the passing of long time supporter Father Richie Young today.

Fr. Young supported Rovers all his life and indeed very nearly played for the club as he had trials in the late 1940’s. He also played inter-county football with Sligo GAA.

He left Sligo in 1950 after he was ordained and his parish was close to the Mater Hospital in Dublin.

He also taught in schools around Dublin, including being a resident of Rathmines College, and was very involved in schoolboy and youth football in Dublin and Leinster.

His love of Rovers stayed with him and though he was often at more away games than home ones, he rarely passed up the chance to see the Bit O ‘Red in action.

In his later years Fr. Richie was a resident in Summerville Nursing Home and the highlight of his fortnight would be when his niece Tina would bring him to the Showgrounds to his usual spot down at the front of the Treacy Avenue Stand for a game.

One of his favourite players was Richard Brush and he was delighted when Brushie started working in Summerville and he enjoyed many chats with him about Rovers.

He will be missed from the Treacy Avenue Stand having supported the club all the way to his late 80s before passing away today.

Reposing at Seán Feehily’s Funeral Home, Cartron Cross, Sligo from 4.30pm on Friday.

Removal at 6.00pm to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Sligo. Mass of the Resurrection at 11.30am on Saturday.

Burial follows in Sligo Cemetery. Family homes private. Donations in lieu of Flowers if desired to SHOUT (Sligo Hospital Oncology Unit Trust) c/o Seán Feehily’s Funeral Home, Cartron Cross, Sligo.

We send our condolences to all of Father Richie’s family. May he Rest in Peace.

(Image courtesy of The Sligo Weekender)

A group of former Summerhill College students who played on teams trained by the late Fr Cyril Haran have organised a tile in his memory to feature on The Bit O’ Red Wall.

It is the among the latest tiles purchased with 183 now bought to feature on the wall.

The closing date is 31st January to be posted in time for the season.

Click here to purchase your tile

One of the organisers for the tile in memory of Fr Haran is Ballymote native, Michael Rafferty, who now lives in Galway.

Fr Haran was a popular football coach for a period of his time on the Summerhill College staff.

He served in several parishes in the Elphin diocese and his last base was in Grange Co. Sligo where he had family connections.

According to Michael: “Fr Haran was such a positive influence in our lives during our times in Summerhill. Over 40 years later we still cherish the memories.

“Some of us were boarders, others with day students.

‘Cyrlie’ , as we used to know him, gave us great times. During a three-year golden period in the 70’s, he brought us to tournaments in France, Glasgow and Liverpool.

“He managed Summerhill and Sligo/Leitrim teams teams that featured in All-Ireland finals.”

“Over the years we had reunions to remember the great times had together and it is a small but great way to put our gratitude to him on the record by having a tile with his name on the Showgrounds Wall.”

“Fellas from those teams included Gerry Emmett, Kevin Murray, David O Malley, Enda Eames, Leo Harrington, Tony McGowan, Austin Jennings, Kenny Molloy, PJ Dolan, Roy Kilfeather, Martin Callaghan, John and Jim Kent, Colm Dykes, Gerry Adams, Roy Kilfeather, Paddy Cullen, Larry O’Gara, James Kerins, Kevin Gurrie, Jack Mc Groarty, Martin James, Eugene Metcalfe and John O’Doherty.”

The tile will state

Fr CYRIL HARAN
SUMMERHILL COACH
THANK YOU

It is with great sadness that Sligo Rovers today learned of the passing of Loman Gallagher, former club treasurer and highly-respected volunteer at the club.

Loman served on a number of committees, including the year 2007 when as treasurer of the club he was part of the board that appointed Paul Cook as manager – and in 2011 featured in the same role when the Bit O’ Red won the FAI Cup under Cook.

That was something he always took great pride in as among the best decisions that he was part of during a long association with Sligo Rovers.

His unassuming and calm demeanor complimented the many skills possessed to make Loman such an important volunteer at the club.

He was a vital part of our lotto sales and Annual Draw raffle sales team, with the knowledge of how important it is to the club to make ends meet each week, and the demeanor to inform supporters that every purchase was so appreciated.  

In recent years many fans would know Loman as one of our turnstile operators.

He organised the float for the start of the night and welcomed hundreds of Rovers fans to The Showgrounds in that gentle way we are all recalling today, and often with a witty exchange if you were lucky enough to know him.

He passed away this morning.

Sligo Rovers chairman Martin Heraghty: “The news came as a real shock to us all as we learned of Loman’s passing after a short illness.

“Loman commanded a huge level of respect at Sligo Rovers. He helped the club through difficult times – before our golden period – and saw it all the way through to some of our greatest ever days.

“Even when he had stepped down from the committee after such outstanding service, he sacrificed a large part of his match nights for the betterment of the club.

“We mourn the loss of a great person and a treasured servant of the club who was not just part of match nights but Sligo Rovers itself.

“Today is such a sad day for his family and the people that worked closely with Loman over many, many years. Our thoughts are with all of them today.

“We will remember Loman at the first home game of the new season – on the pitch just before kick-off – but more so when walking through the turnstile and thinking of the wonderful person who contributed so much to Sligo Rovers and will be so sorely missed.”