The Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust have set up a fund for the club for a resume to play.
€5,000 was raised within three hours
To donate go here
Club statement: Return to football
Sligo Rovers can confirm that the club will return to play following extensive meetings with the Football Association of Ireland and our fellow League of Ireland clubs.
The decision has been reached following lengthy discussions within the management committee and taken in the belief of what is best for the future of the football club.
The Bit O’ Red wishes to state that from the outset of this crisis that it has been our target to return to playing this season.
It also became clear that Sligo Rovers would be the club hit hardest by the Covid-19 crisis as our fundraising (€500,000 in 2019) and gate receipts (at highest level in seven years last year) have been decimated. This forms 70% of our annual budget.
We have accepted a financial package, which, in truth, will still leave a massive strain on the football club and also required a compromise from all parties involved.
We want to acknowledge that our management team, our players, administration staff and the wider Sligo Rovers community have all played their part in encouraging the decision to return.
Not returning to this season would leave us in a position that we may not have been able to recover from. It would leave the club with debts that could not be overcome.
That was the defining factor in reaching this decision.
We have consulted with some supporter groups, including the Bit O ‘Red Supporters Trust, who will help facilitate a GoFundMe page to help with costs.
We will also launch our Annual Draw, with a change in ticket sale policy to be compliant with Covid-19. The Bit O’ Red Wall Stage 2 will also commence.
The financial challenge is significant and requires a high level of support but the alternative is much worse.
Our first-team players returned to training and employment this week.
Our underage players will soon follow. In the last number of years the people of Sligo have built a football club that completely defied the environment imposed on us by the former regime in the FAI.
We have a home that is a hub in our community, we have one of the outstanding football facilities in the league, and a shared bond and love of our club and the game.
The next few months will be about ensuring we hold on to all those things.
An update on attending matches and streaming will follow next month.
Our club’s history is filled with a steely determination to survive all the challenges thrown our way. We have never given up in over 90 years, we have defied logic and our best days have come from it.
On the pitch, we face a massive challenge in 14 matches left to play in the season. But it was the only scenario in which we could return.
This format proposed today was of particular disappointment to the club and is something we sternly object to. We believe it is grossly unfair, unjust and do not see the matter as concluded.
We will be having further discussions on this issue with relevant parties.
From today we will regroup, we will rally together and take on the next 16 weeks with the resilience that has got us this far as a football club.
We thank everyone for their support in recent months and look forward to returning to the pitch on 31 July.
Sligo Rovers Management Committee
Last Man Standing Week 5 Selections
Arsenal makes up the majority of this weeks picks with 13 of the remaining 17 players believing that they will beat Norwich at The Emirates. Two players selected Chelsea, who are away to West Ham United. The remaining two players chose Manchester United and Tottenham.
Good luck to all entrants
| Name | Week 5 Selection |
| Evan Dolan | Arsenal |
| Wesley Feeney | Tottenham |
| Mark Feeney | Arsenal |
| Therese Foley | Arsenal |
| Sean Murphy | Arsenal |
| Frank McGee | Arsenal |
| Donald Kelly | Chelsea |
| Sean Hunt | Arsenal |
| Eoin McHugh | Arsenal |
| Gerry Higgins | Arsenal |
| Lewis Banks | Arsenal |
| Des Kavanagh | Arsenal |
| Patricia Cryan | Arsenal |
| Kathya Rouse | Chelsea |
| Noel Farry | Arsenal |
| Martin Bracken | Arsenal |
| John Lunny | Manchester United |
Summer Camps 2020
We are delighted to announce that our popular summer camps are due to commence on the 20th of July 2020.
Camps will run from 10.30am-3pm Monday to Friday, for a period of five weeks, at The Sean Fallon Centre in The Showgrounds. Unfortunately, our breakfast club cannot take place at this time.
The club looks forward to welcoming all our summer camp attendees over the coming weeks, after what has been a difficult and challenging period for both our younger supporters and their families.
The cost of this years’ summer camp is €70 per child, €120 for two children from the one family and €170 for three children from the one family.
Each child that participates will receive an official club training top.
Please note the booking process for our 2020 summer camps is online only. The capacity each week for the camp is 60 children. We are aware that generally, our camps attract much more than 60 participants, however, we are also aware of our responsibilities as a club in making our environment as safe as possible for children, coaches and their families.
Priority will be given to our 2020 Super Red members, who are able to book their chosen week from today. Please note, all bookings until 9am Monday are strictly 2020 Super Red’s only. We know our Super Reds have missed out so far in 2020 with only two home games to date. Non super reds will be able to book the summer camp from Monday morning at 9am on a first come first served basis.
Please note parents will be asked to confirm their children are super reds before completing the booking process. Anyone that books between now and Monday morning at 9am will be refunded if they are not a Super Red.
Parents who book the summer camp will be sent an information pack regarding health and safety protocols in advance of their chosen week, while parents will also be required to complete a health and well-being questionnaire on the first day of the camp each week.
To book your place, visit https://srfcdirect.com/kids-camps/
For more information on the 2020 summer camps, please contact shane@sligorovers.com.
Summer Camp Dates:
July 20th – 24th
July 27th – 31st
August 3rd – 7th
August 10th – 14th
August 17th – 21st
Last Man Standing Week 4 Entries Closed
Last man standing continues this evening with all 20 teams playing in midweek fixtures.
Leicester, Manchester United, Tottenham and Wolves are the most popular picks amongst the remaining players.
| name | week 4 |
| Dylan Gilmartin | Leicester |
| Evan Dolan | Tottenham |
| Wesley Feeney | Manchester United |
| Mark Feeney | Wolves |
| Therese Foley | Wolves |
| Sean Murphy | Liverpool |
| Frank McGee | Manchester United |
| Donald Kelly | Everton |
| Sean Hunt | Manchester United |
| Eoin McHugh | Liverpool |
| Des Kelly | Leicester |
| Donal Kelly | Leicester |
| Gerry Higgins | Wolves |
| Lewis Banks | Tottenham |
| Des Kavanagh | Wolves |
| Patricia Cryan | Tottenham |
| Kathya Rouse | Liverpool |
| Noel Farry | Manchester United |
| Martin Bracken | Wolves |
| John Lunny | Tottenham |
Last Man Standing Week 3 Entries Closed
Our Last Man Standing competition enters week 3 this weekend with all remaining players selections posted below.
Man City is the most popular pick with 16 players selecting them ahead of their home tie versus Burnley. 4 players have selected Chelsea who is away to Aston Villa, while 3 players have gone for Leicester.
The remaining two players have selected Afc Bournemouth and Everton
| Name | week 3 |
| Dylan Gilmartin | Man City |
| Evan Dolan | Man City |
| Wesley Feeney | Man City |
| Mark Feeney | Man City |
| Therese Foley | Man City |
| Paddy Houze | Everton |
| Sean Murphy | Man City |
| Frank McGee | Man City |
| Donald Kelly | Man City |
| Sean Hunt | Chelsea |
| Anthony Quinn | Afc Bournemouth |
| Andrew Dodd | Leicester |
| Eoin McHugh | Man City |
| Martin Heraghty | Leicester |
| Des Kelly | Man City |
| Donal Kelly | Chelsea |
| Robert Fitzpatrick | Leicester |
| Gerry Higgins | Man City |
| Lewis Banks | Man City |
| Des Kavanagh | Chelsea |
| Patricia Cryan | Chelsea |
| Kathya Rouse | Man City |
| Noel Farry | Man City |
| Martin Bracken | Man City |
| John Lunny | Man City |
Last Man Standing resumes
After a 3 month break, our Last Man Standing competition resumes this week, with games returning on Friday evening.
Norwich host Southampton at Carrow Road while Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur host his former club Manchester United at the new White Hart Lane.
Game continue Saturday, Sunday & Monday as kick offs are spread out to allow for games to be all televised live.
Week 1 and 2 of the competition wiped out over 500 players, with just 25 players remaining.
All entrants are listed below and players are reminded to send their selections in by Friday at midday.
| Name | week 1 | week 2 |
| Dylan Gilmartin | wolves | Sheffield United |
| Evan Dolan | west ham | liverpool |
| Wesley Feeney | west ham | Arsenal |
| Mark Feeney | west ham | Sheffield United |
| Therese Foley | west ham | liverpool |
| Paddy Houze | watford | liverpool |
| Sean Murphy | Wolves | Sheffield United |
| Frank McGee | Palace | liverpool |
| Donald Kelly | palace | leicester |
| Sean Hunt | west ham | liverpool |
| Anthony Quinn | palace | liverpool |
| Andrew Dodd | wolves | liverpool |
| Eoin McHugh | west ham | Sheffield United |
| Martin Heraghty | Norwich | liverpool |
| Des Kelly | west ham | liverpool |
| Donal Kelly | west ham | liverpool |
| Robert Fitzpatrick | wolves | Arsenal |
| Gerry Higgins | west ham | liverpool |
| Lewis Banks | west ham | liverpool |
| Des Kavanagh | west ham | liverpool |
| Patricia Cryan | wolves | liverpool |
| Kathya Rouse | west ham | leicester |
| Noel Farry | west ham | liverpool |
| Martin Bracken | west ham | liverpool |
| John Lunny | Wolves | Arsenal |
Update from management committee
Sligo Rovers FC can confirm discussions have taken place with FAI officials in recent days.
Club officials met with the FAI on Thursday and Friday, along 18 other clubs from the League of Ireland.
The Bit O’ Red are not in a position to go into details at this time.
The situation remains complex, with many variables, and various talks will continue from next week.
The management committee remain in constant dialogue and we will provide an update as soon as it is appropriate.
We ask for continued patience for which we are grateful.
RIP Carl Gethins
All involved with Sligo Rovers, in particular the Sligo Rovers Astro League, were saddened to hear of the passing of Carl Gethins.
A resident of Jinks Avenue, Carl lived in the shadow of the Showgrounds and lived for football between his love for the Bit O ’Red and of course Liverpool as well.
He worked over the years with Greenstar and on community schemes in the Showgrounds, in Merville, and was a hard worker who was well liked by all.
At Rovers, he was best known for his involvement in the Astro League.
He was involved from the start in helping the league being set up, he was at nearly every game and completed every job possible, including as chairman of the league as well.
The fact the league remains strong is a fitting memorial to all the hard work that he put in.
He will be missed by all around the Showgrounds, by his friends, and of course most by his family, he loved his nieces and nephews and was so proud of their achievements, especially when his nephew Glen was playing for Rovers.
May he Rest in Peace. Funeral details will follow in due course.
Summer Camps update
Following on from Friday’s government announcement, we are currently assessing the possibility of hosting our popular summer camps in the coming weeks at The Showgrounds.
The club is aware that it has been a difficult time for children over the last few months, and like every summer, our summer camps are a way for our young supporters to enjoy themselves and have some fun on their school holidays.
We will look at all avenues surrounding a safe environment for coaches, children and the families they will go home to.
We will issue more information as soon as possible.