Sligo Rovers will begin the new Premier Division season away to Finn Harps on Friday 14 February.

The first home game is Friday 21 September against St Patrick’s Athletic.

View all fixtures here

Sligo Rovers were honoured by the Soccer Writers of Ireland by winning League of Ireland Website of the Year on Tuesday night.

Rovers were one of three clubs nominated for the award alongside Shelbourne and Waterford.

The Bit O’ Red were voted winners with club PRO Rory Houston saying the award was testament to the volunteer spirit of the club.

He added that the passing of club president Eddie McCullough in recent days reminded everyone of how important volunteerism is to Sligo Rovers and that his legacy lives on.

He thanked all those that work with the club on a volunteer basis.

Net World Sports have again teamed up with the club to become our official equipment supplier for the 2020 season.

Net World Sports are a leading worldwide supplier of sports equipment. Providing top of the range equipment across sports such as football, GAA, golf, basketball and tennis; they have everything you need to get to the top of your game!

Sligo Rovers manager Liam Buckley spoke of his delight at the deal:

“Having worked with the company before, it’s important we know as a club we are getting good equipment to help us train better and improve on the pitch. The equipment we received last season was second to none and again for this coming season we’re looking to get in some more which will benefit us moving forward.”

The deal will see the company supply The Bit O Red with equipment for training for the duration of the 2020 season, as we look ahead to pre-season preparations.

Sales Manager Dan Jones explained a little bit more about Net World Sports and how the deal benefits them:

“We are delighted to be working with Sligo Rovers again for the upcoming season. We are extremely proud of our FORZA football range and are looking to promote the brand where possible. It’s great that Sligo Rovers were happy with the quality of the equipment and wanted to work together again for the 2020 season.

Our football range is expanding all the time so feedback from clubs like Sligo is paramount to bringing out the best products on the market. We are very proud to be supplying Sligo Rovers and we hope that the partnership can continue for years to come”.

Check out the Net World Sports website at www.networldsports.ie

2020 season tickets are now on sale online and in our club store in Barton Smiths.

Click here to buy online

As with every year, supporters are encouraged to buy before Christmas Day, as prices increase after this. So this is the final week to get the cheaper ticket.

Supporters have the chance to reserve their own seat for every league game in 2020, as well as all the cup games too. In previous seasons, Gold Season Tickets only reserved your seat for league games, however in 2020 we have added cup matches so you don’t have to worry about coming early to secure a seat, your name will be on it.

Gold Season Tickets:

A Sligo Rovers Gold Season Ticket allows the supporter to select their favourite seat in the ground and have it reserved for every game of the season. Whether you work late and can only make kick off, enjoy a pre-match tea or coffee in the clubhouse, or you simply want to wait until the last minute to avoid the cold, your seat is secured.

Gold season tickets will work out at around €3.50 extra per match.

Adult Season Tickets:

Adult season ticket prices for 2020 have been frozen, with no increase from last season at €220.

An adult Gold ticket costs €300, where you can reserve your seat for every game, as explained above.

Gold Season tickets are continuing to prove extremely popular with an increase in demand each season.

Student and Concession categories:

We are again offering discounted rates for second and third level students. Secondary school tickets are €100, around half the amount you would pay by paying on the gate each week, and Third Level Student tickets are €140, saving you around €40 for the season.

Bit O Red supporters who are unemployed can purchase a concession season ticket which will cost €150, with an up to date letter required from your local Intreo office to show your you are not working.

OAP/Senior Citizen Tickets:

These tickets are €140 for 2020, with the gold option just €210.

Family Season Tickets:

As with previous seasons, we are offering families a discounted rate for entry to The Showgrounds. For two adults and to children aged 12 or under, it will cost €500. This is a big saving for families of four, however we understand as a club the significant spend these families will have over the course of the season, so we feel this offer will be a great help to them.

Super Reds:

Our fantastic Super Red offer will again remain for 2020.

Season Ticket prices will be €60 for kids aged 12 and under, but this season they will get even more.

Kids will receive a Sligo Rovers training kit, including a crested T-Shirt, club shorts and socks, which will be worn Liam Buckley’s first team in 2020. Kids will also be given a voucher for €10 off our new 2020 home kit, as well as entrance to our hugely popular Super Red open day where Super Red ticket holders will receive their training kits, meet the first team players and be put through their paces by manager Liam Buckley and his staff in an hour long coaching session. Kids will also receive a birthday card in the post in time for their big day in 2020, signed by their favourite player.

Credit Union Finance:

To make it easier for supporters to purchase their season tickets for 2020, we have teamed up with Sligo Credit Union who will offer supporters a short term loan, in order to purchase their ticket and enable them to pay for it over the course of the season, rather than in one lump sum before Christmas.

To purchase your ticket online, visit www.srfcdirect.com

To purchase your ticket, you may also visit one of the following outlets:

• The Showgrounds
• Barton Smith, Sligo
• Collery Menswear, Sligo
• Lavins Menswear, Ballymote
• John Lowe, Carrick On Shannon
• Greenan Electric, Boyle
• Gerry Kenny Sport, Ballina
• Colerys Shop, Ballina
• Gillespies, Tubbercurry
• Tansey’s Centra, Gurteen
• Tony Quinn, Cliffoney

The Sligo Rovers Christmas Draw has just one week left to go.

The winner of the draw will receive €500 on Monday 23 December.

Second prize: Tickets to Westlife’s concert in Pairc Ui Chaoimh

Clik here to buy tickets: https://srfcdirect.com/christmas-draw-ticket/

Third prize: Two night’s B&B in the Clanree Hotel in Letterkenny

Fourth prize: Sligo Rovers season ticket for 2020

Fifth prize: Two tickets for Republic of Ireland Nations League game in the Aviva Stadium

Sixth prize: Christmas Hamper

Seventh prize: Dinner for two in the Clayton Hotel, Sligo

Eighth prize: Sligo Rovers 2020 jersey

Tickets available here or from committee members or the club office

We are expecting a busy 9 days or so in the lead up to Christmas at our club store at Barton Smiths in Sligo Town.

As part of the build up, we will be receiving a special visit from Santa Claus at 12 noon to the store tomorrow, Saturday.

For 90 minutes only, there will be 10% off all items in store. Santa and his elf will be there to help you choose your favourite items and he will be happy to hear all our little Bit O’ Red supporter’s wish lists, just in case they need to tell the man himself in person.

With a new range of club hats, scarves and merchandise arrived just in time, there’s no better way to spend your Saturday afternoon.

We look forward to seeing you all.

It was with great sadness that Sligo Rovers have learned of the passing of Club President Eddie McCullagh 

The McCullagh family have been at heart of Rovers for many years, and Eddie shared his late brother Dermot’s passion  for the club they held so dear.

Eddie was a supporter all his life, he served on the management committee and was a mainstay of the club lottery since it was introduced in the early 1990’s.

In the late 1960’s when Rovers bought the Showgrounds, Eddie led a team of volunteers to carry out a weekly collection around the housing estates of Sigo town. Eddie’s  patch included MCR, St Brigid’s and St Joseph’s, 144 houses he called to without fail every week, a huge commitment but typical of Eddie that he fulfilled this duty without any fuss.

As he recalled in later years: “Times were tough then, but people always had their shilling for Sligo Rovers”

Eddie was one of most modest and unassuming men you could meet, but it would be a brave soul who would criticise Sligo Rovers in his presence. 

His affection for the club attracted countless other supporters and volunteers to follow in his footsteps. 

In later years he suffered ill health and was cared for by a close circle of family and friends, in recent times in the loving care of staff of St John’s Hospital, where he was affectionately known as ‘Mr President ‘.

A highlight of a build-up to our FAI Cup semi-final this year was Kyle Callan-McFadden and Johnny Dunleavy visiting Eddie in St John’s.

He passed away overnight, with those that loved and cared for him by his side and along with some treasured Sligo Rovers mementos.  

Eddie will be sorely missed by his many friends at Sligo Rovers, but he will always be remembered and cherished as a gentle, kind soul who one of the club’s most loyal and dedicated servants.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam

Last Saturday the Bit O’ Red collected a cheque from the BEAT IT World Record Fashion Show as organised by EJs Menswear to celebrate their 25th year in business.

The world record for models in a fashion show was broken on the night at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Sligo.

A total of 459 models took to the catwalk on the night breaking the previous record of 408 models set in Thailand in 2018.

Remarkably, over €100,000 was raised on the night. Sligo Rovers were one of three groups to benefit. The presentations were made in the Blue Lagoon.

Sligo Cancer Support Centre received €50,000, while the Sligo All Stars picked up €13,000. The Bit O’ Red, who were tasked with producing 200 models, generated €40,000.

Eamonn Cunningham of EJ Menswear and organising committee member told the Sligo Champion: “It was a truly unbelievable night, the community spirit of Sligo really shined through.

“Everyone pulled together to organise this record attempt and raise much needed funds for these worthwhile causes.”

The organisation of such an event took a lot of planning and this mammoth task fell to the organising committee, the staff of EJ Menswear and the many volunteers on the night, many of whom were connected to Rovers, including all of our players who took part.

Their level of professionalism and determination is testament to their achievement.

Eamonn added: “Everyone involved on the night deserves a massive thank you. The EJ’s staff, the lads from the Rovers and All Stars and of course the people of Sligo and beyond that gave so generously over the days and weeks leading up to the event.

“Everyone should give themselves a big pat on the back.”

Sligo Rovers chief executive Colin Feehily said: “It was a night that will go down in the history books of Sligo and that is no exaggeration.

“We are so grateful to all at EJ’s, especially Eamonn, and all of the organising committee. Some of our most dedicated fans were a driving force behind it and I just want to say thank you to them and all of the models who took to the catwalk. The very best of Sligo was on show that night. Everyone in the room left beaming with pride and rightly so.

“We’re thrilled to see Sligo Cancer Support Centre receive such a large sum. The amount generated for Rovers is such a lift to us as well.

“We immediately used it for costs arising from the 2019 season and from a business perspective this gives us a stronger run to the new year and the start of the season.

“As people know, the costs of running Sligo Rovers are rising each year. That is the nature of competing in the top flight in the League of Ireland, especially when not in Europe.

“We are reliant on what we generate as a community. Nights like the fashion show makes our community so special.

“The fashion show has been a huge help to us so from everyone at the club, thank you again to all. We are all excited about 2020 and trying to get the club to a higher level.”

‘What’s the story with this wall?’ has been a prominent question over the last ten days with Sligo Rovers supporters since the launch of the new Bit O’ Red Wall.

The black granite tile, which you can have you or your family’s names engraved, will be placed behind The Treacy Avenue Stand outside the player’s tunnel in the ground. Supporters have been quick to snap up their tiles in the last week and demand is growing.

Chief executive of Sligo Rovers, Colin Feehily, said: “The reaction has been really good actually. People are very interested and it’s getting supporters thinking about what they could have on them. So far, the majority of sales have been as Christmas and birthday presents, or families wanting to show their support and having their own family tile.

“We have had supporters in America, Australia and the UK all taking tiles through our online store.

“A couple of people have also got one to remember a loved one who passed on, but it’s not just a ‘memorial wall’, it’s very much a wall for supporters past or present and it’s something that will continue to grow over the years.”

Buy your Bit O’ Red wall tile here

This initiative is another way the club are looking to improve the overall look of The Showgrounds and follows on from the recent outdoor museum launch which took place in October.

Tiles are available from The Showgrounds office, or at Barton Smiths in town where the club have their annual Christmas Shop set up for the festive period.

The club have put together a gift pack in which supporters buying presents can take to give to the person they’ve bought for.

Tiles cost €100 and there is no end date, the wall will be there for many years to come and it really gives Bit O’ Red Supporters the chance to have their own spot in the ground.