 | ||||
| Full name | Raith Rovers Football Club | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The Rovers | |||
| Founded | 1883; 142 years ago (1883) | |||
| Ground | Stark's Park,Kirkcaldy | |||
| Capacity | 8,867[1] | |||
| Chairman | Colin Smart (interim) | |||
| Manager | Dougie Imrie | |||
| League | Scottish Championship | |||
| 2024–25 | Scottish Championship, 5th of 10 | |||
| Website | www | |||
 Current season | ||||
Raith Rovers Football Club is a Scottish professionalfootball club based in the town ofKirkcaldy,Fife. The club was founded in 1883 and currently competes in theScottish Championship as a member of theScottish Professional Football League.
The club has won four national trophies, the1994 Scottish League Cup, and the2013–14,2019–20 and2021–22 editions of theScottish Challenge Cup, and were runners-up in the1949 Scottish League Cup and1913 Scottish Cup. They have won the second tier of Scottish football six times, been runners-up four times, and reached its highest ever league finish in1922, third inDivision One.
As a result of winning the League Cup in 1994, Raith Rovers qualified for European football for the first time, entering theUEFA Cup the following season. The club managed to reach thesecond round, only to be defeated 4–1on aggregate by eventual championsBayern Munich.
Raith's home ground isStark's Park, an 8,867all-seater stadium in the south ofKirkcaldy.[1] The club has been based at the ground since 1891.
The modern Raith Rovers were founded in 1883 in the Scottish town of Kirkcaldy, playing first at Sands Brae,[2][3] now part of theEsplanade, thenRobbie's Park. Though there were other teams who incorporated the town name, such as Kirkcaldy Wanderers andKirkcaldy United, Raith became the most successful of the local teams, winning five trophies in the 1890s.[4] There had been a much earlier (and unrelated) Raith Rovers which merged with what is nowCowdenbeath in 1882.
Although it lends its name to many entities in the region, Raith is not itself a settlement. A Raith Rovers victory in the 1960s led to aBBCcommentator's blunder that the fans would be "dancing in the streets of Raith tonight". Although commonly attributed toDavid Coleman, it was actually said bySam Leitch.[5]Raith (Scottish Gaelic:rath, "fort" or "fortified residence") as an area once stretched from south ofLoch Gelly as far as Kirkcaldy[6] and theBattle of Raith was once theorised to have been fought here in 596 AD.[4]Raith House and Raith Tower sit on Cormie Hill to the west of Kirkcaldy and several parts of the town are built on land formerly of the Raith Estate,[7] although the modern housing estate bearing the Raith name dates from long after the origins of the team.
A mixture of local success and ambition took the club into the senior leagues where they established themselves and thereby became the pre-eminent team in the town. The club became a senior team in 1889 around the same time they were forced to leave Robbie's Park which was incorporated into a new public park called theBeveridge Park, named after Provost Michael Beveridge.[4][5]The team subsequently moved to their current home ofStark's Park named after and run by councillor Robert Stark in 1891.[5]The club turned professional by 1892 and were the first football team in Fife to be elected to theScottish League in season 1902–03.[4][5]The club were incorporated into a limited company: the Raith Rovers Football and Athletic Company, Ltd in 1907. After two consecutive successful seasons in2nd Division, the club elected to join the1st Division in 1909–10. Three years later, the club made their first (and only) appearance in theScottish Cup Final, losing 2–0 toFalkirk.
In 1921 an innovation in training, previously unknown to the Scottish game, was introduced by directors following a visit to England: the use of a ball in training. As noted in theFife Free Press, "Hitherto, ball practice has been an absentee from the training curriculum on the grounds that being away from the ball for a week imparted eagerness on the Saturday." This heralded an era of success.[8]
The club had its highest ever league finish in the Scottish top division, when they came third to the Old Firm in1921–22 under managerJames Logan[9][self-published source?] (a former Raith player who had fought inWorld War I having enlisted inMcCrae's Battalion, along with several teammates who died in the conflict).[10] This was followed by the unusual incident where the players were shipwrecked in 1923.[11] Along with a cargo of chilled meat bound forBuenos Aires, the team had been en route to play friendly matches on theCanary Islands when the SSHighland Loch ran aground off the coast ofGalicia, nearVilagarcía. The players were able to safely disembark, being rescued by local fishermen.[12] They continued on their way a few days later,[5] winning all four of their games on the islands, including one againstThird Lanark, returning from a tour of South America.[11] In July 2023, the club marked the 100th anniversary of the shipwreck with its new away strip in the yellow and blue colours ofUD Las Palmas, a team based in Gran Canaria, and including a map of the archipelago and the date of the shipwreck.[13]
The team battled on during tough times between the 1920s and 1930s but things improved by the season of 1937–38, which saw Raith setting a British League Record with 142 goals in just 34 league matches while winning the 2nd Division championship.[5] The record still stands today. The forward line of Glen (5 goals), Gilmour (35),Norrie Haywood (47), Whitelaw (26) and Joyner (21) scored 134 of the record 142 goals.
Around this time, a then record crowd of 25,500 filled Stark's Park on a Wednesday afternoon for a Scottish Cup quarter-final replay against East Fife (The first game had attracted 19,000 to the old Bayview ground). East Fife won 3–2 and went on to become the only 2nd Division club to win the Scottish Cup until Hibs matched the feat in 2016.
Record appearance holderWillie McNaught first appeared for Raith during the war before signing on a contract basis when normal football resumed after the end of global hostilities. McNaught went on to make 657 senior football appearances (many as captain) for Rovers. Raith reached the League Cup final for the first time in 1948–49 but lost 2–0 toRangers. In an echo of what would happen four decades later, the club also went on to win the 2nd Division title. In the period of the club's greatest high level consistency, Rovers stayed in the top division until the season after McNaught's 1962 departure. In 1951, Raith had their largest ever gate for a Scottish Cup semi-final atHampden Park watched by a crowd of 84,640. Raith lost 3–2 toCeltic.
A disastrous season came in 1962–63, when the club finished bottom of the First Division conceding 118 goals in 34 games.[5]After leavingQueen of the South,George Farm became Raith manager in 1964.[14] Farm took Raith to promotion in 1966–67 before leaving for Fife rivalsDunfermline Athletic and was never able to repeat the formula when he returned in the season of 1971–72.[15]Raith managed to avoid relegation in 1967–68, thanks tostrikerGordon Wallace, who became the first player outwith the Old Firm to be votedSFWA Footballer of the Year. He scored 27 goals in 34 matches.[15] However the club did find themselves being relegated again at the end of the 1969–70 season.[15] Nonetheless, the Rovers during this time managed to get through to the quarter-finals of the Scottish cup for the second year running between 1970–71 and 1971–72 – although the latter saw them beaten 3–1 byKilmarnock with a crowd of 10,815.[15]
In 1975–76, the league set-up changed from Divisions 1 & 2 to a 3 tier system (Premier Division, Division 1 & Division 2). In the inaugural year of this system, Raith were promoted to the 1st Division, but were promptly relegated the next season, before bouncing back up the season after. Raith then performed reasonably well in the 1st Division, hovering around the top four until the early 1980s.
A new manager,Frank Connor took charge in early 1986, bringing many new faces onto the team which resulted in promotion on goal difference after a 4–1 win against Stranraer (whileAyr United lost toStirling Albion) on the last day of the season.[15]
Raith reverted to being a full-time side again for the season of 1991–92 which was soon followed by winning the First Division title in the season of 1992–93.[15] This was to start the most successful period in the club's history – which saw the team's first foray into theScottish Premier Division (now the Premiership).[16]
On 27 November 1994, Raith, managed by Jimmy Nicholl, surprisingly beat Celtic 6–5 on penalties to win theCoca-Cola Cup, after a 2–2 draw.[4][5] Future Raith manager,Gordon Dalziel, scored the equalising goal for Raith in the dying minutes of regulation time. The same season, Raith were again promoted to the Premier Division after winning the First Division title.
As a result of the Cup win, Raith qualified for Europe (UEFA Cup) for the first time in their history. After eliminating both theFaroese and Icelandic champions (Gøtu Ítróttarfelag andÍþróttabandalag Akraness respectively) in the first two rounds, the club finally succumbed to eventual UEFA Cup winnersBayern Munich. They were beaten 2–0 by theGerman side in the 1st leg, which was not played at their home ground but atEaster Road, home ofHibernian. In the 2nd leg, at theOlympiastadion they led 1–0 at half time against all odds, eventually losing 2–1.[15][17] This was the first time a Scottish team had qualified for a major European competition while playing outside the top league. The same season, Raith finished sixth in the Premier League.
Winning the Coca-Cola Cup, sellingSteve McAnespie and playing in the UEFA Cup generated the money needed to redevelop Stark's Park as an all-seater ground with North and South Stands. It was completed in time for the 1995–96 season, and Bayern Munich were invited to play a friendly in the first match in the redeveloped ground, with Raith securing a narrow 1–0 win.
After the club were relegated from the Premier Division, they also struggled to succeed in the First Division. For the 2001–02 season they were relegated to the Second Division for the first time since 1987. The club returned to the First Division (with the lowest winning total, to date, for champions of 59 points), under the leadership ofAntonio Calderón in 2002–03 season.
At the start of the 2004–05 season,Claude Anelka (brother of French strikerNicolas) offered £300,000 to any team who would offer him a manager's job and was subsequently appointed the manager of Raith Rovers, with Antonio Calderón refusing the offer of a coaching role and leaving the club. Anelka signed a team of (mostly) continental players from the lower leagues in France. A disastrous season followed, despite Anelka resigning halfway through the season (replaced byGordon Dalziel) and his signings either leaving, or having their contracts terminated, and Raith were relegated to the Second Division, after finishing bottom of the First Division with just 16 points in the season.
During 2005–06, the future of the club looked doubtful after the club, and its traditional home ofStark's Park, were both placed under threat by previous owners Colin McGowan and Alex Short. TheGlasgow basedproperty developers had repeatedly threatened to sell Stark's Park for housing in a bid to find a buyer for their 50% stake in the club and after months of legal and financial wrangling a deal was struck with their company, West City Development.
Former chairman Turnbull Hutton and director Mario Caira, who were part of West City retained their investment and were joined by major investor John Sim, aThailand-based senior financial figure withliquidatorKPMG.
TheReclaim the Rovers fans' campaign, which was launched in a bid to secure a local future for the club, also secured a place for a Supporters' Representative on the new-look board after raising £100,000 towards the final figure.
On 30 December 2005, Raith Rovers' future was secured after a £1.2 million community buy-out (The New Raith Rovers Limited consortium) (assisted by the thenChancellor of the ExchequerGordon Brown who later becamePrime Minister, a fan and shareholder[18] of the club). Previous chairmanDavid Sinton also completed work on the takeover.
On 2 May 2009, Raith secured theSecond Division title with a 1–0 win at the home of Scottish football, Hampden Park, with a travelling support of over 1500. They lifted the trophy in front of almost 5000 the following week following a 0–0 draw with Arbroath.[19]
On 6 April 2014, Raith won the2014 Scottish Challenge Cup final 1–0 againstRangers after extra time.[20]
In early 2022 the club signedDavid Goodwillie. Days later, after an outcry regarding the rape ruling against him, chairman John Sim announced Goodwillie will not play for Raith Rovers and the club would review his contract. Raith's women's teams had moved to sever ties with the club.[21] Goodwillie was released from his contract in September, no details being given by the club.[22]
Raith's kit consists of dark blue tops with light blue detailing, with white shorts and dark blue socks.[23] Raith's current badge has been used since 1998,[24] replacing the previous lion and shield motif used in different colour combinations (including being framed in a shield shape from 1995 to 1998) since 1985.[24]
There are three otherSPFL clubs in Fife:East Fife (based inMethil) around 8 miles to the east, withKelty Hearts andDunfermline Athletic 13 and 14 miles respectively to the west. Raith's traditional derby is with East Fife though the biggest rivalry is against Dunfermline, with an encounter atEast End Park in April 2011 attracting a crowd of over 11,000.Cowdenbeath dropped from the SPFL into theLowland League in 2022 but historically were another regular derby rival in various divisions.
In addition to formerPrime MinisterGordon Brown, fans include authorIan Rankin,Coldplay bassistGuy Berryman and writerHarry Ritchie.[25][26] AuthorVal McDermid is a former director[27] but in February 2022 cancelled her sponsorship and ended her lifelong support of the club in protest at the signing ofDavid Goodwillie to the playing squad.[28][29] FormerScotland andHearts managerCraig Levein has supported the team since boyhood and was briefly manager in 2006.[30][31]
The team is often mentioned in Ian Rankin'sInspector Rebus novels, Rankin stating that Rebus is a supporter.[32] InGiles Foden's novelThe Last King of Scotland the protagonist, Nicholas Garrigan, is a Raith Rovers fan.[33]
The Raith Rovers anthem is "Geordie Munro", with its prominent mention of Kirkcaldy.[34][35]
Supporter contact is maintained with fans of the German football clubFC Ingolstadt 04, from the twin city ofIngolstadt.[36]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Board of directors[edit]
| Management[edit]
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Managers of the club have included:
Raith Rovers have appointed 34 permanent managers sinceWorld War II:[40][41]
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Raith Rovers Ladies and Girls F.C. was the oldest affiliated women's team in Scotland.[42] In February 2022, the team resolved to cut ties with Raith Rovers due to the controversy over the signing ofDavid Goodwillie, who was ruled to have raped a woman.[43][44][45][46] The women's team renamed themselves McDermid Ladies, after the writer Val McDermid.[47][48]
Players from the team that lifted the1994–95 Scottish League Cup include:
Also involved in the squad wereScott Thomson,Julian Broddle,David Sinclair,Ally Graham,Brian Potter,Jason Rowbotham andIan Redford.
As of 1 June 2020, 10 players to have been involved with Raith Rovers in their careers have entered theScottish Football Hall of Fame:[57]
One former Raith Rovers player has been selected in theScottish Sports Hall of Fame:[58]
| Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–96[59] | UEFA Cup | Preliminary round |  GÍ | 4–0 | 2–2 | 6–2 |
| First round |  ÍA | 3–1 | 0–1 | 3–2 | ||
| Second round |  Bayern Munich | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–4 |
Having gone to university in Edinburgh I didn't want Rebus to get in to that Hearts or Hibs thing that you tend to get involved in when in pubs in the capital. He's not from Edinburgh, he's from Fife, so I thought he may as well support a team that I know.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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