Sligo Rovers can confirm two friendlies later this month as part of our pre-season programme.

In the first outing of 2020, Rovers will take on Galway United in Solar 21 Park, Castlebar (formerly known as Milebush) on Saturday 18^th January.

Kick-off is 1pm, admission will be €5. It is a repeat of the fixture at the same venue last year.

The following Friday, 24^th January, Rovers will meet Drogheda United in Dublin.

The game takes place at 7pm at the FAI campus in Abbotstown. The game is not open to supporters.

Liam Buckley said: “Galway United have strengthened this year so they should provide a good test in Mayo, while Drogheda United came close to promotion last year and will be a leading contender again this season.

“We have made the commitment to travel for various reasons as I explained last week.

“It’s worth it and this will be a good start to the matches for pre-season.”

(how to join https://www.sligorovers.com/500-club/)

October:

€500 – Sean McGowan, Tonnaphubble
€100 – Stephen Wickham, Calry
€100 – Vincent Hannon Assoc, Abbey St
€100 – John Joe Gilroy, Hazelwood
€100 – Tony Wehrly, O’Connell St
€100 – Marty Oates, Treacy Avenue
€50 – Al Murphy, Pearse Road
€50 – Mark Mullholland, Markievicz Road
€50 – Frank Ballantyne, Strandhill Road
€50 – Kevin Fitzsimons, Cairns Hill

November:

€500 – Michael Gallagher, Crossmolina, Mayo
€100 – Joe Finan, Oakfield Road
€100 – Michael Cox, Strandhill Road
€100 – Terence Leyden, Ballybofey, Donegal
€100 – Seamus Cummins, Hazelwood
€100 – Maeve Conway, Cliffoney, Sligo
€50 – Mark Killorn, Pearse Road
€50 – Eamonn McManus, Knappagh Road
€50 – Conor Sheeran, Foxrock, Dublin
€50 – Michael Leonard, Blackrock

December:

€500 – Ian McLoughlin, Calry, Co Sligo

€100 – Sean Davis, Church Hill, Sligo

€100 – Gerry Gilbride, Ballydoogan

€100 – Manus McGuire, Scariff, Co Clare

€100 – Hugh Quinn, Cliffoney, Co Sligo

€100 – Jimmy Colreavy, Strandhill, Sligo

€50 – Caroline Brennan, Riverstown, Sligo

€50 – Veronica Drury, Calry, Co Sligo

€50 – David Conway, Rosses Point, Sligo

€50 – Colette Crowne, Glasnevin, Dublin

Sligo Rovers can confirm Romeo Parkes will leave the club this month for personal reasons.

Following consultation between the player and club in recent weeks, it has become clear that Romeo must stay in North America for 2020.

The Bit O’ Red have agreed to facilitate this request.

He will shortly join a club in the US, who will take over his contract for 2020.

Rovers retain an option for the 2021 season.

Liam Buckley said: “This decision relates to an important aspect of Romeo’s life, his long-term future,and while he is under contract, we have to look at it from a human level.

“He was looking forward to building on his fine first season and we’ve been in contact throughout the off-season in relation to this matter. We had hoped it wouldn’t come to this. Unfortunately it has.

“We hope to see him back in Sligo one day and we wish him well. Now our focus turns to a replacement.

“The staff and I have already been pursuing that. A new striker will not arrive immediately but we hope to line something up later in the month. When we can, we’ll speak about that further.”

Romeo Parkes said: “I’d like to thank the manager and the club for facilitating this. I am sad not to be returning to Sligo in 2020 because I really enjoyed my year.

“I want to give my appreciation to the fans, they were very supportive all year and I’m sorry I won’t be back next season. I have obligations to fulfil where I am.

“I want to wish all the guys good luck in the 2020 season, I’ll be supporting Sligo and hope one day to wear the jersey again.”

With 2020 upon us, it’s time to get planning your Sligo Rovers season.

Download the fixtures for the first-team to your smart phone and Outlook account here.

Click on the link below and add to calendar

iPhone: www.sligorovers.com/calendar/first-team-fixtures?feed=sp-ical

Android: www.sligorovers.com/calendar/first-team-fixtures?feed=sp-ical

Google: http://www.google.com/calendar/render?cid=webcal%3A%2F%2Fwww.sligorovers.com%2Fcalendar%2Ffirst-team-fixtures%3Ff

Get your Sligo Rovers season ticket here

Interested in attending our upcoming open trials for our U-17 Women’s Team?

Our trials are for girls born 2003,2004 and 2005.

Trials will take place on Saturday 11th & 18th January from 2-4pm at Sligo Rovers astro pitch.

Register below:

https://t.co/nrtEWUaQ2m?amp=1

Sligo Rovers are set to return to pre-season on Friday as our 2020 squad assemble for the first time.

Rovers have six weeks of build-up to the first league game – a meeting away to Finn Harps on 14^th February.

Speaking to www.sligorovers.com, Buckley said: “As I’ve mentioned the players have been ticking over in the last couple of months with their programmes and they return formally tomorrow (Friday). We’ll have a couple of meetings and do a light session.  

“That will continue into the weekend. We’ll be assessing the players and go from there. The management staff and I have formulated the plan over the next six weeks. We have to be fit and ready to go from that first night in Ballybofey. It’s also a long season ahead and you see by the fixture list that the games come thick and fast. It’s all factored in and we’re excited to get going.”

Buckley said he will give an update on the group he is working with before the weekend, adding it will take a bit more time to finalise the squad, although much of the recruitment has been completed.

“Behind the scenes there is a lot of activity, that hasn’t really stopped. We’re exploring all avenues.

“We’re trying to squeeze as much as we can out of the budget. We’ve gone for quality in terms of recruitment and to finish that off we need the right players. We’re confident it will come off in time.”

In terms of pre-season friendlies, the Rovers boss said he hopes to add formal dates soon with games lined up and awaiting approval before announcement.

“Yes, the schedule is pretty much locked in. One change you’ll see this year is we’re going to play some pre-season games in Dublin at the FAI facility in Abbotstown.

“It’s not easy getting games in the region, you’ll find that teams in the Dublin area won’t always travel as they have plenty of potential opposition around them. More so we don’t want to use our pitch at this time of year as well.

“We want to give it a complete break and we looked after it in the closing stages of last year so there will be an improvement. I can’t stress how important that is to us going forward because we want the surface to be in the best possible condition. There is a lot of work going into it.

“There’s the facility in Dublin where we can play on grass against First Division sides and if the weather is inclement, then there is an astro pitch as well so the game will definitely go ahead.

“Our first game will be in Mayo in a couple of weeks and there’ll be another one or two in places close to us. Again the dates are tailored around our training. We hope to announce them all soon.”

Look out for more pre-season content over the weekend  

500 Club Results – Click here to join the 500 Club

October

€500 – Sean McGowan, Tonnaphubble
€100 – Stephen Wickham, Calry
€100 – Vincent Hannon Assoc, Abbey St
€100 – John Joe Gilroy, Hazelwood
€100 – Tony Wehrly, O’Connell St
€100 – Marty Oates, Treacy Avenue
€50 – Al Murphy, Pearse Road
€50 – Mark Mullholland, Markievicz Road
€50 – Frank Ballantyne, Strandhill Road
€50 – Kevin Fitzsimons, Cairns Hill

November

€500 – Michael Gallagher, Crossmolina, Mayo
€100 – Joe Finan, Oakfield Road
€100 – Michael Cox, Strandhill Road
€100 – Terence Leyden, Ballybofey, Donegal
€100 – Seamus Cummins, Hazelwood
€100 – Maeve Conway, Cliffoney, Sligo
€50 – Mark Killorn, Pearse Road
€50 – Eamonn McManus, Knappagh Road
€50 – Conor Sheeran, Foxrock, Dublin
€50 – Michael Leonard, Blackrock

Sligo Rovers are delighted to announce that Martin McManus has been appointed Head-Coach of our Women’s Under 17 team.

McManus was assistant to Darragh Healy in 2019, overseeing a fantastic season for the Bit O’Red Women’s team.

He will be joined on the sideline by Neal McKenna, who will take up the position of Assistant Head-Coach.

He has a wealth of experience working with youth teams, coaching a number of different age groups with Kilglass/Enniscrone United.

McManus is also a coach with Sligo Leitrim Youth and Schoolboys/Schoolgirls League.

Currently the Assistant Head Coach of the IT Sligo’s Women’s team, McManus also takes part in coaching during Sligo Rovers summer camps, and has been involved with numerous football programmes such as Football For All and the Primary School 5s Programme.

Speaking about the role, McManus said: “It’s a real honour for me to be named Head Coach of Sligo Rovers Women’s u17s. To say I’m excited about the season ahead would be an understatement. 

“I am looking forward to working with a lot of the girls from last season and getting to know the new girls that will come in this season. We had a great season during 2019 and myself, Neal and Hugh Cunningham are looking to build on previous success.”

McKenna joins McManus on the management team. He is the current Head Coach of Ballisodare United, coaching across all age groups, including the Under 12 girls.

He is assistant coach o the IT Sligo Men’s A team, and coaches the senior team at Summerhill College. McKenna coaches the Sligo/Leitrim girls Under 12 emerging talent team.

Speaking about the role, McKenna said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the opportunity to work with the Sligo Rovers Women’s u17s. 

“I am massively passionate about growing the women’s game in Sligo and want to add to the great work that has been done with the Rovers girls over the last two years. 

“There is more and more talk about women’s football in Ireland and myself and Martin’s job is the help the players develop both on and off the pitch and be the best they can be to establish Rovers as a real force in the women’s game for years to come, and hopefully we can build the women’s structure at the club and have an Under 19 team and senior team in the near future, with players availing of the scholarship programme at IT Sligo.”

The winner of the Sligo Rovers Christmas Draw was Joe Gillen.

Congratulations to Joe on his top prize win which was €500 but his luck really was in as he was also drawn out again later with another entry, this time for the stay in the Clanree Hotel in Letterkenny.  All the results are below.

The Bit O’ Red are extremely grateful for the generosity received for this year’s Christmas Draw, including the public who supported us so well on Friday night as we sold tickets in businesses and public houses. Thank you to the owners for facilitating this.

€13,000 was raised from the draw in total.

We want to thank our office staff Frank, Sandra and Shane for their hard work and dedication in helping co-ordinate the draw and the volunteers who helped sell so many books of tickets.

Their efforts are appreciated by all at the club

1. Joe Gillen, Oakfield Road– €500
2. Roger Cawley, Enniscrone– Two Westlife tickets in Pairc Ui Chaoimh
3. Joe Gillen, Oakfield Road – Two nights in Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny
4. Frank Arthur– 2020 Sligo Rovers season ticket 
5. Ciaran McDonagh, Green Road – 2 x Republic of Ireland Nations League game tickets 
6. Sinead Magee– Christmas Hamper
7. Martin Rogers, Union Walk – Dinner for two in the Clayton Hotel 
8. John Lee, Ballinode – 2020 Sligo Rovers jersey