Conor O’Grady has been appointed as the new Head of Academy on a full-time employment basis, Sligo Rovers can announce today.

O’Grady, a former captain and decorated player at the club, has been managing the club’s Under-15 team since inception.

He has emerged as the successful candidate following a lengthy interview process for the role which saw over 50 applicants for the position after it was advertised in November.

Interviews took place in he last month as two boards assessed an extremely high level of applicants, with Conor emerging with the role.

The position will initially include player identification and development, coach identification and liasion, development and education, continuing to develop the pathway from our academy to the first-team and liasing with IT Sligo on our scholarship scheme.

The Bit O’ Red will unveil a more detailed assessment of the planned growth of the Sligo Rovers academy in the club’s Masterplan early in 2021.

https://audioboom.com/posts/7754061-conor-o-grady-appointed-as-head-of-academy-of-sligo-rovers

In recent seasons the work of a number of our club’s coaches, local clubs in the region and investment from Sligo Rovers has resulted in the development of a large number of first-team players.

This season nine academy graduates were part of the first-team squad of the Sligo Rovers men’s team. Two of those, Niall Morahan and Ed McGinty,  won the Senior and Young Player of the Year.

Today’s appointment is significant in that the club is investing in a full-time position of employment for the first time.

Conor will start the role in January 2021.

Sligo Rovers CEO Colin Feehily said: “We are very pleased to welcome Conor to the club in the position of Head of Academy.

“The work at academy level by our coaches and volunteers has been exemplary and the potential for growth has been obvious.

“This is a very positive step for the club. Conor left a lasting impression on everyone in securing the role through the vision he shares and holds.

“There are exciting times ahead for the academy and Conor will be the ideal leader for it.”

Sligo Rovers first-team manager Liam Buckley said: “I’d like to congratulate Conor on his appointment to this role. 

“The academy is a vital part of the football club here and we have a fantastic group of coaches working with some very talented players.

“We’ve already seen the fruits of that at first-team level and I’m very much aware that there is more to come in the short and long-term future. 

“I look forward to working with Conor going forward.” 

Sligo Rovers Head of Academy Conor O’Grady said: “It is a massive honour. I’m very proud and I feel very humbled today.

“I’m just delighted the club have put their faith in me. There were a lot of brilliant candidates so I feel honoured. It was an unbelievably thorough process.

“I’m very excited now. It’s a huge role. We have a serious amount of talent here in the youth teams and at the moment it is just talent. We’ve already had many players come through to the first-team and currently we have plenty of players with that potential.

“I strongly believe we will have more players coming through. We have to deliver on it and the players have to have the will and desire most importantly. I think they do have it at the moment.

“When I joined Sligo Rovers it was an institution. It always will be. Today it is a brand as much as an institution because it so big all over the north-west.

“It’s a big and bold move by the club to make this role but it’s a positive one and the right one I feel. I have a plan and vision for the future of youth football in the region. The big thing for me is we make it a united front at every level at the club. The plan will come when I start and it will be small steps at first and big steps over time.

“What matters most is the coaches of the players. I’ve spoken to all of them today before the announcement about how much I want them to be involved. They are the most important people and always will be the most important people. They have already proven how good they are in recent years.

“I’ll be a sounding board for them, I’ll be there to help them, they are there to help me and the way I look at it is we’re all doing this together. I hope they’ll enjoy it and I hope that every young player who becomes part of this club enjoys it as well.”

The Sligo Rovers Annual Draw has now surpassed €31,000 in sales with one week to go until the draw.

The draw will take place in the clubs Christmas Shop, located in Barton Smiths.

Tickets are priced at €10, with a first prize of €5,000 to be won.

The club would like to thank everyone who has supported the draw to date.

There has never been a bigger emphasis on online sales, due to Covid 19 restrictions.

To purchase a ticket for the draw and to support the club, click here.

As part of Sligo Rovers FC’s long term plan for the women’s team, we are looking to expand our coaching team ahead of the new season in 2021.

It is hoped that in 2021 we will have two underage teams in the Women’s National League, adding an Under 19 team alongside our Under 17 team which will enter its fourth season in the league.

We are seeking coaches to work alongside Head-Coach Danny O’Leary who this year took over our Women’s National League Under 17 team.

We await approval from the FAI on the new Women’s National League Under 19 team, and have expressed our desire as a club to enter a team in the league, as we look to grow our involvement in the women’s game.

Job Description
– Help club achieve its vision to ‘Build a brand that is associated with excellence on and off the pitch for women’s football, to be considered as an example of excellence and best practice, and one of the major developer of players within the country at underage, and eventually senior level’.
– The development and nurturing of a pool of elite players to facilitate their current and future success as individuals and as a team.
– Organise, plan and deliver a suitable player development programme in line with the FAI and Sligo Rovers coaching syllabus.
– Uphold the clubs code of conduct and implement club’s vision on and off the pitch.
– Set high standards for the players both on and off the pitch.
– Create and maintain appropriate communication with players / parents / clubs / leagues and any stakeholders relevant to the team
– Ensure the club adheres to FAI & Women’s National League rules and regulations and competition rules. . 
– To ensure that all delivery satisfies the clubs safeguarding and welfare procedures 
– The successful candidate will report to the Women’s Football committee within the club. The women’s committee includes members of the club management committee and is governed by the management committee of Sligo Rovers.

Job Specification:
The ideal candidate will have skills and experience in the following areas:

Essential Criteria
– A current valid UEFA B Licence holder as a minimum (for a head-coach role).
– Successful candidate will be subjected to garda vetting clearance. 
– Up to date Safeguarding 1 / Child Welfare Certificate.
– An ability to produce verbal and written reports.
– Access to both email and phone.
– Experience and enthusiasm for coaching and mentoring elite young players and coaches.

Desirable Criteria
– Administrative and organisational skills.
– Previous experience of coaching in female game.
– Coach mentoring experience.

To express your interest in joining the coaching team, please send your CV to sligoroverswomen@gmail.com by 5pm on Wednesday 23rd December 2020.

Expressions of Interest

Sligo Rovers FC is seeking expressions of interest from potential players for our Women’s National League Under 17 team, and a potential Women’s National League  Under 19 team.

Our Women’s Under 17 team have enjoyed three seasons since entering the league, and it is hoped that we can build on our efforts by adding a Women’s Under 19 team for the coming season.

As the FAI sought interest from clubs already involved in the WNL to enter teams to a potential new U19 league, we have expressed our interest in entering a team, although we await confirmation on whether or not this league will go ahead.

We continue to grow as a club, and we understand that there is a wealth of talent within the locality. Women’s football is very much part of the club’s long term aims, and therefore we wish to continue our commitment to the game by adding another team.

While we await confirmation on the Women’s Under 19 league, we wish to invite expressions of interest for both the U19 team, and our U17 team which will be in its fourth season come 2021.

Players born in 2002 – 2006 are eligible. 

Please see link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1U6wOEeUaJzxnI4XF1YhJ_CkZiCuVjJfrSDmz2STfQCk/edit?usp=sharing

Sligo Rovers are thrilled to announce the signing of multiple League of Ireland Premier Division winner Greg Bolger for the 2021 season.

The 32-year-old midfielder joins the Bit O’ Red today after experiencing success at St Patrick’s Athletic, Cork City and Shamrock Rovers.

Bolger has spoken of ambition to achieve again under Liam Buckley, saying he is moving to Sligo after seeing the potential of the club to challenge for honours, just as he has done throughout his career

Bolger said: “Liam has always been in contact with me. I’m worked with him before and it’s a chance to sign with a club like Sligo Rovers steeped in history, I’m delighted to get it done and looking forward to the season.

“My contract was up at Shamrock Rovers and I looked around and it is always my motivation to join a club with ambition and wanting to win. I still have the ambition to do well. I’m looking to help Liam, I know he’s got a vision and he wants to get good players in to the club with the good ones there already. It was a no-brainer for me.

“Looking at the squad, and talking to Liam with the players he is trying to get into the club, it was something that appealed to me. I’m still as hungry as ever and I’m going up to give the club and Liam the best I can give him.

“I’ve had some great battles over the years with Sligo Rovers. One of the best days of my career was probably playing against Sligo when winning the league with St Patrick’s Athletic. One of the worst was as well the year before in that 3-2 game when Mark Quigley scored. Many memories, always difficult, with the crowd and the atmosphere they bring. It’s one I’m looking forward to next year being on their side.

“I’m ready to go. Obviously I had a bad injury where I was out for five months. It’s a case of now I’m going to keep training and I’ll be ready to go to fire on all cylinders come pre-season.

“I played with Russ (John Russell), I have a very good relationship with John and I’m looking forward to working under him. I know he knows the game inside-out. That was another appealing factor. I won a league at Cork with Garry Buckley and he’s a great guy and a great player.

“I know some of the rest from some battles over the years, the likes of David Cawley. There’s young players there who have great talent and potential. This is a moment in my career that I’m really looking forward to. I’m very excited today.”

Liam Buckley said: “It’s an exciting signing for us. Greg has had massive success at many clubs and he’s hungry for more. I’ve worked with him, I know what he brings. He is a proper pro is the best way to describe him.

“I feel he will be a good influence in the dressing-room, but first and foremost he’s a talented player who will add a lot to our group I feel. That is why we’re bringing him here. He’s very keen to achieve more in the game and he is driven to do so.

“He’s recovered from the injury, similar to John Mahon actually, and he’s 100% again. When we see him pre-season I think he’ll be itching to start playing.

“This is another important signing for us. We’re working very hard to try to add more players and hopefully that will happen this side of Christmas. We’re ahead of where we were this time last season. We’d like to get more done soon.”

Sligo Rovers is delighted to reveal our brand-new home jersey, created by the Bit O’ Red’s kit and sportswear partner JOMA Sport, in association with our main sponsor Avant Money.

Our current sponsor, Avant Money, has recently changed its name from Avantcard following the launch of their new mortgage products in September, reflecting the company’s ambition to provide a broader range of consumer finance products and grow the business. 

The new Avant Money branding will be extended to the rest of its existing business in the Spring of next year. This has offered us the opportunity to create a great new jersey for the 2021 season.

It also marks the third year of our agreement with JOMA, who have been a hugely supportive partner for the last five seasons.  

Today marks the beginning of a new Bit O’ Red – reflecting the club’s ambitions to continue to progress with a fresh look and maintaining the progress we have made alongside our key sponsors.

The announcement was made alongside the news of a significant new signing for the club for 2021 as Greg Bolger joins the club ahead of a campaign next year that will include European football.

A marketing campaign will also begin today in conjunction with Avant Money as we mark coming through the challenging 2020 period to believe in new, brighter and bigger days ahead for the club, our supporters and loyal sponsors.

The jersey is available to order now for collection from next Friday, December 18^th via our click and collect service or in store at our club shop in Barton Smiths. Online orders between now and next Friday will be compiled and posted out on that day. While orders will be posted on Friday the 18^th, we cannot guarantee Christmas delivery due to the huge strain on our couriers during the Christmas period.

“Therefore, we encourage supporters to buy online and use our click and collect option or purchase their jersey in store at Barton Smiths. After that date, we will still ship jerseys daily, however Christmas delivery would be increasingly unlikely and deliveries could arrive some days after Christmas.

Sizes are Small adult to XXLarge and begin at 4-6 years for kids up to 13-14 years.

Sligo Rovers CEO Colin Feehily said: “We’re delighted to unveil our new home jersey for 2021. We are maintaining the stripe look as we will indefinitely look to do now. This shirt is a bespoke design, and exclusive to Sligo Rovers, which we are proud of and excited about.

“It was a popular move to return to the origins of the club and this variation is something we feel will be equally exciting for our fans. We hope exciting times await for our players and supporters in this new Bit O’ Red look.”

JOMA brand manager Susanne McNamara “We were delighted to launch this new 2021 jersey in conjunction with Sligo Rovers.

“We feel it maintains the club’s historic values with the traditional stripes whilst embracing a fresh, new look. We hope the Bit O’ Red supporters like it as much as we do and wish Rovers the very best for the season. This shirt is tailor made by Sligo Rovers for Sligo Rovers, so that’s something special”

Chris Paul, Avant Money’s CEO, said: “After an unprecedent year of challenges, both Avant Money and Sligo Rovers have emerged stronger than ever.  A fresh start in the form of our new Avant Money name along with a fabulous new home jersey for the Bit O’ Red, sets us up nicely for what promises to be an exciting year ahead of us.”

Robbie McCourt has joined Sligo Rovers today for the 2021 SSE Airtricity League season.

The versatile Dubliner moves to Rovers from Waterford FC where he enjoyed an excellent season at the RSC.

The 22-year-old can operate in defence and midfield. McCourt spent five seasons with West Bromwich Albion in England before returning to Ireland with Bohemians in mid-2018.

The former Under-19 international, who was also part of a squad at Under-21 level under Stephen Kenny, switched to Waterford in 2019 and missed just one game in the season as he became a key part of their side.

https://audioboom.com/posts/7748100-robbie-mccourt-signs-for-sligo-rovers

He can play at centre-half, as well as midfield, and has played on the left side as well. McCourt: “I think it’s a very good move for me. Liam sounded very interested in me and when he gave me the call, the only thing on my mind was to get down and sign.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE SLIGO ROVERS MERCHANDISE IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

“I had a few offers but really as soon as I spoke to Liam he seemed so interested. He really liked me as a player and didn’t stop making contact. I wanted to get it done quickly then.

“I started off with St Kevin’s in Dublin, joined West Brom at 15 and played there for four or  five years. I enjoyed my time there. I came back and signed for Bohemians.

“I was still young when I came back to Bohs. It’s not always easy. Bohemians had their team set already so I found it hard to break through. I did well but I wasn’t playing as much as I wanted. It was time to move on.

“I dropped out of football for a few months, played with my local team and Alan Reynolds called me and said he’d love me at Waterford. I had a great season with them.”

Now officially a Rovers player, McCourt said the surroundings in The Showgrounds and the knowledge he has of the Bit O’ Red convinced him to join.

“I’m very excited. It’s always a club I didn’t like travelling down to because I knew it was going to be a tough game. That was with both Bohs and Waterford. It was always a tough place to pick up results. But when you’re there and you look around the place with the facilities and all, it’s top of the range and looking at it. It’s probably one of the best in the country.

“The manager spoke to me about the aims he has. What the club wants to do is something I want to be a part of. I can’t want to get down to Sligo now. Hopefully we can do something special in 2021.”

As the season did resume in mid-2020, it was in defence where McCourt shone for the Blues.

“At the start of last season before lockdown, I was playing centre-midfield or left-wing.

“When the season resumed John Sheridan came in and started me at centre-back and I did well. It wasn’t new to me play at centre-back. I started my career at that position. It was grand and I fitted in well.

“Liam knows I can play a few positions. It’s just a matter of finding out where he wants to play me but I’ll play wherever he wants me to play. I think I’ll fit in anywhere. Centre-back would probably be my most comfortable position as I probably played there most of my career and then left-back. Those two would probably be my preferred.”

Liam Buckley said: “He’s a very talented player. I think he’s going to appreciate the environment here and the best is yet to come from Robbie.

“From a youngster in Dublin and going over to England, he has been a technically good player. Last season was a very good one for him in Waterford and I felt he did well at Bohs.

“The versatility he has will be a help to us. Robbie will be comfortable in a couple of positions.

“We already have good players in the group and I believe he will add to it. He will improve with the better quality of player around him and my job is to make this group better.

“We are trying to do that over the coming period.”

Eleven players are now contracted professionally for the 2021 campaign.

Under contract at Sligo Rovers for 2021 so far: Ed McGinty, Luke McNicholas, Lewis Banks, Garry Buckley, John Mahon, Robbie McCourt, David Cawley, Niall Morahan, Ryan De Vries, Romeo Parkes, Mark Byrne.

The Sligo Rovers Annual Draw has now surpassed €24,000 in sales with two weeks to go.

Tickets are now on sale in the club shop in Barton Smiths, Bay View Stores in Rosses Point, Centra in Cartron and Matt Lyons in Sligo Town.

Tickets are priced at €10 with €5,000 to be won as first prize.

Thank you to each and everyone of you who have supported our draw to date.

Click here to buy online.

Sligo Rovers are thrilled to announce that Romeo Parkes has signed for the 2021 season as the striker moves to The Showgrounds for a second spell.

The 30-year-old was top scorer for the club in 2019 with 11 goals in 30 league games, as well as two in the FAI Cup.

Parkes was an instrumental player for Rovers in that season.

Can we ask you all to please take your seat?

The second act will begin shortly. https://t.co/rRYT0C5qSX#bitored #RomeoReturns pic.twitter.com/euyN9g9B3P

— Sligo Rovers (@sligorovers) December 8, 2020

He returned to America for personal reasons in 2020 and he has penned a deal for the new season in Sligo.

Manager Liam Buckley said: “We kept the door open for Romeo if circumstances did work out because we didn’t want to lose him for 2020.

“We were hoping he would return for 2021 and today we’re very pleased it has come to fruition.   

“He did very well for us in 2019, scored double figures in the league and he’ll come back looking to make another big contribution.

“It wasn’t just goals, there were some standout performances during that season and he complimented a lot of players we have here.

“We are building a squad as best we can with the view to being as strong as we possibly can and make further strides next season.

“Romeo will be another strong addition to the group. We’re making more progress and we have more to do so that work continues.”

Romeo Parkes said: “I’m coming back with a feeling of unfinished business. I feel I owe something because I remember that FAI Cup semi-final with Dundalk when I had to come off early on. We didn’t make the final and I haven’t forgotten it.

“European football is something I’m looking forward to. I like the manager and I look forward to playing with all of the guys again.

“I’ve very happy to be coming back. I really like the club, the place and the fans and we can go further. I’m coming back to finish what was started.”

Under contract at Sligo Rovers for 2021 so far: Ed McGinty, Luke McNicholas, Lewis Banks, Garry Buckley, John Mahon, David Cawley, Niall Morahan, Ryan De Vries, Romeo Parkes, Mark Byrne.

Garry Buckley has signed a contract with Sligo Rovers for 2021, the club are delighted to announce this morning.

The 27-year-old joined the Bit O’ Red this year and ended up as a first-choice centre-half, forming a pairing with John Mahon.

Buckley impressed throughout the year and commits to Rovers today, saying he is staying at The Showgrounds with a target to win trophies and make qualifying for Europe a regular occurrence.

“I saw the potential in the club when I joined and I think that potential is growing stronger. Getting to Europe this season was a bonus when you consider the start we had and our target was getting out of a tough position after the lockdown.

“There are top players at the club and the manager has targeted improving it even further. There is a core of a group that can go on to be among the best in the country.  I know how good this group is, it’s the best I’ve been involved in for a while.

“I had spoken with the manager for about going to centre-half one day, it was a position I felt I’d be comfortable in. I was injured in the first game back against Derry and that put me out for a month which was tough to take.

“But coming back I formed that partnership with John which I enjoyed and thought worked well. I get on well with John and I think we complement each other.

“I moved to Sligo for a new challenge and I’m delighted with how it has worked out so far. My girlfriend moved up here with me and she loves it too so I can have no complaints. We’re also a close group of players who live close to each other and get on well.  Next season has to be one where we find a consistency over the course of the year. We need to get the form we had after the season resumed and do it over the season.

“I’m here to win trophies, play in Europe and achieve things. I know the potential and we have to capitalise on it. It won’t be easy in this league, every other club is looking to do the same. Talent wise we have the basis to do it.”

Liam Buckley said: “Garry has had a good first season here.

“He has shown what a good a defender he is and that he can play either position to a high standard. The partnership with John Mahon worked well for us. I do feel next season that partnership can develop even more.

“Garry is a very accomplished footballer and with the style of play we are trying to develop here, he will be an important player for us from that end. He brings that experience of winning big matches and trophies and I know he’s determined to achieve more.

“That is what we want here. It’s another great addition for our group, we’re very happy he’ll be with us for next season.”

Under contract at Sligo Rovers for 2021 so far: Ed McGinty, Luke McNicholas, Lewis Banks, Garry Buckley, John Mahon, David Cawley, Niall Morahan, Ryan De Vries, Mark Byrne.