Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni with Gordon Ryan, Head of Development & Business Operations at IT Sligo, and Michael Toolan, Chairman of Sligo Rovers, at the announcement of a partnership between Sligo Rovers and IT Sligo.
Sligo Rovers and IT Sligo have officially linked up in a move which will lead to an increase in the number of local players advancing to play with the Sligo Rovers first team squad.
Under the agreement, four scholarships will be co-funded annually by IT Sligo and Sligo Rovers. The scholarships will be available for male and female players and participants will study at IT Sligo and play for its soccer teams, while also being signed with, and playing and training with Sligo Rovers.
Sligo Rovers will also have use of the top class facilities at IT Sligo for first team squad training, including its modern Knocknarea Arena facility, and flood lit pitches and 3G Astro turf pitch.
IT Sligo is the largest higher education institution in the North West and has a strong record in sporting achievement. The campus has just undergone a significant development plan which included a multi-million euro investment, in its sports facilities, making it a natural partner for FAI Cup Winners Sligo Rovers.
To promote awareness of the link, the IT Sligo logo will appear on the Sligo Rovers jersey and IT Sligo signage will also be displayed in the Sligo Rovers Showgrounds.
Sligo Rovers General Manager Packie Lynch spoke of his delight at IT Sligo coming on board with Sligo Rovers:
“When I was appointed one of my first goals was to establish a link with IT Sligo and to create scholarship scheme that would be open to both male and female footballers. I’m delighted that all the hard work on both sides has come to fruition and that we have made this partnership happen. It’s an agreement that will greatly benefit Sligo Rovers for years to come.”
Spokesperson for IT Sligo, Head of Development and Business Operations, Gordon Ryan, said; “We are delighted to be formally launching this partnership with Sligo Rovers. IT Sligo has a very strong record in both men’s and ladies soccer and we see this as a natural progression and development of that tradition. Our sports facilities are amongst the best in the Institute of Technology sector and Sligo Rovers will now be just one of the many local organisations in the North West that benefit from them on a regular basis. It’s been a busy year for both Sligo Rovers and IT Sligo and we’re looking forward to building on that winning streak together.”
Sligo Rovers manager Paul Cooke, left, with Brona Kearns, from the Sligo Rovers ladies team, Gordon Ryan, Head of Development & Business Operations at IT Sligo, and Sligo Rovers goalkeeper Brendan Clarke at the announcement