A Rovers return to Premier Division for Athlone Town

Athlone Town will begin life in the 2014 Airtricity League Premier Division with an away clash against Sligo Rovers on March 8.

After that opener against the 2012 champions, Athlone will host Irish football’s most successful club, Shamrock Rovers.

Athlone will take on Derry City - now under the stewardship of former Athlone manager Roddy Collins - in the Brandywell on April 11.

The Town’s first game against reigning champions St Patrick’s Athletic will be in Richmond Park on April 25. St Pat’s are also managed by a former Athlone Town boss in the form of Liam Buckley.

*See this week’s Westmeath Independent - which is on sale in shops from today (Monday, December 23) - to see Mick Cooke’s view on Athlone’s early fixtures.

Airtricity League Premier Division Fixtures 2014

SERIES NO. 1
Sat. 8 March: Sligo Rovers v Athlone Town The Showgrounds 7.45pm
 
MONDAY 10th MARCH - EA SPORTS CUP FIRST ROUND
 
SERIES NO. 2
Fri. 14 March: Athlone Town v Shamrock Rovers Athlone Town Stadium 7.45pm

SERIES NO. 3
Fri. 21 March: UCD v Athlone Town The UCD Bowl 7.45pm
 
SERIES NO. 4
Fri. 28 March: Athlone Town v Cork City Athlone Town Stadium 7.45pm

SERIES NO. 5
Fri. 4 April: Drogheda United v Athlone Town United Park 7.45pm
 
SERIES NO. 6
Mon. 7 April: Athlone Town v Bohemians, Athlone Town Stadium 7.45pm

SERIES NO. 7
Fri. 11 April: Derry City v Athlone Town, Brandywell Stadium 7.45pm

SERIES NO. 8
Fri. 18 April: Limerick v Athlone Town, Thomond Park 7.45pm

SERIES NO. 9
Mon. 21 April: Athlone Town v Dundalk, Athlone Town Stadium 7.45pm
 
SERIES NO. 10
Fri. 25 April: St. Patrick’s Athletic v Athlone Town, Richmond Park 7.45pm
 
SERIES NO. 11
Fri. 2 May: Athlone Town v Bray Wanderers, Athlone Town Stadium 7.45pm

MONDAY /TUESDAY 5th/6th MAY – EA SPORTS CUP SECOND ROUND
 
SERIES NO. 12
Fri. 9 May: Athlone Town v Sligo Rovers, Athlone Town Stadium 7.45pm

SERIES NO. 13
Fri. 16 May: Shamrock Rovers v Athlone Town, Tallaght Stadium 8.00pm
 
SERIES NO. 14
Fri. 23 May: Athlone Town v UCD, Athlone Town Stadium 7.45pm
 
MONDAY /TUESDAY 26th/27th MAY – EA SPORTS CUP QUARTER-FINALS
 
SERIES NO. 15
Fri. 30 May: Cork City v Athlone Town, Turner’s Cross 7.45pm

*WEEKEND ENDING SUNDAY 8th JUNE – FAI FORD CUP SECOND ROUND
 
SERIES NO. 16
Fri. 13 June: Athlone Town v Drogheda United, Athlone Town Stadium 7.45pm

MID-SEASON BREAK – SAT. 14th JUNE – THURS. 26th JUNE (both dates inclusive) – NO FIXTURES
 
SERIES NO. 17
Fri. 27 June: Bohemians v Athlone Town, Dalymount Park 7.45 pm

SERIES NO. 18
Fri. 4 July: Athlone Town v Derry City, Athlone Town Stadium 7.45 pm

SERIES NO. 19
Fri. 11 July: Athlone Town v Limerick, Athlone Town Stadium 7.45pm

SERIES NO. 20
Fri. 18 July: Dundalk v Athlone Town, Oriel Park 7.45pm

SERIES NO. 21
Fri. 25 July: Athlone Town v St. Patrick’s Athletic, Athlone Town Stadium 7.45pm

SERIES NO. 22
Fri. 1 August: Bray Wanderers v Athlone Town, Carlisle Grounds 7.45pm

*MONDAY 5th AUGUST – EA SPORTS CUP SEMI-FINALS
 
SERIES NO. 23
Sat. 9 August: Sligo Rovers v Athlone Town, The Showgrounds 7.45pm
 
SERIES NO. 24
Fri. 15 August: Athlone Town v Shamrock Rovers, Athlone Town Stadium 7.45pm

SERIES NO. 25
Mon. 18 August: UCD v Athlone Town, The UCD Bowl 7.45pm
 
*WEEKEND ENDING SUNDAY 24th AUGUST – FAI FORD CUP THIRD ROUND
 
SERIES NO. 26
Fri. 29 August: Athlone Town v Cork City, Athlone Town Stadium 7.45pm

SERIES NO. 27 (Date subject to Republic of Ireland Euro 2016 fixture schedule)
Fri. 5 September: Drogheda United v Athlone Town, United Park 7.45pm
 
*WEEKEND ENDING SUNDAY 14th SEPTEMBER – FAI FORD CUP QUARTER-FINALS
 
SERIES NO. 28
Fri. 19 September: Athlone Town v Bohemians, Athlone Town Stadium 7.45pm

*SATURDAY 20th SEPTEMBER – EA SPORTS CUP FINAL 
 
SERIES NO. 29
Fri. 26 September: Derry City v Athlone Town, Brandywell Stadium 7.45pm

SERIES NO. 30 & FAI FORD CUP SEMI-FINALS
Fri. 3 October: Limerick v Athlone Town, Thomond Park 7.45pm

*WEEKEND ENDING SUNDAY 5th OCTOBER – FAI FORD CUP SEMI-FINALS
 
SERIES NO. 31 (Date subject to Republic of Ireland Euro 2016 fixture schedule)
Fri. 10 October: Athlone Town v Dundalk, Athlone Town Stadium 7.45pm
 
SERIES NO. 32
Fri. 17 October: St. Patrick’s Athletic v Athlone Town, Richmond Park 7.45pm
 
SERIES NO. 33
Fri. 24 October: Athlone Town v Bray Wanderers, Athlone Town Stadium 7.45pm
FIRST DIVISION PROMOTION/RELEGATION PLAY-OFF
Fri. /Sat. 17/18 October: Third placed Club v Second placed Club
Fri. 24 October: Second placed Club v Third placed Club
(Winning Club to play the Eleventh placed Premier Division Club in the Promotion/Relegation Play-off Final)
 
PROMOTION/RELEGATION PLAY-OFF FINAL
Mon. 27 October: First Leg
Fri. 31 October: Second Leg
Or
Wed. 5 November: Second Leg (if one of the clubs qualifies for the FAI Ford Cup Final)
 
SUNDAY, 2nd NOVEMBER – FAI FORD CUP FINAL – AVIVA STADIUM