Valley Rovers FC have announced they are withdrawing from the men’s Sligo-Leitrim junior soccer league for the season ahead because of a shortage of players.
The club, which has provided football for players from the Geevagh, Highwood and Ballyfarnon areas, has been in operation since 2011 – and had been part of the men’s junior soccer league for the past three seasons.
They were due to play in the new third tier (First Division) for the season ahead.
However, a statement issued on the club’s Twitter feed on Tuesday evening, said that it had become clear to club officials in recent days that they would not be able to assemble a squad of players to fulfill a full season of fixtures.
Valley Rovers first competitive fixture was due to be a First Division cup tie against Arrow Harps reserves on September 1st.
The club says it will continue to operate a women’s team and will continue its vibrant youth soccer set-up.
Club officials acknowledge that the latest of their withdrawal will provide league officials with logistical headaches – but following a Valley Rovers club meeting on Sunday night, the decision was made to pull out of the league at the start of the new season – rather than be forced to withdraw mid-way through it.
Read the full Valley Rovers statement here:
A really sad day for the club,after 3 years playing football we have to withdraw from the at short notice. We like to thank all that done everything possible in providing soccer for young men in the area ,hopefully we will learn from it and revisit again in the future@DslSligo pic.twitter.com/DsHOXoPqgQ
— Valley Rovers Fc (@RoversValley) August 20, 2024
Valley Rovers have become the third Sligo-Leitrim junior soccer team name to be scratched from the league’s fixture list.
Last season, Carrick Town and Cliffoney Celtic were both excluded from their respective divisions by league officials, as per rule, after failing to fulfill league fixtures at various stages of their respective campaigns.
