The name "Rovers"

**sligobhoy67** · 26/04/2006, 1:44 PM

where not talking about Shams per se - what we are trying to find out is if anyone knows why WE were names Rovers

**sligoman** · 26/04/2006, 2:36 PM

Originally Posted by sligobhoy67

what we are trying to find out is if anyone knows why WE were names Rovers

Because Sligo Rovers sounds better than Sligo United does

.

**NY Hoop** · 26/04/2006, 2:44 PM

Originally Posted by Rogue Trader

Actually according to The Website the Name Sligo Rovers was first Seen around Sligo in 1908, So Considering Shams never played a competitive game until 1903/1904 and did not win the Leinster Senior league till 1915 it is very unlikely that they were copied them ! Sorry about dashing your ego trip lads !

Eh Rovers was founded in 1901. Nothing to do with ego at all. Again you took our name because when you were founded in 1929 we were the leading light in the game here. Dont fret about it accept it move on...........

There are published books about our club.

KOH

**sligoman** · 26/04/2006, 2:46 PM

Originally Posted by NY Hoop

when you were founded in 1929

Eh, 1928 actually

.

**sligobhoy67** · 26/04/2006, 4:51 PM

I'm not ruling it out but know one was provided a source or a link to see that info so until someone does its stays up for debate IMO.

**MervilleUnited** · 26/04/2006, 8:51 PM

Lads,Think this was touched on earlier, but I think the majority of Clubs on these islands (Hello Peter Robinson!

) who have the name Rover, are situated on or near ports.

As one line dictonary states: One entry found for rover.

Entry Word: rover
Function: noun
Text: 1 a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination <ever since he developed a strong case of wanderlust in college, he's been a rover> -- see NOMAD
2 someone who engages in robbery of ships at sea <a story of the days when sea rovers plied the Caribbean> -- see PIRATE

For More Information on "rover" go to Britannica.com

Basically a cool name of the time, no dublin conspiracy

And describes our club to a T, we were the Chelsea of Ireland from our earliest days, always a sprinkling of nomads and pirates among our ranks mixed with the best local talent, Typical seaport club.

**red bellied** · 26/04/2006, 9:17 PM

This is more like it sounds like Sligo Rovers to a tee, nice one Merville.

**sligobhoy67** · 26/04/2006, 9:18 PM

merville I take that on board but what about Blackburn or Doncaster - nowhere near the coast

**red bellied** · 26/04/2006, 9:27 PM

They had Dick Turpin instead a pirate of the road!

**Redzer** · 27/04/2006, 2:15 PM

Originally Posted by red bellied

They had Dick Turpin instead a pirate of the road!

I think Dick Turpin never played professional football

**MervilleUnited** · 27/04/2006, 3:11 PM

(Doncaster/Blackburn: Canals I think linked them to the sea) Without Again referring back to the history of these �islands�, (Arise Sir Ian!

) I think that we all were seafarers once, for trade, and transport etc. A Rover was one that bucked the trend, went against the grain, refused to buckle down to authority. A sort of 19th and 20th Century Cool Bad Boy! To the present day in the case of our Rovers! I know that when I was growing up, cool American Soccer names like Cosmos, Aztecs etc were always part of our street team names! So the Founders of the Club wanted the same for their Era. Seems to fit!

Will listen to any other theory though! Off now to watch our Under 16 Cosmos, sorry, United(

!) team play in the League Quarter Final at Cuilbeg, should be a cracker!

**S�C** · 27/04/2006, 3:33 PM

Originally Posted by NY Hoop

Eh Rovers was founded in 1901

I remember a grandfather of a friend in Blackrock told me that he thought that people claiming Shamrock Rovers being founded in 1901 was wrong and that he was sure it was 1906? Was that just the ranting of one old fella or is a a common claim?

Anyone ever hear of any other team with the name Ramblers besides Cobh?

**Ash** · 27/04/2006, 3:46 PM

Originally Posted by S�C

Anyone ever hear of any other team with the name Ramblers besides Cobh?

The Dublin City Ramblers

Other than that, from wiki:
Leigh Ramblers football club were founded in 1902 and celebrated in fine style
their centenary in 2002 with over 400 guests attending a presentation at the cliffs pavilion Southend.

Burnham Ramblers F.C.

**Schumi** · 27/04/2006, 3:48 PM

Originally Posted by S�C

Anyone ever hear of any other team with the name Ramblers besides Cobh?

A quick google gives Burnham Ramblers and Leigh Ramblers. There's a few American football teams too but I assume they don't count.

**WeAreRovers** · 27/04/2006, 5:00 PM

Originally Posted by S�C

I remember a grandfather of a friend in Blackrock told me that he thought that people claiming Shamrock Rovers being founded in 1901 was wrong and that he was sure it was 1906? Was that just the ranting of one old fella or is a a common claim?

Is that a can of worms I see before me? Up until Robert Goggins book, it was generally accepted that we were founded in 1899 (it was painted on the gates of Milltown) Goggins met some old guy in a pub who claimed it was 1901.

The other Rovers historians (and me) still maintain it was 1899 but that Rovers didn't play competitively until 1901. Both sides of the story are detailed in Eoghan Rice's brilliantly-titled book We Are Rovers.

KOH

**sligobhoy67** · 02/05/2006, 1:40 PM

has anyone done any digging on this?

**Fivesilver** · 02/05/2006, 2:53 PM

A definitive answer would be nice, but I'm not going to lose any sleep either way.
It could well be true, in which case, big deal (you're named after us, my daddy's bigger than your daddy etc.), or it might be nonsense, in which case what are we going to do, have a party and celebrate?
As I said before, there's not much point in waving the history and traditions of Shams over anyone's head when those traditions were betrayed and buried along with Glenmalure Park.
I have lots of respect for a number of long-established teams around the country, but it doesn't extend to the pale imitation of Shamrock Rovers now inhabiting a spot in Division 1, never mind how trendy it seems for certain media types to make dubious claims to having grown up on the terraces roaring on the Hoops.

**red bellied** · 02/05/2006, 3:02 PM

It could be the other way round! (Sligo Rovers rumoured to be circular 1900) Shams founded 1901 or even a few years after that.

**placid casual** · 10/05/2006, 2:19 PM

shamrock rovers - big fish in a small pond
sligo rovers - small fish in a big pond.

reading some of the posts in this forum would lead most to believe that
(a) attendences at sligo has fallen off since promotion- surely a world football first.
(b) they possess the single worst pitch in both leagues
(c) the fans of sligo are suffering a form of altitude sickness and instead of concentrating on lookin towrads the summit are too busy chiding those below.
bad move my friends.

**Guts&Glory** · 10/05/2006, 3:08 PM

Originally Posted by placid casual

shamrock rovers - big fish in a small pond
sligo rovers - small fish in a big pond.

reading some of the posts in this forum would lead most to believe that
(a) attendences at sligo has fallen off since promotion- surely a world football first.
(b) they possess the single worst pitch in both leagues
(c) the fans of sligo are suffering a form of altitude sickness and instead of concentrating on lookin towrads the summit are too busy chiding those below.
bad move my friends.

(a) Not fallen off but not as big as first expected however Shels attendance was a healthy 3,500 - how many Premier teams (or BIG 1st Div teams) can quote figures like that or higher ?

(b) Read Fenlons and Hearys comments post Shels game where they said they hadnt played on any decent pitch away from Tolka this season that Sligo was just as bad as Waterford and others.

Give Tolka 2 months and it will resemble the beach it did last season again.

Hows the Shams home pitch doing??? OOPS

(c) All fans chide teams they consider rivals/teams they dislike that are not currently as successful as they are - its part and parcel of football. Same way we get it when others are doing better than us.

Return to Football History and Knowledge 101 and come back with some more mature arguements.