Sligo Rovers face Dublin side Peamount United tomorrow evening at 5pm at PLR Park in Greenogue.

The game will be streamed live on LOITV and broadcast on Ocean FM Sport.

The Bit O’ Red have enjoyed a busy pre-season with five fixtures over the course of January and February. Manager Steve Feeney has been just as busy in the background getting his squad together. 25 players are now registered for the squad, with some of those coming through from our Under 19 squad to add some strength in depth.

Feeney knows the threat Peamount will post but has belief in his squad:

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We are looking forward to getting the league games started after all the work put in during pre-season. We know it will be a very tough test on Saturday but we are looking forward to the challenges this league will provide us on a weekly basis and are excited to face each one head on. Peamount have proven over a number of seasons how strong they are and have some full Internationals

 in their squad so our players are looking forward to testing themselves against a top team with top players.”

The hosts narrowly missed out on a League Title in 2021 with a heartbreaking defeat on the final day of the season against Galway FC but with the re-signings of International players such as Stephanie Roche and Aine O’ Gorman, they’ll hope to go one better in 2022.

Feeney explains his squad will embrace the challenges that face them this season:

”While Saturday is only one game and our season won’t be defined by it, we will be looking to show what we hope we can bring to the league this season. We need to focus on ourselves and do all we can to give a good performance in each game.  It’s an exciting time for all involved with the club and the players have given so much over a number of weeks that it will be great to see them start their journey in the national league for Rovers this Saturday.”

In team news, Emma Hansberry, Emma Doherty (both Hamstring) will face late fitness tests along with Yasmin Connolly who is recovering from a quad strain., Leah Kelly (Shoulder) Jessica Casey (Ear) and Kerri O’Hara (Ill) are all out.

The game will be streamed live on LOITV.IE and you can listen in on Ocean FM who will be doing live match commentary with Jessica Farry and Alan Cawley.

We wish the squad and staff all the very best as we kickstart our first ever season an WNL Senior level.

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Following recent incidents at home and away games, we would like to remind a small minority of fans that antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated by the club.

These incidents have put players, officials, stewards, and other fans at risk and have resulted heavy fines being issued to the club. 

One supporter has been issued with a ban from Sligo Rovers matches following Friday night’s game against St Patrick’s Athletic, and the club will continue to investigate all incidents and issue bans to those who can’t behave responsibly. It is a last resort to issue any supporter with any ban. However we must act on unsatisfactory behaviour.

We are extremely proud of our fans and encourage passionate, respectful support, but we need to ensure our games are a safe, pleasant environment for everyone to enjoy.

To help ensure a safe, entertaining atmosphere at all Bit O’ Red matches, please be reminded that unacceptable conduct whilst at any match – from home or away supporters – will not be tolerated.

Unacceptable conduct covers conduct which is violent and/or disorderly and includes:

• Any sort of sectarian, homophobic, racist or sexist behaviour
• Aggressiveness or violent behaviour, including damage to the ground
• Drunkenness
• Threatening and/or abusive behaviour

Any individual who participates in unacceptable conduct at home or away matches will be ejected and subject to investigation by Gardai. The club reserves the right to take further sanctions, including exclusion from the stadium, for a period of time or permanently.

Pyrotechnics:

The use of pyrotechnics (smoke flares and noise percussion) is an unwanted feature at football grounds. Please note discharging such items is extremely dangerous and can cause serious injury if not used in the correct manner. Supporters seen to be using pyrotechnics will be ejected from the ground and banned permanently. They may also be subject to criminal proceedings by An Garda Siochana. Unfortunately, the club simply cannot afford to pay out fines from our already stretched resources for things such as pyrotechnics and will take actions to prevent us having to do so. As you will read below, we have taken additional measures to identify supporters who use pyrotechnics in order to enforce punishments on those who use them.

Pitch Incursions

Any person who encroaches onto the pitch, for whatever reason, will be ejected by security staff and also banned from the stadium. In particular, at the final game of the 2021 season against Bohemians, some behaviour from our own supporters was simply not good enough and extremely disappointing for our players, staff and volunteers on what should have been an enjoyable night to celebrate the end of the season.

CCTV System:

The installation of further state of the art CCTV has taken place again in the off-season.

Power Right Fire, Energy and Security are the leading business in Sligo for fire, energy and security services. 

A pan–tilt–zoom camera has been installed by Power Right to monitor three sides of the stadium. It will be used throughout match night and monitored by An Garda Siochana.

This measure is being taken to increase safety and care to all fans in the ground and is part of the terms of entering The Showgrounds. 

The new CCTV is also a preventive measure to identify those that use pyrotechnics, engage in threatening and abusive behaviour or other activities and anyone found doing so will be removed from the ground and banned from future games.

Sligo Rovers can today announce the continuation of the community initiative which sees every baby born in Sligo University Hospital this year offered a Rovers jersey on the day they enter the world.

The project, headed by the club and The Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust in conjunction with Sligo University Hospital, saw 1,200 Rovers jerseys donated to families of newborns in Sligo and parts of Leitrim, Donegal, Roscommon, Cavan and Mayo.

This season Sligo Rovers have maintained the use of JOMA Sport home and away jerseys for the 2022 season as part of our commitment to make football affordable for all and sustainability in our community.

This year even more jerseys will be produced free of charge for families during their stay in Sligo University Hospital.

The move comes ahead of the new Sligo Rovers Women’s National League team playing their first competitive game on Saturday as well as the men’s team playing their opening league match at home in The Showgrounds on the same day against Dundalk at 7.45pm.

Sligo Rovers chief executive Colin Feehily said: “We’ve received so many messages of gratitude from families and stories of new generations of Sligo Rovers fans being born and proudly wearing their first jersey within hours of coming into the world.

“For over 90 years we’ve built an inclusive club where the tradition of following the club – and maintaining its roots in the community – is passed down in families.

“It is one of our greatest strengths and giving back to the long-time supporters of the club – and welcoming new families and supporters with a gift from the Bit O’ Red – was one of the highlights of last season.

“Together with the Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust, we’re delighted to continue this programme. Our merchandise sales are at an all-time high and we continue to receive the financial backing from the public who allow us to field the eight Sligo Rovers team week-to-week from men’s senior to academy and now our new WNL side. We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who contributes and give back in this way as a token of appreciation. 

“I’d like to thank our sponsors for being very supportive in allowing us to make it logistically possible and financially viable again and most of all the staff at Sligo University Hospital. They’ve supported so many families particularly in the last two years. We hope the sight of newborns and the Bit O’ Red brought them some joy along the way.”

Gerard O’Connor of the Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust said: “Over the last year, the positivity the baby jerseys have created within the region has been immeasurable and priceless.

“We are delighted to play our part in this wonderful initiative. It has been a tough time for everyone and this is our small way of thanking the people of the region for their unwavering support.”

Sligo Rovers jerseys, both home and away, are on sale here.

Pictured at Sligo University Hospital are Will Fitzgerlad, Karl O’Sullivan and Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust members Susan Brennan and Brenda Kearins along with staff

Fiona Doherty is the latest player to commit to Sligo Rovers ahead of the new Women’s National League season.

History will be made this Saturday as the Bit O’Red play their first ever game in the national league, taking on three time champions Peamount in Dublin at 5pm.

Doherty, a native of Foxford, is well known in GAA circles and joins Rovers having rediscovered her love for football in recent years.

The 25-year-old is a forward, and signs having impressed manager Steve Feeney during a pre-season friendly during which she played against Rovers for Conn Rangers.

Doherty has played GAA for as long as she can remember, and is a senior player for Mayo.

As a youth, she played football for Ballyvary Blue Bombers, before she left that aside to concentrate on GAA.

Doherty, who is a member of An Garda Síochana based in Letterkenny, has played for Connacht representative sides in the past.

She returned to football last year, and won silverware with Conn Rangers.

“Last year I joined Conn Rangers after breaking my thumb which withdrew me from Gaelic earlier than I wanted. 

“But it brought back the love for soccer I’ve always had but pushed aside when I was younger.”

Feeney approached Doherty following the pre-season friendly at The Showgrounds, and talks started from there. “I trained a few weeks later and I’m delighted to be signing for Sligo Rovers as a result of it all.

“Pre-season has been great, I’m learning so much from all the girls on the team and also Steve and his management team.”

Doherty is stepping away from GAA for a period, and is planning to return later in the year.

For now, her focus is on Rovers and the new season.

She is honoured to be given the opportunity to be a part of the first ever Rovers Women’s National League side.

She said: “Being given the chance to play in the WNL is an absolute honour as I know there are lots of soccer players that would give anything to be in my shoes.  “It’s all a new experience to me and I’m taking nothing for granted. I’m taking it all in and really looking forward to the year ahead in the Bit O’Red.”

Doherty studied at IT Sligo and knows a number of the players from her time there, along with a few familiar faces from Mayo.

“I’m fortunate to know a few of the girls in the squad from IT Sligo and also there’s a few Mayo girls within the panel who I’ve played GAA with and against. Having those familiar faces there made it easier for me to walk into the first session as I felt like I was always a part of the team.”

With the season getting underway this Saturday, Doherty hopes Rovers can surprise a few people this year.

“To be part of the first Sligo Rovers WNL side is a great feeling, I’m delighted to be a part of it and look forward to the season ahead. 

“We have been doing very well in training and there is such talent within the group. I don’t think there will be too much expected of us as a team just starting out but hopefully we will surprise a few people.

“Steve and his management team have been phenomenal so far, they are super professional and really know their stuff.”

Former Castlebar Celtic and Galway WFC striker Aoife Brennan has joined Sligo Rovers for the club’s first season in the Women’s National League.

The Mayo native is hoping that the Bit O’ Red can surprise a few people, as the club makes history this weekend playing our first ever senior WNL game.

The 28-year-old played her underage soccer with Ballyglass, before moving to Manulla FC around the age of 15.Brennan was a student at IT Sligo for four years, and played in the Women’s National League for both Castlebar Celtic and Galway WFC.

She told Sligorovers.com: “GAA was always my first sport as I played with Carnacon and we were fairly successful so that always came first.

“I left Galway because it was too much to keep it going while playing Gaelic too, I moved back to Manulla the following season and played in the Mayo league with them.

“When the call came in from Steve Feeney seeing if she was interested, Brennan decided to give it a go.

“Steve rang me over the Christmas to see would I be interested in going to trials for Rovers and I had already been thinking about giving it a go so I went to the open trial session and it went from there.

“The Mayo native scored four goals in pre-season, and is hoping to keep that going when the season starts this Saturday with a trip to Peamount United. Kick-off is 5pm in Greenogue.

“I can’t wait to get started, it’s very exciting being a part of the first senior women’s team at Sligo Rovers and hopefully we can surprise a few people this season.

“Steve and all the coaches have been absolutely brilliant and the training sessions are very enjoyable and professional.”

Sligo Rovers have signed Amy Roddy for the new Women’s National League season.

The 30-year-old, who hails from Ballina in county Mayo, is a central midfielder, but admits she is starting to enjoy playing centre-back – a position she wasn’t too fond of once upon a time.

Roddy has played football since she was a child, playing for Ballina Town at underage level, moving up to the senior team where they enjoyed great success winning county and national titles including the FAI Intermediate Cup.

Roddy represented Connacht and Mayo in representative teams throughout the years.

Roddy, who recently set up her own personal training and online coaching business, previously played football with IT Sligo during her four years there, winning numerous titles.

She is an established GAA player, playing for Mayo at both underage and senior level.

It’s been a few years since she played football competitively, as she played club and county GAA, but Roddy is looking forward to the challenge presented by the Women’s National League.

“When I finished college I missed playing soccer so much, my club career with Ballina Town unfortunately ended too when we no longer had a team or manager. 

“So when I heard the rumours about Sligo Rovers finally getting a senior team I was delighted, I love the challenge of playing sport at a high level.”

Working with manager Steve Feeney and his team of coaches, Roddy says she is learning every week.

“From the first session it was clear that Steve and the coaches knew what they were at, the sessions have been brilliant and I’m learning loads.

“There are a few familiar faces within the squad for Roddy, with Mayo players and players from IT Sligo within the group.

“Coming into the panel I knew a lot of the girls from playing college football and some of them are from Mayo too, it’s nice having people you know when joining a new team.”

While Roddy feels it took her a little bit of time to find her feet, she is enjoying working with younger players whom she is learning from.

“The younger girls on the team who I’m getting to know are so talented, after spending the last few years focusing on GAA it has taken a few sessions to get back into it and I’m definitely learning a thing or two from the younger girls on the team. It’s always good to have a balance of youth and experience on a team.”

She hopes Rovers can make their mark within the Women’s National League. 

“Sligo are so passionate about their soccer and I’m delighted to be part of the first WNL side, everyone has been so welcoming and professional and the experience so far has been brilliant. I can’t wait to play our first league game to showcase our talent as a newly established team and make our mark in the WNL.”