Sligo Rovers will play in the 2022 SSE Airtricity Women’s National League (WNL) following confirmation that the club’s application to introduce a senior women’s team to the league has been approved.
It means the top tier of the women’s League of Ireland will now comprise 10 teams next season.
Rovers have already been fielding teams in the EA Sports under-17 and under-19 Women’s National Leagues.
The new senior team will play their home games at the Showgrounds.
The club says the women’s management committee will be amalgamated into the overall club committee and Rovers will continue to seek additional female representation on the club’s board.
IT Sligo have partnered with Sligo Rovers as part of the move to join the WNL as female players follow their male counterparts in securing scholarships to study at third level and play for the Bit O’ Red.
Rovers Chairperson Tommy Higgins described the club’s entry into the WNL as a very important step in the club’s development.
“The women’s game is exploding all over the world – and you can see it here in Ireland with our senior (international) team.
“Currently, there’s nowhere for the club’s under-19 players so they head off and play in some other place.
“I have great belief in the women’s game because women bring families into the club – and the entertainment value is wonderful.”
Listen to his interview with Ocean FM Sport’s Austin O’Callaghan here:
Rovers Head of Academy Conor O’Grady said: “We’ve been very proud of our Under-17 and Under-19 teams in the progress they’ve made in these early years.
“Undoubtedly they deserve the pathway of a senior team and future international players will come through Sligo Rovers teams in the years to come. We already have reached that stage at underage level and we will get stronger and stronger.
“We have already have plans in place for next season. We will be in a growth phase as we join the WNL and I knpow the club will give all we can to support the players and coaches.”
League of Ireland Director Mark Scanlon said: “After such a brilliant season, with records broken and new initiatives taking off, it is exciting to be welcoming a new club in Sligo Rovers to the SSE Airtricity Women’s National League.
“Sligo Rovers have a long history in the League of Ireland of being successful on the pitch and progressive off it. I’m sure that they will add that same professional approach to their women’s set-up, as has already been seen with their Women’s Under-17 and Under-19 teams.
The 10 clubs competing in the 2022 Women’s National League will be:
- Athlone Town
- Bohemians
- Cork City
- DLR Waves
- Galway United
- Peamount United
- Shelbourne (2021 winners)
- Sligo Rovers
- Treaty United
- Wexford Youths.
