Sligo Rovers FC
Wikicommons
Wikicommons
Sligo Rovers FC are an Irish soccer club who play their games at The Showgrounds in Sligo Town. They, along with Finn Harps from Co. Donegal have a long and proud history of senior football in the northwest of Ireland. The club's home colours are traditionally red and white stripes and their away strip is usually all-white.
Sligo Rovers FC
Sligo Rovers in action against Shelbourne. Sligo are playing in the red and white squares.
Image courtesy of The Irish TimesSligo Rovers FC
Image courtesy of The Irish Times
Image courtesy of The Irish Times
Sligo Rovers FC
Sligo Rovers in action against Shelbourne. Sligo are playing in the red and white squares.
Image courtesy of The Irish TimesFirst match
Sligo Rovers as we now know them were formed in 1928 after the joining up of two local junior sides, Sligo Town and Sligo Blues. Their first game was a 9-1 win against Ballyshannon on September 23rd 1928 in the first Connaught Cup. However, they weren't going to have things that easy all the time and it wasn't until 1937 that they won their first trophy of any note.
After being elected to the League of Ireland in 1934, 3 years later they won that league after finishing a massive 10 points ahead of second place Dundalk, scoring an amazing 68 goals in only 22 games. In doing so, they were the first team from outside Leinster to win the League of Ireland.
40 years later
Sligo Rovers had to wait another 40 years before they won their next major trophy when they won the league title in 1977. They followed up this success with a famous FAI Cup win against Bohemians FC in Dalymount Park on a wet and windy day in 1983. 11 years later, they won their second FAI Cup beating Derry City in the final by 1-0.
Famous Managers
Lawrie Sanchez
Lawrie Sanchez was one of Sligo Rovers most successful managers.
Image courtesy of The Irish TimesLawrie Sanchez
Image courtesy of The Irish Times
Image courtesy of The Irish Times
Lawrie Sanchez
Lawrie Sanchez was one of Sligo Rovers most successful managers.
Image courtesy of The Irish Times'The Bit O'Red' as Sligo Rovers FC are sometimes known have had some famous managers down the years. Willie McStay, who had played for Celtic FC was their most successful manager. In 1994, they won the First Division, First Division Shield and the FAI Cup. Lawrie Sanchez, who scored a winning goal in an FA Cup Final and managed Northern Ireland, was in charge of Sligo Rovers in 1994.
Sligo Rovers FC plays a very important role in the lives of Sligo people. The club itself is a co-operative which means it is owned by the people of Sligo. This is important because The Showgrounds can never be sold and will always be the home of the club.