Our 500 Club Draw for January and February took place recently with twenty members being drawn out to win a cash prize.

Our 500 Club is one of the club’s most important fundraisers with over 500 members contributing just €20 per month to help towards the running of the club.

The winners were Cian Scanlon (January) and Eamon Kelly (February). Both members take away €500.

To become a member you can visit https://srfcdirect.com/fundraising/500-club/ or contact the club through shane@sligorovers.com

Draw results:

January:

1^st: €500: Cian Scanlon, Drumiskabole, Sligo

2^nd: €100: Norman Ashe, Strandhill Rd, Sligo

3^rd: €100: Michael McTiernan, Maugheraboy, Sligo

4^th: €100: Brendan Fitzsimons, Cairns Rd, Sligo

5^th: €100: Neil Kennedy, Boyle, Co. Roscommon

6^th: €100: Danny McHugh, Ballindine, Co Mayo

7^th: €100: Ken East, Ballincar, Rosses Point, Sligo

8^th: €100: David Daly, Brussels, Belgium

9^th: €100: Sean Dwyer, Cartron, Sligo

10^th: €100: Martin Foley, Castle St, Sligo

February:

1^st: €500: Eamon Kelly, Cairns Hill, Sligo

2^nd: €100: David Donegan, Catron, Sligo

3^rd: €100: Brendan Lacken, Dromard, Sligo

4^th: €100: Kevin/Rosaleen O’ Grady, Kevinsfort, Sligo

5^th: €100: Ronan Mulligan, San Francisco, USA

6^th: €100: Hugh Browne, Ballintogher

7^th: €100: Joseph Gilmartin, Church Hill, Sligo

8^th: €100: Liam McGettigan, Connolly St, Sligo

9^th: €100: Trevor Kelly, Cartron, Sligo

10^th: €100: Michael Toolan, Lavagh, Sligo

Congratulations to all members who won a prize and we wish to thank all our 500 Club members and 500 Club committee for their continued support.

Our academy teams are all in action this weekend with three away games and two at The Sean Fallon Centre.

On Saturday, Our Under 17 Women’s team travel to take on Peamount at 4pm in Dublin.

Also on Saturday, Our Under 17 men’s team face Galway United at 5pm in Oranmore.

Sunday sees three fixtures take place with our Under 15 boys at home at 2pm against Longford Town followed by our Under 19 Women’s team at 4:30pm against DLR Waves.

At 3pm in Navan, Our Under 19 men’s team take on Drogheda United.

All games are free to attend and all support is welcome.

Liam Buckley takes his squad to Head in The Game Park tomorrow night to take on Drogheda United in The SSE Airtricity League Premier Division. (7:45pm)

The Bit O’ Red will look to continue their unbeaten record this season after an opening day win over St Patrick’s Athletic followed by too stalemates against Derry City and Dundalk.

The home side, under new manager Kevin Doherty come into the game on the back of an impressive win over UCD last Friday night. The Drogs are also only in gameweek 4 of their season as their opening day fixture against Finn Harps was postponed in Ballybofey.

In team new, Liam Buckley welcomes back Robbie McCourt and Greg Bolger to the squad after both players missed out last Saturday’s game with Dundalk at The Showgrounds..

Liam Buckley said: “It was a tough start to the season facing three of the teams who’ll look to be competing at the top end of the table. I felt like we did well in those games and defended quite well, but we know there is also improvement in the group in relation to where we want to be.

“It was great for the fans to have the team coming back to The Showgrounds last weekend and to their credit they came out in big numbers to support us. Our last couple of away games we had a great away support and I’m sure tomorrow will be no different, we’re looking forward to it.

“Drogheda had a fine season last year and will be looking to do better again. They’ve lost some players but they’ve also added some quality and looking at them so far, we know we’re in for a difficult game.

Away fans can buy tickets online through Drogheda United’s website and the game will be Live on LOI TV.

Last three:

Drogheda United:

Shamrock Rovers (Lost 3-1), Shelbourne (Lost 2-0), UCD (Won 4-2)

Rovers:

St Patrick’s Athletic (Won 2-1), Derry City (Drew 0-0), Dundalk (Drew 0-0)

Bit O’ Red goalkeeper Luke McNicholas continues his loan spell with Cliftonville until the end of the NIFL season and the Mayo man has been in impressive form so far this season.

McNicholas has played 19 games, keeping 13 clean sheets across three competitions.

Cliftonville are currently in second position in the Danske Bank Premiership, one point off Linfield who are on top.

This Sunday, Luke will be in League Cup Final action at Windsor Park as him and his team-mates face Coleraine at 3pm.

Everyone at the club wish Luke all the best in Sunday’s Final.

Bit O’ Red defender Nando Pijnaker has been included in New Zealand’s Senior squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers in Qatar.

The eight team tournament starts on March 17th and consists of two groups of four. Nando and New Zealand have been drawn to play Papua New Guinea on Friday March 18th (2pm Irish Time), Fiji on Monday March 21st (5pm Irish Time) and New Caledonia on Thursday March 24th (5pm Irish Time).

The top two teams in both groups will advance to semi finals with a final set to take place on March 31st.

The winner will then progress to play in the Intercontinental Play-Off against the fourth placed Concacaf team for a place at The World Cup in Qatar later this year.

Pijnaker will play for The Bit O’ Red against Shamrock Rovers next Friday night in Tallaght (March 18th) before travelling to Qatar to join up with the squad for their games against Fiji and New Caledonia.

Pijnaker:

”I am happy and excited to be back involved with the national team and I am looking forward to the games ahead”

Sligo Rovers will host two weeks of Easter Camps in The Showgrounds, which will take place from April 11th until April 22nd.

The camp will run from 10.30am until 3pm each day, with every participant receiving an official club training top.

The cost of the camp is €70 for one child, €120 for two children from the one family & €170 for three children from the one family.

To book, click here.

Enquiries: Shane@sligorovers.com

Our Associate Sponsorship package has been highly successful this year with almost 100 sold to local supporters and businesses throughout the region.

Our package consists of a book of tickets, one ticket to each SSE Airtricity League Men’s match over the season which can be torn off and brought along and presented for entry.

This proves an ideal way for businesses to give a ticket away in a social media competition, treat some staff or give something back to their own loyal customers.

They also get a window sticker for their premises to let people know they’re supporting The Bit O’ Red as well as being placed on our website in our Associate Sponsor section and in our Matchnight programmes.

To view a list of all our Associate Sponsors you can visit https://www.sligorovers.com/associate-sponsor/

Thanks to all our volunteers who sold Associate Sponsor packages throughout the off season and we look forward to seeing all our sponsors here at The Showgrounds.

In March 2021, Sligo Rovers announced that we would be giving free club jerseys to each new born baby at Sligo University Hospital that year.

This community initiative has been extremely well received by all the families who had a newborn enter the world with their first ever football shirt being a Bit O’ Red one.

2021 saw over 1200 shirts handed out by the maternity staff of SUH. Shirts are given out as part of a leaving pack before making the much anticipated first journey home.

For any families wishing to send in a photo of their newborn in their brand new shirt, you can email media@sligorovers.com and we may use some on social media over the year.

We’d like to thanks Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust for helping us with this project as well as all the staff at the Maternity Ward of Sligo University Hospital.

Our official online store also has infant kits available from 6 months upwards. This consists of our Home jersey and club shorts. You can get yours via the link below:

https://srfcdirect.com/jerseys/kids/

Our Academy teams started competitive action this weekend with all teams in action across Saturday and Sunday.

It was a busy day at The Showgrounds on Saturday with both our Under 17 teams kicking off one after the other. At 1pm, Darragh O’ Reilly’s first competitive game in charge of the team ended in victory with goals from Michael Clifford, Reid Kelly and Kyle McDonagh sealing a 3-2 win over Cavan/Monaghan.

At 3:30pm, Aaron O’ Connor and his Women’s Under 17 side took on Shelbourne at The Sean Fallon Centre. The game ended 3-0 to the visitors but the Bit O’ Red created some chances and will welcome back a number of players for next weekend’s fixture following injury and illness ruling them out this week.

Alan Farry and his Under 14 side hosted Drogheda United at IT Sligo at 2pm and defeated The Drogs 5-2 in an entertaining encounter with goals from Cathair Tighe (2), Liam McLaughlin, Daire McCabe and an OG. It was an impressive performance from the team with some good football played by the opposition as well.

Sunday saw both Under 19 teams in action as our Under 19 men’s team defeated Longford Town 3-2 at The Sean Fallon Centre. Bridel Bosakani scored twice and Kailin Barlow added a third to give Rovers a healthy lead. De Town rallied and scored two late goals to cut the deficit but Declan Boyle’s men held on for the victory.

Darragh Healy’s Women’s Under 19’s travelled to Greystones in Wicklow to take on Bray Wanderers/Greystones at Woodlands. Pixie O’ Hara put in a Player of The Match performance and grabbed an impressive hat-trick to help her side to a 3-1 win to make it a perfect start to the season for the team.

Our Under 15 side defeated Cavan/Monaghan in Cootehill yesterday afternoon with goals from Callum Lynch and Conor Langan to give Paul Masterson’s side an impressive opening day win away from home. Both sides played out an entertaining game with Rovers winning out in the end.

Next weekend’s fixtures:

Under 14 Vs Derry City (A), Saturday

Under 15 Vs Longford Town (H), Sunday

Under 17 Women Vs Peamount United (A), Saturday

Under 17 Men Vs Galway United (A), Saturday

Under 19 Women Vs DLR Waves (A), Sunday

Under 19 Men Vs Drogheda United (A), Sunday

Admission to all Academy games is free of charge with exact kick off times and venues confirmed via social media later in the week. Follow @sligoroversacad to find out more.

Striker Paula McGrory and goalkeeper Amy Mahon have joined Sligo Rovers.

McGrory, a native of Donegal signs having spent 2021 playing with Derry City.

The 25-year-old began her career with Aileach FC before she moved Illies FC where she played for 14 years.

McGrory played in the Inishowen League and Donegal Super League where she played alongside her current team-mate Emma Doherty. She then moved to Derry City for the 2021 season. “I wouldn’t be where I am now without Illies FC. I moved to Derry FC last year for the season and enjoyed my time there it was great standard in that league. I loved playing every minute in the Ryan McBride Brandywell,  it was just an unreal place to play football,” McGrory said. 

Having received contact in recent weeks from Bit O’Red manager Steve Feeney, McGrory felt it was too good an opportunity to turn down. “I was contacted by Steve only two weeks ago and thought it would be a good opportunity to play in the Women’s National League”.

Having previously played GAA, McGrory says she wants to prioritise her football now as she joins the Bit O’Red.

“I’m excited about the season ahead and playing alongside Gemma McGuiness as we always battled against each other in between Illies FC vans Greencastle. 

“We have a big challenge ahead but we are going in as an unknown team so hope we can have a few surprising results.”

Paula made her debut yesterday against Peamount.

Goalkeeper Mahon joins having previously been with the Rovers Under-17 team in 2020 before the season was halted due to Covid-19. 

The 17-year-old is familiar with Rovers having first joined training sessions when she was 14. 

The Mayo native first played for her local side Charlestown Athletic before she signed for Castlebar Celtic. 

Mahon, a goalkeeper, spent last season with Galway WFC’s under 17s. She was part of the Connacht team that won the interpros in 2017 and received her first Irish cap in 2019 when  she represented the Ireland U15’s at the Bob Docherty Cup in Spain. 

Mahon is also an established GAA player for Mayo. 

The 17-year-old had long wanted to sign for Rovers, and finally got that chance in 2020 when she joined the U17 side. Covid stopped the season, meaning that Mahon didn’t get the opportunity she had hoped for. 

She said: “I’ve now come back and joined the senior team and I’m really excited for the season ahead as it’s my first time competing at senior level in the Women’s National League. 

“The squad is full of young talent and experienced players which makes training really enjoyable and there is always a great atmosphere. 

“Steve, the coaches and all the girls have all been really welcoming since joining and I’m excited to see how the season goes for us.”