Sligo Rovers F.C. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sligo Rovers

Full name	Sligo Rovers Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Bit O'Red, Rovers
Founded	1928; 97 years ago (1928)
Ground	The Showgrounds
Ground Capacity	5,500 (4,000 seated)
Owner	Supporter owned
Chairman	Tommy Higgins
Manager	John Russell
League	League of Ireland Premier Division
2024	League of Ireland Premier Division, 6th of 10
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional football team from Sligo, a town in the west of Ireland. They play in the top league in Ireland, called the League of Ireland Premier Division. The club was started in 1928 and has been part of the League of Ireland since 1934.

Sligo Rovers is special because it's owned by the people of Sligo, like a big community project! The team plays its home games at The Showgrounds, which has been their home since the very beginning. They are often called "The Bit O'Red" because of their bright red home kit. Over the years, they have won many important trophies, including three league titles and five FAI Cups.

The Story of Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers Football Club was created on September 17, 1928. It was formed when two smaller local teams, Sligo Town and Sligo Blues, joined together. Their first game was a huge 9–1 win against Ballyshannon.

Early Days and First Wins

The club started with a bang! In their very first season, they won the FAI Junior Cup. They beat Grangegorman 3–0 in the final. The next year, they won the Connacht Junior Cup.

In 1931, Sligo Rovers joined the Dublin-based Sunday Alliance League. They won their first game 4–2 and went on to win the league that season. This success helped them move up to the Leinster Senior League in 1932. They did very well, finishing third in their first year. They also played in the FAI Cup for the first time.

A year later, in 1934, Sligo Rovers won the Leinster Senior League! They also won the Intermediate Cup and the Metropolitan Cup, completing an amazing three trophies in one season.

Joining the Top League in 1934

Because of their success, Sligo Rovers was invited to join the Free State League (now the League of Ireland) on June 28, 1934. This was the highest level of football in Ireland. Their first game in the top league was a 3–1 loss. But they finished third that season, which was a great start.

In the 1936–37 season, Sligo Rovers had an incredible start, winning their first 11 games! They went on to win their first league title, beating Cork 4–3 with two games left. They also won the Dublin City Cup that year.

In 1939, Rovers reached their first FAI Cup final. They played Shelbourne in front of a huge crowd of over 30,000 fans. The game was a 1–1 draw, but Shelbourne won the replay 1–0. Sligo Rovers also finished second in the league that year. The next season, they reached the FAI Cup final again, but lost to Shamrock Rovers. After this, the club decided to stop playing for a while because of World War II.

The Famous Dixie Dean

Before the 1939 cup final, Sligo Rovers did something amazing. They signed Dixie Dean, a legendary English player from Everton. Even though he was near the end of his career, Dean was a huge star. He held the record for scoring the most goals in a single season in England (60 goals!).

When Dean arrived in Sligo, a massive crowd welcomed him at the train station. He scored in his first game for Rovers and went on to score nine more goals in just seven league games. This included five goals in one match against Waterford. He also scored in the FAI Cup final that year. Dixie Dean even came back to Sligo in 1978 to watch the team play in another FAI Cup final.

Coming Back Stronger: 1948–1976

After the war, Sligo Rovers worked hard to rejoin the league. They finally succeeded in 1948. In the 1948–49 season, they almost won the league title, finishing second by just one point. They also reached the FAI Cup semi-finals.

The club faced some tough times in the 1950s and 60s, struggling with money and results. In 1962, they were even removed from the league for a year. But they came back in 1963 and started to improve. In 1968, a big step was taken when Rovers gained full ownership of The Showgrounds, allowing them to improve the stadium.

In 1970, Rovers reached their first FAI Cup final in 30 years, but lost to Bohs after two replays.

Winning Big: 1977–1985

The 1976–77 season was one of the best ever for Sligo Rovers. They won their second league title, 40 years after their first! Manager Billy Sinclair led a great team that beat Shamrock Rovers 3–1 to win the title. A local hero, Paul 'Ski' McGee, was a key player. He later played for the Irish national team.

Winning the league meant Rovers got to play in Europe for the first time, in the European Cup. They played against Red Star Belgrade but lost both games.

In 1983, Sligo Rovers finally won their first FAI Cup! It was a long and exciting journey to the final. They had a tough semi-final against a junior team, Cobh Ramblers, which took three replays to win. In the final, they faced Bohs at Dalymount Park. Bohs took the lead, but Tony Stenson equalized, and local winger Harry McLoughlin scored the winning goal. The final score was 2–1. Club captain Tony Fagan lifted the trophy, 50 years after the club first entered the competition!

Ups and Downs: 1986–2005

In 1985, the league changed, adding a First Division. Sligo Rovers struggled and were relegated to the First Division. However, they bounced back quickly, earning promotion the very next year. At this time, the club decided to become a co-op, meaning it's owned by its supporters.

The club went up and down between the Premier and First Divisions for several years. In 1990, under new manager Dermot Keely, they were promoted back to the top flight.

A Famous Treble and European Adventures: 1994–2000

Despite being in the First Division, 1994 was one of Sligo Rovers' most successful years. Under manager Willie McStay, they won three trophies: the First Division Shield, the First Division title (getting promoted back to the Premier Division), and the FAI Cup! They beat Derry City 1–0 in the FAI Cup final at Lansdowne Road.

After this, Rovers made their first European win, beating Floriana from Malta in the Cup Winners' Cup. They then faced a big team, Club Brugge from Belgium, but lost.

In 1998, Rovers won their first League of Ireland Cup, beating Shelbourne in the final.

Back to the Top and Cup Glory: 2006–2013

After some difficult years in the First Division, Sligo Rovers finally earned promotion back to the Premier Division in 2005.

Under manager Paul Cook, Rovers started playing exciting football. In 2008, they finished fourth in the league, which meant they qualified for Europe again. A young player named Seamus Coleman was sold to English club Everton for £60,000. He went on to become a star for Everton and the Irish national team.

In 2010, Sligo Rovers had an amazing season. They won the EA Sports Cup and then the FAI Cup! The FAI Cup final was played at the new Aviva Stadium against Shamrock Rovers. The game ended 0–0, and Sligo Rovers won on penalties, with their goalkeeper Ciarán Kelly saving four penalties!

The 2011 season was also very successful. Rovers finished second in the league and won the FAI Cup again, beating Shelbourne on penalties.

In 2012, under new manager Ian Baraclough, Sligo Rovers won their third league title! They secured the championship with two games to spare, beating St. Patrick's Athletic 3–2 in a thrilling match at The Showgrounds. The fans rushed onto the pitch to celebrate this huge victory.

The 2013 season saw Rovers win their third FAI Cup in four years! They beat Drogheda United 3–2 in a dramatic final, with Danny North scoring a late equalizer and setting up the winning goal for Anthony Elding.

Recent Years: 2014–Present

After the glory years, Sligo Rovers faced some challenges. Managers changed, and the team had to fight to stay in the top division. In 2014, they won the Setanta Cup, but league form was difficult.

In 2019, Liam Buckley became manager, and things started to improve. In 2020, Rovers finished fourth in the league, which meant they qualified for the new UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers. They also reached the FAI Cup semi-finals.

In 2021, Rovers continued their good form, finishing third in the league and securing European football again. In 2022, they had an exciting European journey in the UEFA Europa Conference League. They beat Bala Town from Wales on penalties and then famously defeated Scottish team Motherwell 3–0 over two legs! This was the furthest the club had ever gone in European competition. They eventually lost to Norwegian side Viking FK, but finished their European adventure with a 1–0 home win.

Who are the Supporters?

Benny the Bull, the Sligo Rovers team mascot

Sligo Rovers has a loyal group of fans in Sligo town. Around 2,000 people usually come to watch their games. Many supporters' clubs help raise money for the team, like the Bit O'Red Supporters Trust.

The Forza Rovers group is very noticeable on match days. They are known for their colorful displays and loud support, which makes The Showgrounds feel very exciting!

Trophies and Achievements

Sligo Rovers has won many important competitions:

• League of Ireland/Premier Division: 3 times
  • 1936–37, 1976–77, 2012
• FAI Cup: 5 times
  • 1982–83, 1993–94, 2010, 2011, 2013
• League of Ireland Cup: 2 times
  • 1997–98, 2010
• Dublin City Cup: 1 time
  • 1936–37
• Setanta Sports Cup: 1 time
  • 2014
• League of Ireland First Division: 2 times
  • 1993–94, 2005
• League of Ireland First Division Shield: 1 time
  • 1993–94
• Leinster Senior League: 1 time
  • 1933–34
• FAI Intermediate Cup: 1 time
  • 1933–34
• FAI Junior Cup: 1 time
  • 1928–29

Playing in Europe

Sligo Rovers has played in European competitions many times. Here's a summary of their record:

The Showgrounds: Rovers' Home

The Showgrounds is the home stadium of Sligo Rovers. It's in the Maugheraboy area of Sligo town. The team has played here since they started, making it one of the oldest grounds in Ireland. The stadium is owned by the people of Sligo and can only be used for sports.

Treacy Avenue Stand

This is the main stand. It has 1,800 seats and includes the changing rooms and press area. It was built in 2001.

Jinks Avenue Stand

This stand is across from the main stand and has about 800 seats. Part of it is for away fans, and the other part is for the loud Sligo Rovers supporters, Forza Rovers.

Railway End

A new stand with 1,300 seats was finished here in 2012. It's now called the Pet Stop Stand.

Shed End

This area used to have a shed where fans gathered. Now, there's no structure here.

Famous Players and Top Scorers

Many talented players have played for Sligo Rovers over the years. Some of the most famous include:

• Dixie Dean (England)
• Seamus Coleman (Ireland)
• Joseph N'Do (Cameroon)
• Pádraig Amond (Ireland)
• Brendan Bradley (Ireland)
• Paul McGee (Ireland)
• Max Mata (New Zealand)

Here are the players with the most appearances for the club:

Ranking	Nationality	Name	Years	Total Appearances (league only)
1	Ireland	Tony Fagan	1967–1987	590 (431)
2	England	Tony Stenson	1968–1984	387 (290)
3	Ireland	Raffaele Cretaro	2000–2005, 2007–2009, 2011–2020	381 (311)
4	Scotland	Johnny Armstrong	1951–1964	380 (228)
5	Ireland	Gavin Dykes	1987–1996	323 (255)

And here are the club's all-time top goal scorers:

Ranking	Nationality	Name	Years	Goals
1	Scotland	Johnny Armstrong	1952–1964	138
2	Ireland	Padraig Moran	1993–2001	82
3	Ireland	Raffaele Cretaro	2001–2005, 2007–2009, 2011–2020	82
4	Ireland	Paul McGee	1971–1972, 1976–1978, 1984, 1991–1993	65
5	Northern Ireland	Gerry McDaid	1935–1936	64

Current Team and Staff

Here are the players currently in the Sligo Rovers squad:

No. Position Player 1 GK Edward McGinty (on loan from Oxford United) 3 DF Reece Hutchinson 4 MF Ellis Chapman 7 FW William Fitzgerald 9 FW Wilson Waweru 10 MF Stephen Mallon 11 FW Luke Pearce (on loan from Cardiff City) 15 DF Oliver Denham 17 MF Jack Henry-Francis (on loan from Arsenal) 21 DF John Mahon 27 MF Connor Malley 30 GK Richard Brush 31 GK Conor Walsh

No. Position Player 34 MF Kailin Barlow 35 MF Sean McAteer 37 MF Conor Campbell 38 DF David Jonathan 39 MF Kyle McDonagh 42 MF Conor Cannon 46 DF Conor Reynolds 47 FW Owen Elding 52 DF Gareth McElroy 56 GK Kyle Gabbidon 57 MF Aidan Gabbidon 63 FW Kevin Muldoon 67 MF Shea Malone 71 MF Daire Patton 74 DF Colin Mooney – MF Thomas Morley – FW Francely Lomboto

The team is led by manager John Russell. He is supported by an assistant manager and other staff who help with training and player development.

Images for kids

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  Sligo Rovers F.C. crest

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  Benny the Bull, the Sligo Rovers team mascot

See also

In Spanish: Sligo Rovers Football Club para niños