Rovers to Rovers: Greg Bolger on his switch to Sligo
Alan Finn talks to Greg Bolger, a League of Ireland stalwart who has starred for Shamrock Rovers, Cork City, St Patrick’s Athletic and UCD during a lengthy career as an accomplished midfielder
WHEN you think of a midfield general, you think of someone who gets you moving up the pitch, a fearless tackler, tactically adept and possessing a voice which commands respect.
These are all attributes which make up Greg Bolger, who will be pulling on the red and white of Sligo Rovers this year.
The arrival of the 32-year-old felt like a turning point under the management of Liam Buckley – it was a signing that showed intent of taking the club back to the heights they enjoyed a decade ago.
New players in Sligo are always advised to get out and enjoy the scenery. We are not living in a world where afternoon trips to Rosses Point and Enniscrone are allowed, but Wexford native Bolger is just thankful to have been able to set up camp in the heart of Sligo town.
“I have settled in really well. Obviously with the restrictions we can’t see a lot of Sligo, but I have got in walks where I can.”
“I am living in the middle of town so thankfully that is ideal for getting shopping and I’m only a few minutes from the ground.
“It would be nice to see Sligo when a bit more normality hopefully comes along, but for now I’m just getting the head down and ready for the season.” Bolger arrived at The Showgrounds earlier this month to mostly new faces – but Liam Buckley, Dave Campbell, John Russell and David Cawley all offered some familiarity from his St
Patrick’s Athletic days.
It was an old friend from his time at Cork City who he liaised with as he settled on a move to the north-west.
“I am very close with Garry Buckley from the couple of years we played together down in Cork. Most of the other lads I would be used to playing against.”
“I just got the feeling straight away that this was a group of good, honest lads, they were very welcoming and everyone I’ve met involved with the club has been very welcoming too.” In a career which began in 2007, Bolger has practically done it all – he won honours with UCD, St Pat’s, Cork City and Shamrock Rovers, while also helping Dundalk secure a place in Europe in 2011.
Bolger insists he isn’t ready to put his feet up in Sligo, however – he is keen to take Liam Buckley’s vision for the club to the next level.
“It’s definitely a new challenge. I have been lucky in my career to always
“It’s definitely a new challenge. I have been lucky in my career to always be in teams that won something or were there or thereabouts.”
be in teams that won something or were there or thereabouts.”
“Liam laid out his ideas moving forward and it has shown in the players he has brought in and I’m excited to be part of it.”
“From my own point of view, I am as hungry as ever even though I am in the later stage of my career. I am one of the older players but I still have the drive to do well.”
The midfielder’s arrival at Rovers is also a fresh start in terms of fitness having seen his 2020 season cruelly curtailed by a serious leg injury. He states that although returning to pre-season after such an injury wasn’t
going to be a walk in the park, he is confident that he can now move on from it.
“I was lucky to never have many injuries. To get the one I did so late in my career was frustrating, I’m not used to sitting on the sidelines for that long so it really did hit me.”
“I missed a lot of football and pre-season has been tough, but I’m also enjoying it knowing I’m over the worst of the injury and I can push on to getting back to the fitness levels I was at before it.”
“I feel good, I am getting there and I am confident I can just push it to the back of my mind now.”