Top
100Top
100
This section of the website looks back at some of the great players to wear the bit o' red. If you would like to suggest a player we have missed send your suggestion to Sligo Town Supporters Club
Martin Mc Donnell Johnny Brooks Albert Straka Lewis Hughes
Tom Lally Chris Rutherford Harry Litherland Michael Betts Gerry Mitchell
Son
of a famous father Martin Mc Donnell played his first games for Rovers during
the 1979/80 season. He went on to be one of the clubs most loyal servants. Martin
played 177 times for Rovers and his cultured left foot was often at the centre
of Rovers midfield creativity. He chipped in with 15 goals from midfield and
was never found wanting in terms of his work rate. Probably his most famous
performance came in the 1983 Cup Final when Martin turned in a man of the match
display. On a wet miserable day in Dublin he was everywher, one minute breaking
up a Bohs attack the next setting up a chance for Rovers at the other end, Indeed
Martin played a crucial part in both of Rovers goals on the day. It was Martins
free kick which skidded across the front of the Bohs penalty area before Tony
Stenson whacked the ball past Dermot O'Neill. Later on he picked up a pass across
the defence from Stenny and sent a perfect ball down the line for Harry Mc Loughlin.
The rest, as they say is history as Harry produced one of the greatest Cup Final
goals of all time.
Martin left Rovers to join Galway United after the 1983/84 season but he returned to the fold in 1990. He picked up a second Cup winners medal in 1994 with Willie Mc Stay's team. A wonderful player whose work rate would put many to shame. His left foot created many goals for the club as well as contributing a few. Without doubt one of the best left sided players the club has seen. His goal scoring record is as follows:
|
League
|
Cup
|
League Cup
|
Shield
|
Total
|
|
9
|
1
|
4
|
1
|
15
|
Joined
Rovers in the 1966/67 from York City Brooks remains a legend to Rovers fans
of that era. In his first season at the clu Johnny Brooks was the leading goalscorer
with a total of 17 goals in all competitions helping the club to third place
in the league just seven points behind chsmpions Dundalk. In his second season
with the club he also finished leading goal-scorer though his total this tiume
was the modest figure of 9 goals. At the end of his second season he was transferred
to Boston Beacons for the sum of £4,500. He went from Boston to South
Africa before returning to Rovers during the 1969/70 season. His main contribution
during this season was a memorable goal in the FAI Cup semi-final against Cork
Hibernians. Brooks picked up a long clearance from David Pugh and lobbed the
ball over Hibs keeper, Grady, to give Rovers the lead. He left Rovers at the
end of this season but has remained close to the club and often recommends players
to the club. A good all round player Brooks is fondly remembered for his goal-scoring
exploits at the club.
|
League
|
Cup
|
Shield
|
City Cup
|
Total
|
|
24
|
4
|
2
|
0
|
30
|
During
the 1954/55 season Rovers made one of their most colourful signings. Albert
Straka was an Austrian international who was signed for Rovers in time for the
FAI Cup campaign. The bit O' red were drawn against the other Rovers from south
Dublin and the fans flocked to the Showgrounds to see the Austrian international.
It was a game of high drama as Johnny Armstrong gave Rovers the lead only for
Shams to fight back and go in front with goals from Hennessey and Liam Touhy,
who went on to manage Ireland. Touhy's goal came with just four minutes left
and it looked like Rovers were out of the cup. But Rovers won a penalty in the
last minute which sent the crowd on to the pitch. It took about ten minutes
for order to be restored and when it was Straka stepped up to take the penalty.
The referee indicated that it was the last kick of the game and the Austrian
international kept his nerve to slot the ball past O'Callaghan in the hoops
goal to earn Rovers a replay. Rovers lost the replay but Straka's short spell
with the bit o' red saw him find a place in the history books.
Lewis
Hughes was a Welshman who joined Rovers at the start of the 1936/37 season.
Hughes had a spell at Glenavon in the Irish League befoe joining Rovers. Although
he only had two seasons he chalked up an impressive goal-scoring record during
that time. Hughes was an inside right in the first Rovers team to win the League
championship in his first season at the club He was part of a forward line which
also included Harry Litherland, Jimmy Duncan, Robert Gourlay and Paddy Monaghan.
In the old days of five man strike forces this combination scored 80 goals between
them in this famous season. Hughes
was only prevented from being the club's leading goal-scorer by the record breaking
feats of Litherland however in his second season at the club the positions of
the top two goal-scorers were reversed with Hughes finishing above Litherland.
He left Rovers at the end of the 1937/38 season and joined Cork City. His goal-scoring
record was:
|
League
|
Cup
|
Shield
|
City Cup
|
Cup Total
|
Overall total
|
|
| 1936/37 |
16
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
6
|
22
|
| 1937/38 |
10
|
0
|
5
|
1
|
6
|
16
|
|
Total
|
26
|
2
|
7
|
3
|
12
|
38
|
Tom Lally was a goalkeeper who joined Rovers at the start of the 1968/69 season. Born in Galway he played with the club for two seasons before his talents were noticed by the cross-channel scouts. Although he wasn't the tallest goalkeeper his agility and reading of the game ensured that his lack of height was not a disadvantage. A superb shot stopper Lally played in the team which was beaten in the 1970 cup final by Bohemians after two replays. Lally eventually was transferred to Celtic after the 1970 cup final but he never made the brakthrough to first team football at Parkhead. He returned to Ireland where he played with St. Pats, Athlone Town and the newly formed Galway United. He was also the manager and assistant manager at his home town club. Lally returned to Rovers in the twilight of his career in the 1987/88 season. In total he played 100 times for Rovers and but for Alan Paterson he might have been remembered as Rovers best ever keeper.
Chris
Rutherford joined Rovers from Cardiff City as a 20 year old back in 1975. Born
in Liverpool the big defender formed a solid central defensive partnership with
Tony Stenson. He was part of the team which won the championship in the 1976/77
season. He was a big defender witha heart to match. Rutherford won everything
in the air and was uncompromising on the ground. He also posed a threat at set
pieces and had the knack of scoring important goals for the team. Indeed on
the day that the championship was clinched at the Showgrounds it was a typical
soaring header from Rutherford which restored Rovers lead after Shamrock Rovers
had equalised. Rovers need to win and Rutherford's goal settled the nerves again
and gave the team the platform to produce a finish worthy of champions.
 |
| The Rovers team that won the league in 1976/77 with Chris Rutherford in the back row, head and shoulders above everyone else |
Chris was also part of the historic cup winning team in 1983 although he fell victim to Rovers infamous centre half curse in the final. A knee injuey menant that he was only on the pitch for 19 minutes. In typical fashion, thoug, Chris made a huge contribution to Rovers win. In ths third replay of the semi-final Rovers found them selves 2-0 down to non-league Cobh Ramblers at the Showgrounds. Two trademark Rutherford goals pulled it back to 2-2 before Gus Gilligan's goal put Rovers in the final. The rest, as they say, is history.
Until recently Chris Rutherford was still involved with the club as assistant manager. Indeed Rutherford has provided a safe pair of hands on at least three occasions when the club has found itself managerless. The big man has stepped in as caretake manager and done a pretty good job. When Rovers fans sit down to argue over who would make the best ever Rovers eleven the name of Chris Rutherford is always mentioned
Harry Litherland joined Rovers at the start of the 1936/37 season. Born in England he had played for Everton, Sheffield United, Newport, Carlisle United and Sheffield Wednesday before joining Rovers. He was a centre forward and in his first season for Rovers he helped the club to the league championship. He was a centre forward and
 |
|
Rovers championship winning team from 1936/37 with Harry Litherland in the back row third from the left |
slotted in beside the Welshman, Lewis Hughes. In his first season at the club Litherland set a record which stands to this day. He scored 19 league goals in his first season at the club which is still the best total for any Rovers player. Add to that 10 goals in three cup competitions and Litherland was one of Rovers most prolific strikers ever.
During the summer after Rovers had won their first league championship he left the club but by the time the new league season had started he had returned. In his second season with the club he scored another 14 goals to bring his tally to 43 over two seasons. He left Rovers before the end of the 1937/38 season and joined Drumcondra and he finished his career on Dublin's north side. He married a local girl in a trend which other imports would follow.
Goalscoring record
| League | FAI Cup | Shield | City Cup | Cup Total | Total | |
| 1936/37 |
19
|
2
|
6
|
2
|
10
|
29
|
| 1937/38 |
14
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
14
|
| Total = |
33
|
2
|
6
|
2
|
10
|
43
|
Born
in Barnsley in 1957 Michael Betts joined Rovers at the start of the 1976/77
season. He was the son of the former Manchester City player Barry Betts. Betts
was brought to the club by Billy Sinclair to strenghten his team in the hope
of creating a squad capable of challanging for the championship. The 19 year
old midfielder had played his football in the English second division with Blackpool.
Betts settled into the centre of Rovers midfield alongside Tony Fagen and provided
much of the creativity which would propel the club to their second league championship.
While Fagen looked after the defensive duties Betts was always joining in with
the forwards and when he wasn't creating goals for Mick Leonard and Garr Hulmes
he managed to score a few himself. In his only season at the club he contributed
five league goals and two cup goals. Alas he moved on at the end of the season,
joining Shamrock Rovers, and did not feature in Rovers first venture in the
European Cup, when the squad took on the mighty Red Star Belgrade.
During
the sixties - early seventies Rovers fans will remember a period when the club
struggled, mostly. There were exceptions and one of these was the season 1969-70
when the club played in two cup finals within weeks of each other. During this
period a trio of local players emerged who would go on to become legends with
the fans. At centre half there was David Pugh, in the midfield Tony Fagen made
his first appearance in the team and up front there was Gerry Mitchell. Gerrry
made his debut for the club in October 1960 against Bohemians, as an 18 year
old, and went on to make 257 appearances for the bit o'red. In his first six
years at the club he got off to a slow start scoring wise, with just seven goals
up to the '69/70 season. The main reason for this was that he was played in
defence initially. He gave the club six more years service as a player and in
those six years he chalked up 56 goals in all competitions making him one of
Rovers most prolific ever goalscorers.
During his time as a player Rovers best league performance was a creditable third in the league ('66/67) but the highlight of his career was the 1969-70 season when Rovers battled out an epic cup final against Bohemians, eventually losing after a third replay. This after all four games had been played at Bohs home ground of Dalymount Park. Gerry Mitchell contributed two goals in this cup campaign Mitchell including the winner in the semi-final against Cork Hibernians. Mitchell also helped Rovers to the final of the Blaxnit cup which was a competition between the cup semi-finalists from both sides of the border. Rovers started off the competition with a convincing 3-0 win against Ballymeana United at the Showgrounds with two goals from Gerry Mitchell. The team then overcame Derry City in the semi-finals and won the first leg of the final 1-0 against Coleraine at Windsor Park. The second leg was played at Dalymount Park and Rovers lost 4-1 to finish runners up again in a cup competition.
Gerry Mitchell also had two spells as manager of the club. With David Pugh he took of the as joint manager for the 1970-71 season as the club went to an all local policy in an attempt to keep spiralling debts under control. He was also manger in the mid-eighties between 1984 and '88 under similar conditions. He led the club to an epic cup semi-final where Rovers lost narrowly after a replay to Shamrock Rovers. He was also a member of Rovers backroom team when the club last won the league championship in 1976/77. As a manager he had the honour of managing the last visiting team to Glenmalure Park. Gerry was very much a one club man and dedicated most of his lifetime to his hometown team.
Gerry Mitchell's goalscoring record for Rovers was:
| Season |
League
|
FAI Cup
|
Shield
|
League Cup
|
City Cup
|
Blaxnit Cup
|
Cup Total
|
Total
|
| 1963/64 |
4
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
| 1966-67 |
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
---
|
0
|
1
|
| 1967-68 |
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
---
|
1
|
1
|
| 1968-69 |
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
---
|
0
|
1
|
| 1969-70 |
10
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
4
|
14
|
| 1970-71 |
8
|
2
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
---
|
6
|
14
|
| 1971-72 |
11
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
---
|
2
|
13
|
| 1972-73 |
5
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
---
|
3
|
8
|
| 1973-74 |
5
|
0
|
---
|
0
|
0
|
---
|
0
|
5
|
| 1974-75 |
1
|
0
|
---
|
1
|
0
|
---
|
1
|
2
|
| Total = |
46
|
4
|
8
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
17
|
63
|
Rovers team from the 1969-70 season
with Gerry Mitchell in the back row, second from the right.