Sligo Rovers to welcome Celtic FC B to the northwest for friendly game
Sligo Rovers have this week announced a mid-season friendly with Celtic FC B at The Showgrounds on Tuesday, July 11, kicking off at 7 p.m.
The game will see the Scottish side travel to Ireland as part of their pre-season preparations.
There are a number of connections between the clubs, most notably in recent times the likes of former Rovers man Willie McStay, who was player/manager from 1992 to 1994 where he won the FAI Cup, First Division and First Division Shield in the '93/94 season. Willie is currently head of academy scouting at the club.
Sean Fallon was born in Sligo in 1922 and joined the Bit o’ Red in the late 1940s before joining Celtic a couple of years later. Fallon went on to become a Celtic legend, making over 250 appearances in Glasgow over an eight-year period.
The Sligo man would then go on to become the club’s assistant manager from 1962 to 1975, taking the team shortly afterwards as caretaker when manager Jock Stein was involved in a near-fatal car crash.
In 2014, The Showgrounds underwent development works to improve facilities and it was announced that the new all-weather pitch facility would be named in Fallon’s honour. To this day it is named The Sean Fallon Centre, the home of the Bit o’ Red’s academy.
Speaking after the announcement of the game, Rovers manager John Russell said he is looking forward to welcoming Celtic B to The Showgrounds.
“It promises to be a good occasion for both clubs here at The Showgrounds,” he stated. “I know there is a good history between the clubs, with various players or staff having played or managed both here and in Scotland.
“It will be a good test for us, and it will also be good for the supporters of both clubs to come to The Showgrounds and see a good game of football.”
Sligo Rovers chairman Tommy Higgins added: “We are very happy to welcome Celtic Football Club to The Showgrounds on July 11. The game will hopefully be an entertaining one for the supporters and we hope to see a large Celtic support here on the night too.
“Celtic are a hugely followed club around the world, particularly here in Ireland, and we are all looking forward to the game.’’
Possibly the most important Sligo link to Celtic is that of the founder of the Glasgow club, Brother Walfrid, who was born in Ballymote.
Walfrid founded the club in 1888 as a means of raising funds for the Catholic community in the area. He is remembered at both Celtic Park in Glasgow and the Community Park in Ballymote, where there are two sculptures in his honour.
Tickets for the match are now available on https://srfcdirect.com/match-tickets and are priced at €15 for adults, €10 for seniors and students, and €5 for Under 12s. Season tickets are not valid for the fixture.