Sligo Rovers have been handed a timely boost on the eve of the 2025 season with the news that Owen Elding has signed a new deal with the club. The attacker, who turns 19 in March, has agreed to extend his current deal to the end of the 2027 season.

A product of the Bit O’Red’s AbbVie academy, Elding followed in the footsteps of his father and FAI Cup winner Anthony when he signed his first professional deal with the club before the start of last season. Having played 29 times in two seasons for the first team, Owen’s journey at Rovers goes back to his childhood when he joined the club’s under 13 side when he was twelve. He has gone on to progress and impress in each of the following years and regularly finished as top scorer at the end of the year. 

Elding’s contract extension further rubber-stamps Rovers’ commitment to bringing our own young talent all the way through the academy to first team level.  

Speaking to sligorovers.com, Elding, who can also operate out wide or as a striker, spoke of his own personal pride having risen through the ranks to become a familiar face to the Showgrounds faithful.   “Signing my first pro deal last year was a proud moment but to add two years on to it is just very special”, he beams. 

“It’s nice to feel that the manager and club has the trust in me to offer me two more years. 

“Last year was a huge progression in my career. In 2023, I got a few minutes from the bench just to get used to first team football but last season, John Russell gave me a lot more minutes. I think both John and Ryan Casey have improved me as a player so much by working with them. I think when a young lad like myself signs on a two year deal, it shows what the club is trying to do in terms of bringing players through and trusting the youth in being good enough to progress. It’s becoming more and more the way here and it’s great to see. 

“Starting at Rovers when I was twelve and working my way through to the first team is something that makes me very proud. It’s a special feeling to be training day in, day out with the likes of Kyle McDonagh and Daire Patton who have come through the system with me and signed professional deals also. It shows Sligo Rovers is trying to produce its own and huge credit has to go to the coaches and Conor O’Grady as head of the academy.”

Elding has been in flying form throughout the 2025 pre-season campaign, scoring five times in six games. He is yet to mark a first senior goal off his card, but Owen knows that duck isn’t far off being broken.  

“I feel like a new player”, he continues. “I’m playing with a lot of confidence. I know I’m still chasing that competitive goal but I feel I’m in a great shape to do so now. I’ve managed five goals in pre-season so I’m hoping I’ll start strong in 2025 and be in the manager’s plans to start games.

 “I want to open my account as quickly as I can because once I do that, I feel my game can go to the next level.” 

As for 2025. Elding wants his team to look as high as possible ahead of this weekend’s Premier Division kick-off. 

“As a team we know we’re good enough to be challenging up towards the top of the table. The fans are desperate to see us back in Europe and we’re desperate to give them that. We’ve all come back in top shape and we’re buzzing now for Waterford on Saturday.” 

Speaking following the agreement between player and club, Rovers boss Russell says 2025 can be a big year for Riverstown native Elding.

Russell said: “Owen has progressed really well over the last 12 months and we’re delighted to reward him with a new deal. Along with the likes of Conor Walsh, Daire Patton, Kyle McDonagh, Conor Reynolds and Gareth McElroy, he is another product of our academy. Owen being signed up to a long term deal having progressed through our youth ranks shows that this club is serious about sustainability and bringing through our own. Huge credit must go to his coaches at all levels. 

“We feel Owen has more than enough potential to make a big impact in the coming season. He has all the attributes you want to see in a forward. He has pace, power, intelligent movement and a real eye for goal.” 

“We’re very excited to see how he develops over the coming years.” 

David Goulden 

Sligo Rovers signed off on pre-season 2025 with a commanding four goal win over neighbours Finn Harps at the Showgrounds. 

Conor Malley scored early on as Rovers led at the break, while further strikes from substitutes Gareth McElroy and Francely Lomboto and goal from Cian Kavanagh just past the hour rounded off a busy winter schedule for the Bit O’Red ahead of Saturday’s league kick-off.

Malley had Rovers ahead after just eight minutes, while McElroy doubled our lead two minutes into the second half. The Donegal man finishing off a Ronan Manning set-piece.

Lomboto clinched number three with a well worked goal and smart finish. While the Galway man turned provider for Kavanagh’s goal when Lomoboto squared for the former Pat’s man to finish to an empty net. 

The game rounds off Rovers’ pre-season schedule ahead of the much anticipated opening game of the 2025 Premier Division season against Waterford at the Showgrounds on Saturday, February 15th. Kick-off is 7.45pm. Tickets are available at this link: https://www.sligorovers.com/season-tickets/

Rovers: Sargeant, Van Hattum, Mahon, Denham, Hutchinson, Wolfe, Malley, Fitzgerald, Elding, Hakiki, Kavanagh.

Subs used: Walsh, McElroy, Priosti, McDonagh, Cannon, Reynolds, Patton, Lomboto, Lintott, Manning. 

There were five individual goal scorers at MacSharry Park as Sligo Rovers beat a Sligo/Leitrim XI by six goals to one in the Bit O’Red’s penultimate pre-season outing ahead of next weekend’s Premier Division kick-off.

Owen Elding, Francely Lomboto, Guilherme Priosti, Callum Lynch and Rasheed Yeboah each found the net for Rovers, while an own goal added to the League of Ireland men’s side of the scoreline.

A determined Sligo/Leitrim pulled a goal back in the second period courtesy of an impressive strike from Kenny Ogun. 

Rovers’ final pre-season game takes place against Finn Harps at the Showgrounds, this Saturday. Kick-off is 7.45pm.

Rovers: Walsh, Lintott, Denham, Mahon, Hutchinson, Fitzgerald, Malley, Wolfe, Hakiki, Elding, Lomboto.

Subs used: Sargeant, Priosti, McDonagh, Patton, Malone, McElroy, Mallon, Lynch, Yeboah, Jonathan, Van Hattum, O’Malley, Nolan. 

With the 2025 Premier Division kick-off just two weeks away, Sligo Rovers continued their preparations with pre-season friendly games at both Markets Field and Bishopstown.

The first of these two games saw the Bit O’Red take on First Division side Treaty United in Limerick on Friday night.

An experimental Rovers starting eleven went ahead in this one on 22 minutes when winter signing Francely Lomboto finished off a quick attack from the visitors.

Treaty levelled the game eight minutes into the second half when Rovers’ Premier Division winner Lee Lynch set up an unnamed trialist for the leveller.

Lynch then went on to score the winner in the 71st minute.

With game time ahead of the Waterford game on February 15th the most important aspect of this visit to Munster, Rovers had a speedy turn-around with kick-off at Bishopstown arriving just 16 hours after the full-time whistle in Limerick.

Jad Hakiki, Cian Kavanagh and Owen Elding netted Rovers’ goals in a competitive game which finished 6-3 in Cork’s favour.

Rovers’ next game is our penultimate pre-season fixture. A Sligo/Leitrim XI are our opponents at MacSharry Park on Tuesday night, February 4th, kick-off 7pm.

Rovers XI V Treaty: Walsh, Van Hattum, Mahon, Cannon, Reynolds, Hutchinson, Fitzgerald, Wolfe, Patton, Manning, Lomboto. 

Subs: Sargeant, Lintott, Hakiki, McDonagh, Malley, Jonathan, Edling, McElroy, Malone. 

Rovers XI V Cork: Sargeant, Lintott, Denham, McElroy, McDonagh, Malone, Malley, Hakiki, Mallon, Kavanagh, Elding. 

Subs: Walsh, Jonathan, Priosti.  

Sligo Rovers is pleased to announce that the 2025 Super Reds Open Day will take place on Sunday, 9 February, at The Showgrounds.

Schedule for the day:

• Registration: From 1pm in the clubhouse
• Activities: 2pm – 3pm on the Astro pitch
• Autograph session: 3pm – 3:30pm with first-team players and John Russell

All attendees are asked to enter via the Astroturf car park.

This event is exclusive to 2025 Super Red members. However, there is still time to join by purchasing a Super Red Season Ticket through the link below:

🔗 https://www.sligorovers.com/season-tickets/

Super Reds will receive their 2025 Season Ticket and training top on the day, provided their application is submitted before 7 February. New members are encouraged to sign up and take part in this exciting event.

As part of the day’s activities, Super Reds will have the chance to meet first-team players, take part in football activities, and enjoy a memorable experience at The Showgrounds.

A parent or guardian must accompany each child on the day.

The club shop will be open from 1:30pm for those wishing to purchase official merchandise.

For those interested in joining the Super Reds for 2025, applications are still open via the link below:

🔗 https://www.sligorovers.com/season-tickets/

Sligo Rovers are pleased to confirm that academy player Aidan Gabbidon has signed for Swedish top-flight side Malmö FF. The transfer has taken place with immediate effect, with the club receiving training compensation for the player.

The 16-year-old centre-half joined Rovers’ AbbVie Academy in 2023, having previously played schoolboy football with Sligo/Leitrim side Valley Rovers. A Geevagh native, Aidan has been a standout performer for both club and country, representing the Republic of Ireland at Under-15 and Under-16 levels. He was also part of the Rovers U14 team that won the Galway Cup two years ago.

Aidan’s brother, Kyle, is also a member of the academy. A talented goalkeeper, Kyle has been capped at international level and gained first-team experience over the past 12 months.

Head of Academy Conor O’Grady expressed his mixed emotions about Aidan’s departure from The Showgrounds. While disappointed to lose the promising defender, he was encouraged by the move, which he said highlights the dedication and hard work of both the player and the academy’s coaches and staff.

O’Grady also thanked Aidan’s family, particularly his parents Mark and Karen, for their cooperation and invaluable role in his development.

“We wish Aidan all the best with his move to Malmö,” said O’Grady. “He’s a superb defender with the potential to go as far as he wants in his career. He’s well-grounded, thanks in no small part to his mother and father.

“While it’s disappointing to lose him, this transfer demonstrates the quality of work being done in our academy. The fact that a top European club has scouted and signed one of our players is a testament to the efforts of his coaches throughout his journey—from Valley Rovers to the Rovers academy.

“This move underscores the clear pathway from local underage leagues to our League of Ireland academy and, ultimately, first-team football—whether here at Sligo Rovers or beyond. Aidan’s move proves that hard work never goes unnoticed.”

Goalkeeper Conor Walsh netted the winning penalty as Sligo Rovers beat Galway United in a shoot-out in our third pre-season friendly of 2025.

Played in memory of former Westport United player Adam Mulchrone at Abbbvie United Park, the home of the Mayo League outfit, the sides finished 90 minutes level at two goals a piece.

A penalty competition decided the outcome with net minder Walsh stepping up to slot home the decisive kick on the turf of his own hometown club. 

Galway took the lead in the rain after 29 minutes through Tubbercurry’s Sean Kerrigan. But the Bit O’Red pulled one back before the break courtesy of Cian Kavanagh who scored again in the second period, this time from the penalty spot after the referee had spotted a handball in the opposition’s penalty area. 

Galway striker Stephen Walsh leveled the tie with six to go on to bring the game to a shoot-out which Rovers won 6-5.

Our next friendly is away to Treaty United on Friday January 31st.

Rovers: Sergeant; Lintott, Mahon, Denham, Hutchinson, Fitzgerald, Malley, Wolfe, Hakiki, Van Hattum, Kavanagh.

Subs used: Walsh, Jonathan, Elding, Nolan, Priosti, McDonagh, Patton, Reynolds, Canon, Lomboto, O’Malley, Mallon, Manning. 

Sligo Rovers are thrilled to announce that midfielder Matty Wolfe is the latest player to join the club. The 24-year-old has signed a one year deal with the Bit O’Red ahead of the 2025 League of Ireland season which gets underway in just over three weeks time.

A native of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Wolfe joined League One side Barnsley when he was ten and made his debut for the Tykes against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Championship in 2020 before spending time on loan at both Notts County and Danish side Esbjerg. He returned to his parent club ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, featuring for Barnsley in the Championship once again and in League One. He won Barnsley’s Young Player of the Year award at the end of the 2022 season.

Wolfe has been training with Rovers since the return to pre-season and having impressed boss John Russell, has today signed a 12 month deal. Matty revealed that words from former League of Ireland players, in particular his old teammate and once Shamrock Rovers player Barry Cotter, played a part in convincing him that the Showgrounds was the place to be for 2025.

“I’ve spoken to a few players about playing here”, he tells sligorovers.com.

“Barry said ‘just go’ and that I’d enjoy it. The football seems to be very under-rated over here and the way the teams play in the League of Ireland should suit my style.

“Training has gone really well so far, so I’m really looking forward to getting started now.

“The gaffer was in touch with me through Zoom and I was really interested in what he had to say. The ideas he had, the way he wants this team to play and the ambition he shows really impressed me. I want to be a part of that.”

Wolfe has already tasted life in football away from his homeland following a successful time in the Danish league with the aforementioned Esbjerg.

He’s now focusing on making his second spell away from home as enjoyable as the first.

“I really enjoyed Denmark, it was something new and a very different culture. I was out of my comfort zone, a little like coming over to Ireland, which is good. But everyone here is so welcoming and you can really feel that Sligo Rovers is one of those clubs that matters a lot to the local community.”

Adept at operating in the centre of the park, Wolfe explains his strengths.

He continues: “I can play anywhere in midfield whether that’s as a holding midfielder, securing the defensive side of things, keeping the ball moving. Or whether that’s playing higher and getting in and around the box. I’m happy to play anywhere really though.

“I want to help the team as much as I can and help us get as high up the table as we can.

“I’m looking forward to myself and the team putting in the performances and the rest takes care of itself.”

A recent knee injury affected Wolfe’s game time over the past few seasons. But speaking about his latest acquisition, Russell says he is confident the player is ready to make a big contribution at Rovers.

“It’s exciting to be able to bring a player of the calibre of Matty to the club”, Russell tells sligorovers.com.

“He’s a player with huge potential and is exactly the type of midfielder we need here.

“He’s aggressive and covers the ground as well as being comfortable in possession. A player like Matty really adds quality to the team.

“He has been unfortunate with injury which stalled his early promise at Barnsley. But he has fully recovered now and we want to get him back playing and enjoying his football again.

“I know from our conversations he is excited by the opportunity here and I’m looking forward to working with him this year.”

David Goulden 

Sligo Rovers continued their pre-season preparations ahead of the upcoming Premier Division season with a narrow defeat to Derry City at the Showgrounds. 

This was the Bit O’Red’s second outing of the year following last Saturday’s win over Athlone in the midlands. 

Rovers led early on through Owen Elding who again caught the eye when he finished a searching cross from new signing Ronan Manning after 13 minutes. 

Derry, who are expected to be amongst the title challengers once again this year levelled this friendly ten minutes from the break but only after Rovers keeper Conor Walsh had kept out a penalty. 

City’s lead only lasted 60 seconds. Elding had his brace with another superb finish on 36.

John Russell rang the changes at the break and Derry equalised soon after. 

While the Candystripes struck for the winner just after the hour. 

This was another valuable run out for Rovers ahead of the big kick-off on February 15th. Our next preseason game is penned in for this Saturday, January 25th against Galway United at Westport United’s grounds. 

Rovers: Conor Walsh, Oskar Van Hattum, John Mahon, Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson, Ronan Manning, Connor Malley, Jad Hakiki, Cian Kavanagh, Owen Elding, Francely Lomboto.

Second half: Conor Walsh, Conor Reynolds, Gareth McElroy, David Jonathan, Kyle McDonagh, Shea Malone, Conor Cannon, Callum Lynch, Owen Elding (Oisin Kelly), Guilherme Rego Priosti (Daire Patton), Francely Lomboto (Rasheed Yeboah).