Where are they now ?
An article on a list of 10 players from the last 10 years or so, who may have been forgotten about or you haven't heard of since they were with Sligo Rovers, featuuring players such as Shaun Holmes and John O'Hara.
10: Shaun Holmes
Photo from flickr.com/paulwa
Kicking off with a familiar name, former Northern Ireland International Shaun Holmes. Holmes was signed by Paul Cook in 2009 as a solution to the left back problem, but despite a good debut and two goals, he had a generally poor stint at Sligo Rovers and was released that summer. He is now currently back home in Northern Ireland playing for Institute F.C.
9: Luther Watson
Photo from https://homepage.eircom.net/~sligoroverssc/
Going back a bit, around the time Holmes somehow managed to get into the Northern Ireland team and make his debut, a striker by the name of Luther Watson arrived at the club in 2002. Don O’Riordan brought him to the club, but played him as a midfielder, where he helped the team fight for top half finishes in his 2 years here, he scored 5 goals. He is now back in Barbados playing for Brittons Hill.
8: Adam Hughes
Photo from inpho.ie
Hughes was one of Sean Connor’s first signings after promotion to the Premier division. A firm fan favourite, he formed a strong centre midfield partnership with Conor O’ Grady in 2006 and 2007. In ’07 he was given the captains armband for the season. He departed The Showgrounds at the end of that season to go to newly crowned champions Drogheda United. They were soon hit with financial difficulties and he left to return home to Australia to play with Adelaide United and is still currently with them.
7: Sean Doherty
Photo from sligorovers.com
Sean arrived at the club prior to the beginning of the 2008 season. Once the most expensive teenage footballer in England, he never lived up to meet his potential over there, or here for that matter. Doherty scored a number of important penalties in the last few games of 2008 to help steer the club towards the European places, before slowly dropping out of the team in 2009, and subsequently being released. His last known club was non-league English side Marine F.C.
6: John O’Hara
Photo from Sportsfile.com
The keeper, signed by Sean Connor in 2005, was a key player in Rovers bid for promotion. He helped the club to finish top, and get a top 5 finish the following year in the Premier division. Many were disappointed to see him leave at the end of the season, as he decided to go to America. He played for Carolina RailHawks, alongside former Rovers left back, Kupono Low. He also played for Wilmington Hammerheads, but is currently assistant manager for George Mason University’s soccer team.
5: Wes Charles
Photo from Sportsfile.com
Charles was brought to the club in 1998, and played here until 2001. He spent a number of years in Ireland, he also played for Bray Wanderers twice, Mervue United and Galway United before departing for Canada to play for Vancouver Whitecaps. He was released in 2008 but was quickly signed up by Montreal impact. The towering centre back was also a bit of a cult figure at Sligo Rovers. ‘Big Wes’ also holds the honour of being the only Vincentian & Grenadine national to ever play for Sligo Rovers…
4: Mark Doninger
Photo from Sportsfile.com
Doninger arrived at the club from Blyth Spartans. The midfielder failed to show any potential, quality or all around talent to be considered good enough for us, and was released by Cook in July last season. With the exception of Andy Carroll, Newcastle really must lack in local talent if he was named captain of the Newcastle United youth team. He recently signed for Icelandic side IA Akranes after a successful trial.
3: Stephen Manson
Photo from inpho.ie
The Scot arrived at the club from Raith Rovers in 2007. Signed by Rob McDonald, the winger was only one of two players to remain at Rovers from the whole season who joined the club under his management, the other being Rafael Cretaro. Manson did show glimpses of what he could do, but with just one goal to show for his efforts Cook decided to let him go. He is now with non-league Scottish side Lithlingow Rose.
2: Darren Mansaram
Photo from Sportsfile.com
Another Connor signing, Mansaram arrived at the club in 2006 from England. He finished the season top scorer, but followed Sean Connor to Bohs in 2007, and followed him again to Dundalk in 2009 before not being seen in League of Ireland football again. Mansaram has been somewhat of a journeyman in football, playing for a total of 14 clubs to date (4 on loan), and is currently with Armthorpe Welfare. I know what you’re thinking, I never knew this team even existed either.
1: Kevin Julien
Photo from protopage.com
A ‘Where are they now’ list on Sligo Rovers players would not be complete without addition of Kevin Julien. Rob McDonald’s most memorable acquisition, but for all the wrong reasons.The ex-Halifax Town FC player only played one game for the club if I remember correctly, coming on as a sub for Gavin Peers against UCD, before eventually disappearing. He was, and still is, a cult figure at the club and is even mentioned in the 'Team of Gerry Carr's' song. I actually don’t know where he ended up, nor am I concerned about it, but last I checked he’s meant to be gone back to America as coach. If America suffers a massive decline in footballing talent, don’t be surprised.
That man in the photo is not Julien, it is Rob McDonald, he seemed like a suitable alternative. It really says something when you can't find one single photo of the player. Speaking of McDonald, he is currently managing amateur Dutch side DOVO.
