The Showgrounds, Sligo Town
| An Páirc Thaispeántais | |
| Full name | The Showgrounds, Sligo Town |
|---|---|
| Location | Sligo, County Sligo |
| Coordinates | 54°16′12.15″N 8°29′14.04″W / 54.2700417°N 8.4872333°WCoordinates: 54°16′12.15″N 8°29′14.04″W / 54.2700417°N 8.4872333°W |
| Public transit | Sligo Mac Diarmada railway station |
| Owner | Sligo Rovers Trust |
| Capacity | 4,500 (4,000 seated) |
| Record attendance | 13,908 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Scoreboard | No |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1928 |
| Renovated | 2012 |
| Tenants | |
| Sligo Rovers (1928 -) | |
The Showgrounds is a stadium in Sligo, which has been home of League of Ireland side Sligo Rovers since the club was formed in 1928.
The Showgrounds was leased until 1968 when it was then purchased for Sligo Rovers by a trust foundation representing the people of Sligo. Under the terms of the purchase it can never be mortgaged, sold or used for any commercial purposes other than sport and leisure. The Showgrounds is a 12 acre (49,000 m²) site with the stadium capacity around 5,500 with 4,000 seats.
On the 8th of November 1978 Sligo opened their new covered accommodation on the Jinks Avenue in a FAI League Cup semi final against Shamrock Rovers.
In November 2001 the new main stand was opened to the public for the League Cup fixture with St. Patrick's Athletic. The stand accommodates 1,853 seats, although there is available capacity for further seating. It has been built in cantilever style to ensure there is no obstructed view.
The Showgrounds was revamped in winter 2006 with the demolition of the ground's most famous "Shed". This was followed by the demolition of the ground's old famous turnstiles. New state of the art turnstiles were built along with front offices. In March 2009 work was finished on a new club shop which is open on match nights. This is situated on the Tracey Avenue Stand side.
In May 2009 the Showgrounds had some major upgrading work done to enable the club compete in 2009-10 UEFA Europa League. This work included the building of a new fully tarred car park, along with upgrading work to both all seater stands. An extra 200 seats were added to the Red Stand and also new seating was put into the jinks side of the ground. This work has brought the seating capacity of the ground up to 2,700 which was required for competing in Europa League.
In July 2012 a new stand was completed at the Railway End consisting of 1,300 seats.
Most club's histories are focused on the team's quest for silverware but 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 held in 1908. Soccer was played in Sligo Town in the 1880s; 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. Over 80 years later, 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.
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