Everton to play pre-season friendly against Sligo Rovers
Sligo Rovers fans will get to watch Seamus Coleman line out in the Showgrounds once more Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Everton will kick off their pre-season fixtures with a friendly match against League of Ireland side Sligo Rovers, the former club of Blues captain Seamus Coleman. The match is scheduled for Friday, 19 July at 4pm BST at the Showgrounds in Sligo.
The match will not only prepare Sean Dyche’s men for the upcoming Premier League season but also honour Coleman, who joined Everton from Sligo Rovers in January 2009 for £60,000.
Coleman, who recently extended his contract with Everton for a 16th season, is Everton’s record holder for most Premier League appearances with 364 games.
Coleman expressed his excitement about the match, saying, "It will be a huge honour for me to return to Sligo Rovers with Everton for our opening pre-season friendly of the summer. Sligo is a club I obviously hold close to my heart, with them putting their faith in me as a young player which eventually led to my move to Everton."
He added, "I still have many friends at Sligo and it’s been great to see the close bond between the two clubs strengthen over the years. Going back there after more than 15 special years as an Evertonian will mean a lot to my family and me."
The friendly will also strengthen the strategic partnership between Everton and Sligo Rovers, established in January 2021, which includes initiatives in fan engagement, marketing, and joint football camps.
Sligo Rovers boss John Russell commented on the upcoming match, "It's an honour to have the Everton first team play at the Showgrounds and a game myself, my staff and our players are really excited about. It's a game that will capture the imagination of the Irish football public."
The friendly will form part of Everton’s training camp in the Republic of Ireland as they prepare for their Premier League opener against Brighton & Hove Albion at Goodison Park on 17 August.
Tickets for the match go on sale at the Showgrounds on Tuesday morning at 10am, with online sales starting Wednesday at 9am. Fans of both clubs can purchase tickets through links posted on social media channels.
