WATCHLOI, the SSE Airtricity League’s new streaming platform, is now live.

WATCHLOI was showcased at a media event today in Fuel Studios on Camden Street, Dublin. It is the league’s first-ever streaming service which will deliver SSE Airtricity League Premier Division football to all supporters in Ireland and around the world.

Sligo Rovers season ticket holders can apply for a free pass here, paid for by the club.

Non season-ticket holders can purchase via WatchLOI.ie

The Football Association of Ireland and RTE Sport, in collaboration with GAAGO, have partnered to deliver a world class streaming platform which will guarantee supporters can watch the #GreatestLeagueInTheWorld wherever they are on watchloi.ie.

Each Premier Division fixture, as well as selected Extra.ie FAI Cup matches, will be live streamed with RTE Sport’s cameras and commentary team set to create a fantastic production for supporters to enjoy.

Season passes went on sale this morning on the watchloi.ie platform at just €55 for supporters in Ireland and €69 for the rest of the world. It will be the perfect way for supporters to support their club with revenue created set to go to each club and with over 55+ matches set to be on the platform, it is also great value.

The SSE Airtricity League is set to restart on Friday, July 31 with Derry City v Sligo Rovers to be the first match streamed on the platform, kick-off at 5.45pm.

“We’re absolutely delighted to launch our new streaming service, WATCHLOI,” said FAI Commercial & Marketing Director Mark Russell.

“Working with RTE Sport and GAAGO will guarantee that we will have a best-in-class product which SSE Airtricity League supporters will be able to enjoy around the world.

“Especially with COVID-19 restrictions, this is the ideal time to launch this service but with the revenue it will generate for the clubs, this is also a major moment for the league and a fantastic opportunity to promote and enhance the domestic game in Ireland.”

Declan McBennett, Group Head of Sport, RTÉ said: “In these uncertain times, when dedicated fans are unable to attend games in large numbers, we are delighted to bring the games directly to them via WatchLOI. 

“This is a chance for the whole of the Irish footballing family to get behind the SSE Airtricity League and lend their support in every way to the clubs as the heartbeat of the association.”

Sligo Rovers would like to congratulate Patricia Cryan who has won the Last Man Standing competition.

Following Brighton and Hove Albion’s scoreless draw last night which eliminated Des Kavanagh and saw Patricia Cryan as the only remaining player after her selection of Burnley beat Norwich on Saturday evening.

The club would like to put on record our thanks to everyone who entered the competition which began last February.

Two players still remain in this years last man standing. Patricia Cryan this week has chosen Burnley while Des Kavanagh has gone with Brighton.

Our 500 club continues as one of the club’s most important fundraisers each season. In it’s 18th year, The 500 Club is the modern day membership scheme for Sligo Rovers.

For €20 per month or €240 per year (Less than €5 per week), it is an ideal way to make a contribution to Sligo Rovers and be part in making the club a success both off the pitch and on it.

Vincent Nally and his 500 club committee recently held draws for April, May and June, with Paul Gilleece, Noel Kelly & Mary Kelly all getting themselves the €500 monthly prize. We had 27 other winners over the three month period, each taking home either €50 or €100.

Results:

If you are interested in becoming a 500 Club member please email michaelclancy04@gmail.com with your name and contact details. If you wish to join you can make payment in a number of ways:

Online:

It is now available to join via Paypal.

You can sign up for monthly payments of €20 for 12 months or in a one off payment of €240.

Users can pay by credit/ debit card or by logging into their PayPal account. This is an ideal method of payment for exiled fans abroad. However there is a small additional charge in respect of PayPal’s processing fee.

Online Store:

https://srfcdirect.com/search.php?search_query=500+club

Through your bank:

You can also make payment in a one off bank transfer or alternatively by monthly direct debit mandate of €20. Further details are available upon request by e-mailing michaelclancy04@gmail.com

Congrats to all our prize winners and thanks to all our 500 Club members.

Sligo Rovers are now accepting applications from season ticket holders to attend matches in August.

The games are:

Tuesday 4th August vs Waterford – 7:45pm
Saturday 8th August vs Shelbourne – 5pm
Saturday 22nd August vs Dundalk – 5pm

How to apply:

Click here to apply and submit the form with all details filled out.

Applications will close on Thursday 23rd July at 1pm. We wish to remind supporters that we will be adhering to guidelines from the HSE and FAI.

How we deal with submissions: 

Following the result of the submissions, the club will randomly allocate season ticket holders to each game. Season ticket holders can apply for multiple games but after a successful application, the queue is reordered. This will ensure as many season tickets holders as possible can benefit.

Super Reds will also be included but must tie-in with parental or family season ticket passes. 

Our online submission form will ask what type of season ticket you hold, whether Super Reds tickets are tied in with family or adult tickets, in order for us best to deal with your request.

Inevitably demand will outweigh supply as the number of season ticket holders the club has far exceeds our permitted capacity. 

We feel this is the fairest way to deal with the issue and allow greatest control on hosting safe matches in The Showgrounds. 

What do I do if I’m successful in the ballot?

Supporters will be contacted at least a week from the fixture to see if they still wish to attend. 

Safety guidelines will be published on our website in advance of the game and we will also seek contact info and be in touch on game week.

Streaming passes:

Applications for free season passes for streaming for all season ticket holders will open on Friday afternoon.

Attending matches  – Please note all is subject to change: 

If phase 4 of the government Covid-19 roadmap proceeds as planned, a limited number of people can be in The Showgrounds for our first three league matches. 

These are:

Tuesday 4 August vs Waterford – 7:45pm

Saturday 8 August vs Shelbourne – 5pm

Saturday 22 August vs Dundalk – 5pm

It is hoped that more can attend later in the year. A decision on matches after 31 August will be taken in line with FAI and government advice.

Players, match officials, club volunteers, visiting officials and all personnel key to running a match event at The Showgrounds will be part of the number of permitted attendance.

As a result, in terms of supporters attending for our first three games, the number will be very limited. A final league wide guideline is awaited in line with HSE recommendations. 

How it is distributed: 

The club are extremely fortunate to benefit from many loyal supporters.

Following a meeting of the management committee, it was felt imperative in this scenario to prioritise all 2020 season ticket holders for the division of match tickets for games. 

Other factors will not enter into how tickets are distributed. 

From this week we will ask season ticket holders to apply online to attend our first three games. That portal will open in the next 48 hours. Again we must state there is no guarantee of supporters being allowed to attend.

Season ticket holders who do not apply will still be contacted by the club but we encourage all season tickets holders to use the online method and provide contact details in order to make the process as fast as possible for the club.

We are particularly mindful of those who do not access our media channels so please encourage fellow season tickets holders to log online. 

Only season ticket holders will be eligible to apply to attend matches. 

How we deal with submissions: 

Following the result of the submissions, the club will randomly allocate season ticket holders to each game. Season ticket holders can apply for multiple games but after a successful application, the queue is reordered. This will ensure as many season tickets holders as possible can benefit.

Super Reds will also be included but must tie-in with parental or family season ticket passes. 

Our online submission form will ask what type of season ticket you hold, whether Super Reds tickets are tied in with family or adult tickets, in order for us best to deal with your request.

Inevitably demand will outweigh supply as the number of season ticket holders the club has far exceeds our permitted capacity. 

We feel this is the fairest way to deal with the issue and allow greatest control on hosting safe matches in The Showgrounds. 

What do I do if I’m successful in the ballot?

Supporters will be contacted at least a week from the fixture to see if they still wish to attend. 

Safety guidelines will be published on our website in advance of the game and we will also seek contact info and be in touch on game week.

Streaming:

The club will purchase a streaming pass for all Sligo Rovers home and away matches for our season ticket holders in order to watch the Bit O’ Red in action. This is at a cost of thousands of euro. 

There will be no charge to our season ticket holders for this pass. They must apply for the pass, we will post on www.sligorovers.com this week on how to apply. After Tuesday 28 July, this offer will no longer be available. No exceptions will be made. Households with multiple season tickets will be asked to apply for one pass.

Non-season tickets holders will be able to purchase the pass for a fee, to be confirmed next week.  

Message from Management Committee:

We will try continue to accommodate all our fans as best we can within the current restrictions. That is not easy in the current circumstances but we hope the combination of free streaming for all our matches including away fixtures and limited home attendance will appeal to our season ticket holders.We will continue to operate within the guidelines as the situation changes and will update supporters regularly.

Finally, a huge thank you from the club for the tremendous support for the Gofundme appeal organised by the Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust, it really demonstrates what the club means to people and is a massive help in filling the big financial gap we have been left with. 

Sligo Rovers Management Committee

Sligo Rovers will play in the first game of the resumed SSE Airtricity League of Ireland on Friday 31 July against Derry City at 5:45pm in the Ryan McBride Brandywell.

In a busy opening week, Rovers then play at home on Tuesday 4 August at 7:45pm in The Showgrounds.

On Saturday 8 August, Shelbourne are the visitors to Sligo for a 5pm kick-off.

The new match times are for streaming purposes. Full fixtures are available here.

Sligo Rovers have received a bye into the second round of the Extra.ie FAI Cup.

Rovers were one of the 13 clubs to receive a bye to the second round of the competition, due to the shortened 2020 season format. 

The teams to receive a bye were drawn first. Rovers were fifth out of the draw.

St. Patrick’s Athletic will travel to Finn Harps, Cork City take on Longford Town at Turner’s Cross. 

Dundalk will face Waterford. 

Extra.ie FAI Cup – First Round Draw

Cork City v Longford Town
Dundalk v Waterford
Finn Harps v St. Patrick’s Athletic

Byes

Athlone Town
Bohemians
Bray Wanderers
Cabinteely
Cobh Ramblers
Derry City
Drogheda United
Galway United
Shamrock Rovers
Shelbourne
Sligo Rovers
UCD AFC 
Wexford