Mayo man returns to Sligo Rovers for coming season
Sligo Rovers FC has announced that Mayo native Gary Boylan has signed up until at least the end of the upcoming 2023 SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division season.
Boylan, from Belmullet, is a former Sligo Rovers Academy graduate having first joined the Bit o’ Red in 2013 to play for the Under 19 men’s team from his local club, Iorras Aontaithe (Erris United).
He made his Sligo Rovers senior debut in a league fixture against Derry City at the end of the 2014 season, and went on to make more than 100 appearances for the club before moving to Cork City in 2019 as a free agent.
The versatile defender signed for Galway United before the 2021 SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division campaign and spent the second half of the last season on loan to Finn Harps, making 12 appearances.
Sligo Rovers manager John Russell told the club website that he is thrilled to add Boylan to his squad.
He commented: “I’m delighted Gary has agreed to sign with us for 2023. He knows the club well having come through the academy and he brings a wealth of experience from his time playing in this league.
“Gary is a very driven individual and has the ability to play in a number of positions. I always felt his best position was full-back and that’s where I see him playing and developing with us this season.”
The manager continued: “He is two-footed, aggressive in the way he defends, and has the ability to get forward and put dangerous crosses into the box. It’s important to have the right type of people coming into the club and for that reason I think Gary is an excellent addition to the squad. All the staff and I are looking forward to working with him.”
Boylan is set to join the Rovers squad tomorrow ahead of the start of pre-season training, which leads into the first game of the new season against Shamrock Rovers on February 18.
The Belmullet man, who played Gaelic football with Mayo at minor level, said he is delighted to be back at Rovers.
“I enjoyed every minute in my last spell at the club,” he said, “and I know what it means to the supporters. With John Russell being in charge, that played a massive factor for me. You look at how well he’s done with the club in such a short spell and having played with John, I know how professional he is and standards he demands.
“I am really looking forward to the season ahead and hopefully getting the club back into the European places again.”