Sligo Rovers’ Will Fitzgerald on Tommie Gorman’s pre-season pep-talk: ‘When he came in and spoke to us, he commanded the room for 45 minutes’

Sligo Rovers’ Will Fitzgerald recalled the inspirational speech delivered to the Bit O’Red squad in pre-season by Tommie Gorman, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 68.

Mr Gorman was hugely passionate about Sligo Rovers, and was a member of the club’s management committee in 2012.

And even when Mr Gorman was not on the management committee, he still worked in the background and was always there to lend a hand.

That work continued up until recent days, with Tommie working extremely hard behind the scenes to try to make Sligo Rovers’ new stadium dream a reality.

He introduced new signing Stephen Mallon to The Showgrounds crowd back in June.

Sligo Rovers will hold a minute's silence in tribute to the late Tommie Gorman at the Derry City match on Thursday, July 4.

A book of condolence will be open at the Showgrounds from Friday, June 28.

Tommie will be making his final visit to the Showgrounds at 1.15pm on Saturday June 29. This is an opportunity for supporters to pay their respects.

Sligo Rovers officials and players will then form a guard of honour on the approach to Ransboro Church.

"It’s devastatingly sad news this week, I’d like to send condolences to his family and friends,” winger Will Fitzgerald said on Thursday.

Back in February, as the League of Ireland season was about to get underway, Fitzgerald spoke to The Sligo Champion about the address delivered by Mr Gorman.

At the time, Fitzgerald said: "We had Tommie Gorman down in Westport, he spoke with us, and gave a beautiful depiction of the history of the football club. He’s a Sligo Rovers fanatic so we all enjoyed that.”

It was an experience that Fitzgerald felt was special at the time, and now it’s a treasured memory.

“When he came in and spoke, honestly for the whole 40/45 minutes he commanded the attention of everyone in the room. Just to listen to his enthusiasm and passion for the club.

"It was really something special. It was a privilege to be able to speak with him one on one at the end and to shake his hand. He’s a massive loss, he’s a big figure. There’s just devastation within the club.”

Those sentiments were echoed by manager John Russell who has seen Mr Gorman’s passion and love for the club first hand, not to mention all the work he has done.

“Huge loss. Devastating news. Everyone knew the journey he was on. It came as such a shock for us and for all the players. We had Tommie in during pre-season. Massive supporter of the club, he was doing huge work in the background in terms of the new development project.

"He was really willing us to do well this season so hopefully second half of the season is an opportunity for us to make our mark. Tommie definitely made his mark on the club and I know we’ll all be in attendance over the weekend.

"Our condolences to his family and friends because it is a tough moment. I know the support base here are right behind the family.”

And, the fact that Mr Gorman’s death notice states ‘Family flowers only, donations in lieu, if desired, to the Sligo Rovers Development Fund c/o Seán Feehily’s Funeral Home, Cartron Cross, Sligo’ epitomises the Sligo legend, Russell said.

“Incredible guy. That was the reason for me bringing him in to meet the players this year. In terms of my recruitment in the off-season, I was trying to get that across to players that this is a unique club. There’s not many around in world football anymore where the fans are literally keeping the show on the road.

"Guys like Tommie, who was on the committee before, really keep the club going in the tough times. Makes it all the more sweeter when the club has success and thankfully he was involved when we won the league in 2012, and for the European runs.

"The legacy he will leave will hopefully be a new stadium built and that will all come to pass. He was a backer of this young group, he could see the hunger in the players during pre-season and he definitely made his mark with us.”

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