Sligo Rovers unveil strategic partnership with Premier League side Everton FC

Sligo Rovers have announced they have entered into a new strategic partnership with English Premier League side Everton Football Club.

The new agreement will see the Bit O’ Red and the Toffees collaborate on several initiatives and promotional activities including fan engagement, marketing and content collaborations.

Sligo Rovers and Everton academy coaches will also develop relationships which will see opportunities for pre-season training bases for academy teams at both clubs.

The clubs will collaborate on both coaching and business operations.

Both clubs will set up joint camps which will include improved services, increased access and more coaching opportunities and enjoyment for participants.

Rovers and Everton have had a great relationship historically, with various links between players and fans.

Famously, Everton snapped up a 20-year-old Seamus Coleman from Sligo Rovers in 2009 for £60,000. Coleman has gone on to make almost 300 appearances at Goodison Park as well as captaining both club and country.

Sligo have also come calling to Goodison, in 1939 Everton great Dixie Dean crossed the Irish Sea to sign for the Bit O’ Red, scoring 10 goals in 7 appearances helping them to the FAI Cup final.

The signing of Dean is still celebrated to this day in what was a unique period for the club.

Relationships between the two clubs have always been good. Both clubs have played against each other in several friendlies and the Toffees fans contributed to the Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust in 2020 which raised €85,000 allowing Rovers to complete the remainder of the season in which they achieved European Qualification.

Everton have always maintained Irish links throughout their 143 year history.

Sligo Rovers chairman Tommy Higgins told the club’s media “this is a very positive day for Sligo Rovers. We have a shared history with Everton Football Club over many decades and I believe we also have the same principles and ambition to grow. They are a perfect fit for a collaboration such as this.”

“Partnering with Everton will allow us to improve in many key areas, such as commercial activity, fan services, and also the development of our academy coaches which is of utmost importance” added Higgins.

Speaking to Sligo Rovers’ media team Seamus Coleman said “I’m delighted with this partnership between two clubs close to my heart in Sligo Rovers and Everton.”

“I’ll be forever grateful to Sligo for giving me my start in professional football and for helping to pave the way for my move to Everton, the club I am proud to captain and represent each and every day.”

Sligo Rovers must wait until March at least to begin their 2021 campaign, while Everton lie 4^th in the Premier League after 17 games under the management of Carlo Ancelotti.