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100
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100 This section of the website looks back at some of the great players to wear the bit o' red. If you would like to suggest a player we have missed send your suggestion to Sligo Town Supporters Club
Gus Gilligan Tony Cavanagh Wesley Charles Guy Callaghan Declan Boyle Declan Mc Intyre
Although he was born in England Gus's family were from the Ballisodare area and he returned to the country in 1981 and signed for Rovers. He was an instant success at the Showgrounds and scored 16 goals in his first season with the club. In his three seasons with Rovers he scored 23 goals in all competitions. He was a striker who wasn't the tallest in the world yet he was an excellent finisher either with his head or feet. Probably his finest moment came in the third replay of the 1983 FAI Cup semi final when he got on the end of a sweeping move involving Tony Fagen and Harry Mc Loughlin. His cushioned header eventually settled this marathon tie and sent Rovers into what would be an historic FAI Cup final.
The former Dundalk winger joined Rovers at the beginning of the 1977/78 season. He was brought to the club as a replacement for Charlie Ferry. He was an old fashioned winger who liked to take on and beat defenders. Blessed with outrageous skill on his day Cavanagh could mesmerise. His creativity from the wing set up many goals for the likes of Mick Leonard, Gary Hulmes and later on Brenden Bradley. Maybe he didn't chip in with enough goals as a return of 5 goals for his three seasons at Rovers might have been better. He was a genuine crowd pleaser who could improvise when required and who played a type of game which is sadly consigned to the history books now
Born on the island of St. Vincent and the Grenadine in the Carribean Wesley joined Rovers for the 1998/99 season. He slotted into the centre of the defence alongside Jim Sheridan and proved to be an instant hit with the supporters. He was strong in the air and very good in the tackle. His distribution from the back was also good. Wesley went on to make history by being the second Rovers player to be capped while with the club when he represented his country in the qualifying games for the 2002 World Cup and indeed notced a couple of goals in the qualifyers. This was probably a weakness of his at Rovers as a return of two goals fror his three seasons at the club would be considered disappointing. He left the club at the end of the 200/01 season and joined Bray Wanderers.
A local who began his career with Glenview and played most of his football with Rovers in the years before they were elected to senior football. He also played with Mullingar and won every honour available to him at Junior and Intermediate level. He was captain of the team which won the Leinster Senior League and played with Rovers in their first season as a Senior club in the league. He was a prolific goal-scorer for the bit o' red and his exploits eventually led him to a Junior International cap. He represented Ireland in a Junior International against Scotland in Falkirk in 1931. Although the Irish lost 3-2 Callaghan scored one of the Irish goals. He scored 84 goals for Rovers as a Junior club with his best season being the 1933/34 one where he chalked up a total of 30 goals. He played with the club for their first two seasons as a Senior club and notched nine goals in total.
Donegal born defender who was brought to the Showgrounds at the start of the 1993/94 season by Willie Mc Stay. He had previously played for Finn Harps and had been voted the Irish Schools player of the year when he lined out with Killybegs Vocational School. A solid defender with good reading of the game and excellent distribution from the back, he formed an exceptional partnership with Gavin Dykes at the heart of the Rovers defence. He was a pivotal member of Mc Stay's treble winning team in '93/94 and had his moment of glory at Lansdowne Road in the Cup Final of that season. Declan did such a good job of shackling Derry City's Liam Coyle in the Cup Final that he waas voted man of the match by the media. When Mc Stay was a ppointed youth team coach at Celtic he brought Boyle to Parkhead but the defender couldn't force his way into the first team. He returned to the country and now is showing outstanding form in the heart of the Finn Harps defence.
Donegal born goalkeeper who was brought to Rovers in 1981 by Patsy Mc Gowan. He made 57 appearances for the club leaving in 1982 to join Finn Harps. He later had a spell with Galway United before returning to Rovers in 1992. One of Rovers finest keepers he was a superb shot stopper and was pretty decent in dealing with cross balls.
Gus
Gilligan
Wesley
Charles
