This is a piece that was handed out as part of a newsletter a couple of years ago. I came accross it the other day and though Id put it up here because some people might be interested in it.
The Story of The Showgrounds
Whilst most club’s histories are focused on the team’s quest for silverware, in Sligo it is a bit different; Central to the history of Sligo Rovers is the story of the Showgrounds, and there is a special association and affinity between our supporters and this famous old ground.
The Showgrounds takes its name from the annual show held at the grounds by the County Sligo Agricultural Society, the first one which was held in 1908. Soccer was played in Sligo Town in the 1880’s; Fiona Gallagher’s History ‘The Streets of Sligo’ tells of a game played at this time between the Lancashire Regiment stationed at the Military Barracks and the ‘Hare and Hounds’ Club, the match being played in a field close to the present Showgrounds.
In 1928 Sligo Town amalgamated with Sligo Blues to become Sligo Rovers, and the Showgrounds became their home. In the 80 odd years since then, the ground has had its share of drama and excitement – the club’s first league success in 1937, Straka’s famous penalty against Shamrock Rovers in 1955, to the memorable Cup and League campaigns of the last thirty years.
But what makes the Showrounds so special to the current generation of supporters is the realization that it was nearly lost to the club. Brendan Byrne recalls the sequence of events which led to the securing of the Showgrounds:
‘The first complication was that the Showgrounds was divided between two estates, so we were dealing with the two owners. The Fowler estate ran from Tracey Avenue to an area around the current Jinks Avenue Stand. The remainder of the ground was in the ownership of the Campbell estate.
In early 1968 the lease of the fowler had expired. The members of the Supporters Club met with the Management Committee and discussed the situation that was unfolding. Alderman John Fallon was Chairman of Sligo Rovers and Jimmy Gilmartin was Club Secretary’.
Having discussed the problem, the Management Committee appointed four people to travel to Kilkenny to meet with Miss Fowler’s Secretary.’
Brendan recalls ‘On our way to Kilkenny we talked about possible scenarios and expected that this would be the first of a series of meetings. It was really a journey into the unknown. At the meeting with Miss Fowlers Solicitor, John Fallon and Jimmy Gilmartin outlined the history of the Showgrounds and Sligo Rovers. They explained the close affinity between Sligo Rovers, the Showgrounds and Sligo public. The solicitor took us by surprised when he asked what we were prepared to offer. This was a stage way ahead of what we had anticipated. There followed and uneasy silence, at the end of which we offered £4,000 – a lot of money in 1968. The solicitor said that he would cnvey our offer to Miss Fowler and after an anxious wait, the news came through three weeks later that our offer was accepted.’
Later that summer John Fallon, Paddy Gilmartin and Brendan Byrne met with Charlie Brown at Argue & Phibbs Solicitors, regarding the purchase of the Campbell estate. They agreed a figure of £2,500 on the night. This meamt that Sligo Rovers had effectively purchased the Showgrounds. Whilst this was great news, the club was left with the problem of raising £6,500 which was no minor undertaking in 1968.
A number of individuals were given different areas of the town, and among these Brendan Byrne recalls being assigned St. Joseph’s and St. Brigid’s Area. He collected 2 shillings from several houses on Saturday evenings. Many of those houses could ill afford this amount, yet they contributed week after week to keep their beloved old Rovers in the Showgrounds. Their was a strong bond between Sligo Rovers and the people of that area and this was particularly noticeable among the older people. This weekly collection stretched from 1968 to late 1971 to early 1972.
‘Looking back, when the Supporters Club met with the Management Committee in early 1968 neither group could have envisaged the significance of that meeting or the legacy it would leave. The Members of the supporters Club included among others, Albert Higgins, Mick Carroll (deceased), Paddy Morahan (deceased), Ray Gallagher, Breda Mulligan, Bernie Tiernan, Martin Keaveney, Willie Kelly (deceased), Willie Bradley, Tommy McDonagh, Mary Foley, Bertie Conlon, Eugene Conlon and Breda Byrne.’
The outcome of that meeting provided Sligo with one of the best football arenas in the country and with secure tenure. In the years that followed, the great Paddy Morahan led groups of volunteers on works improving the Showgrounds. Paddy’s efforts made an enormous contribution in modernising the ground and it would be a fitting and deserved tribute to his memory could be perpetuated in some way, maybe by naming some part of the Showgrounds in his honour.
Meeting the purchase price of the Showgrounds by weekly collectors was time consuming and stretched over 3 or 4 years. It did have beneficial side effects that are hard to quantify … it gave people a sense of ownership and belonging which goes to the heart of Sligo Rovers. This is what sets Sligo Rovers apart from other clubs, the strong community loyalty, the fierce pride people have in their club and the sense of loyalty has passed on through generations of Rovers supporters. Other factors contributed to the unique aura of the Showgrounds – its working class setting in one of Sligo’s oldest communities, the sense of the Showgrounds being one of Irish soccer’s most resilient outposts. While the facilities have improved over the years, the character of the Showgrounds will never change and it will always retain its special place in the hearts of Sligo Rovers supporters.
Showgrounds 1950s.JPG
Pic of the Showgrounds in the 1950s.
Manager: Fergal, have you your boots with ya?
Fergal: Ya, I have them here.
Manager: Ah good stuff, well give them to this man so, he forgot his!
Wow, excellent read, tx
The Famous Straka Penalty
Straka Penalty I.jpg
"Overwhelmed"
Great to hear the story behind it. DId they name a stand or some part after Paddy Morahan after?
That question was less stupid, though you asked it in a profoundly stupid way.
Help me, Arthur Murphy, you're my only hope!
Originally Posted by Dodge
You can only admire the foresight of the people involved at Rovers at this time. Our ground is a 12.5 acre site in the middle of the town which would have been worth millions over the last 10 years but it's held in trust for Rovers and can never be sold or used for commercial use. In 1988 when we became a co-op with one man one vote we became the first top flight club in Western Europe to be a supporter run club which only reinforces the strong community loyalty within our club.
Fascinating story, and a credit to the club.
And also a reminder of the existence of the most appropriately named legal firm in the world: Argue & Phibbs Solicitors. Always makes me chuckle...
(Not slagging anybody: I used to know a publican down home in Roscommon who used them all the time.)
With such history behind LOI stadiums and clubs its damming that the current state of grounds is so bad, years of poor management have left the current generation of fans with a league full of ramshackle kips.
Thanks for interesting article, I wish there was more stuff about the story of football grounds in Ireland.
Nvmqvam Deorsvm
I have always been fascinated by football stadia, their layout, history and development, so this was a great piece..
Any Bohs fans like to correct this?
Great story from the OP by the way. Showgrounds is one of my favourite away venues.
You just spoke up for Bohs and us in the one post - must have had an awful lot of Champagne after the league win.
"Even if the wind stops to blow
Even if the sea ceases to flow
Even if the sun ceases to rise
The name of Sligo Rovers will shine and shine forever like the morning star glittering in the sky."
I wish they would tidy up the far end behind the goal. Makes it look very amateurish
Great post. Always enjoy visiting the Showies and great to read the history behind it. There are similar stories around the development of every club in ireland and the people involved. It Would make a facinating read if they were ever compiled.
Maybe if you post it in another thread or two they might.
"Even if the wind stops to blow
Even if the sea ceases to flow
Even if the sun ceases to rise
The name of Sligo Rovers will shine and shine forever like the morning star glittering in the sky."
We really should try and get Nick Leeson into the club, and get a more professional look about the place
I have scattered my dreams underneath your feet, tread carefully, cos it's my dreams you walk on.
Utterly bizarre photo from the 1950s. Any logical reason why the spectators on the right and behind the goal are about half a mile from the pitch?
If you saw the kind of ****e that was being played in the 50's, you'd want to be a half mile from the pitch as well.
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