Raith Rovers F.C.

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Raith Rovers

Full name

Raith Rovers Football Club

Nickname(s)

The Rovers

Founded

1883

Ground

Stark's Park,
Kirkcaldy, Scotland
(Capacity 10,104)

Chairman

Dave Somerville

Manager

John McGlynn

League

Scottish Second Division

2007-08

Scottish Second Division, 2nd





Home colours





Away colours

Raith Rovers F.C. are a professional football club based in Kirkcaldy who currently play in the Scottish Football League Second Division. Their manager is former Hearts head coach John McGlynn who replaced former Hearts and Leicester Manager Craig Levein.

Due to past victories, Raith Rovers remains one of the higher supported clubs in the lower divisions of Scottish football, regularly attracting gates of over 1,500.

There are three other senior league teams in Fife with East Fife around eight miles to the east, and Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline nine and fourteen miles respectively, to the west.

Raith (Scottish Gaelic rath "fort") is a place west of Kirkcaldy where the Battle of Raith was fought in 596. Although it lends it name to many entities in the region, Raith is not itself a settlement. A Raith Rovers victory in the 1960s led to a famous BBC commentator's blunder that the fans would be "dancing in the streets of Raith tonight". Although commonly attributed to Englishman David Coleman, this was actually said by Scotsman Sam Leitch.

1 History
2 Colours and badge
3 Stadium
4 Supporters
5 Players
6 Managers
7 Achievements
8 Club records
9 References
10 External links

There was a much earlier (and unrelated) Raith Rovers which merged with what is now Cowdenbeath F.C. in 1882. The modern Raith Rovers were founded in 1883 (taking the same name) in the Scottish town of Kirkcaldy, playing at Robbie's Park. Though there were other teams who incorporated the town name, such as Kirkcaldy Wanderers, Raith were the most successful of the local teams. 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 moved to their current home of Stark's Park in 1891, when Robbie’s Park was used to create a new public park called the Beveridge Park, named after Provost Michael Beveridge.

The club was elected to the Scottish League in season 1902/03 and in 1907, the club incorporated into a limited company: the Raith Rovers Football and Athletic Company, Ltd. After two consecutive successful seasons in 2nd Division, the club elected to join the 1st Division in 1909/10. Three years later, the club made their first (and only) appearance in the Scottish Cup Final losing 2-0 to Falkirk.

The Club had its highest ever league finish in the Scottish top division, when they came third to the Old Firm in 1921/22. This was followed by the unusual incident where the players were shipwrecked in 1923. The team had been en route to play friendly matches on the Canary Islands when the boat ran aground. Fortunately, the players were able to safely disembark and continue on their way a few days later.

The season of 1937/38 saw Raith setting a British League Record with 142 goals in just 34 league matches while winning the 2nd Division championship. The record still stands today. The forward line of Glen (5 goals), Gilmour (35), 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.

Raith reached the League Cup final for the first time in 1948/49 but lost 2-0 to Rangers. In an echo of what would happen four decades later, the club go on to win the 2nd Division title also.

In 1951, Raith had their largest ever gate for a Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden watched by a crowd of 84,640. Raith lost 3-2 to Celtic

A disastrous season came in 1962/63, when the club finished bottom of the 1st Division conceding 118 goals in 34 games, but Raith were promoted again in 1966/67.

Raith managed to avoid relegation in 1967/68, thanks to Striker Gordon Wallace, who became the first player outwith the Old Firm to be voted Player of the Year. He scored 27 goals in 34 matches. The Club was relegated again in 1969/70 however.

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 4 until the early 80's.

Relegated again in 1983/84, Raith stayed in the 2nd Division until 1986/87 when the team, managed by Frank Connor, gained promotion on goal difference after a 4-1 win against Stranraer (while Ayr lost to Stirling) on the last day of the season.

Raith remained in the 1st Division until 1992/93, when the Club surprisingly run away with the title to start the most successful period in the club’s history. Gordon Dalziel (33) and Craig Brewster (22) racked up 55 goals between them to become the most successful strike pairing in Rovers modern era. The team's first foray into the Scottish Premier Division (now the Premier League) did not last long as the club were relegated in 1993/94.

In 1994/95, Raith surprisingly beat Celtic 6-5 on penalties to win the Coca Cola Cup, after a 2-2 draw. 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 League after winning the First Division title.

Following the Cup win, Raith qualified for Europe (UEFA Cup) for the first time in their history. After putting out both the Faroese and Icelandic champions (Gotu Itrottarfelag and ÍA Akranes respectively) in the first two rounds, the club finally succumbed to eventual UEFA Cup winners Bayern Munich although not before leading 1-0 at half time in the Olympiastadion in the 2nd leg. 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 6th in the Premier League.

Winning the Coca Cola Cup, selling Stephen McAnespie and playing in the UEFA cup prompted the money needed to redevelop Stark's Park as an all-seater ground with a North and a South stand. 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; a narrow win (1-0) ensured victory for the Rovers.

After the club were relegated from the Premier Division, they also struggled to succeed in the 1st Division. For the 2002/2003 season they were relegated to the 2nd Division for the first time since 1987. The club returned to the 1st Division (with the lowest winning total, to date, for champions of 59 points), under the leadership of Antonio Calderon in 2003/2004 season.

At the start of the 2004/05, Claude Anelka (brother of French Striker Nicolas) bought the Manager's job, with Antonio Calderon 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 by Gordon Dalziel) and his signings either leaving, or having their contracts terminated, Raith were relegated to the Scottish 2nd Division after finishing bottom of the 1st Division with just 16 points in a season.

During 2005/06, The future of the club looked doubtful after the club and its traditional home of Stark's Park were both placed under threat by previous owners Colin McGowan and Alex Short. The Glasgow based property 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 have been joined by major investor John Sim, a Thailand-based senior financial figure with liquidator KPMG.

The Reclaim the Rovers fans' campaign, which was launched in a bid to secure a local future for the club, has 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 then Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown who is now the current Prime Minister, who is a fan of the club. A number of individuals including previous Chairman David Sinton worked tirelessly behind the scenes, and for no reward other than the satisfaction of securing the club's future, for a number of months before the buy-out could finally be completed.

Raith play in navy blue tops and socks, and white shorts, with a reverse change kit. Raith's current badge has been used since the mid-1990s, replacing the previous white lion on a blue background. Previous badges can be seen on the Raith website.

Main article: Stark's Park

Raith Rovers currently play their football at Stark's Park, located on Pratt Street in the Linktown area of Kirkcaldy, Fife. Stark's Park is a 10,104 seater stadium which remains among the most impressive of the stadia owned by the lower league clubs despite it needing some structural work on the older 'Railway Stand'.

Raith maintain crowds of over 1,000 in the Second Division, with crowds in excess of 2,000 for derby fixtures. Raith fans are not known by any name, such as Dundee United's Arabs or Hibs' Hibees; rather, they are simply 'Rovers fans'.

In addition to Gordon Brown, celebrity fans include authors Ian Rankin and Val McDermid and Coldplay bassist Guy Berryman [1]. Naturally Rankin also made his Inspector Rebus a fan[2]. In Giles Foden's novel The Last King of Scotland it is mentioned that Nicholas Garrigan, the fictional protagonist, is a Raith Rovers fan.

No.		Position	Player
		GK	Liam Amos
		GK	Chris Fahey
		GK	Michael Brown
		GK	Keiron Renton
		DF	Marvin Andrews
		DF	Mark Campbell
		DF	Joe Dingwall
		DF	Chris Liddle
		DF	Colin Leiper
		DF	Todd Lumsden
		DF	Craig Wilson
		DF	Fraser O'Neil
		DF	Andy Tod
		DF	Marco Pelosi (on loan from Hearts)

No.		Position	Player
		MF	Mark Whatley
		MF	Ryan Borris
		MF	Allan Walker (on loan from Livingston)
		MF	Jamie Mackie
		MF	Jason Darling
		MF	Iain Davidson
		MF	Chris Silvestro
		MF	Martyn Pirret
		MF	Robert Sloan
		MF	Craig Winter
		FW	Derek Carcary
		FW	Steven Hislop
		FW	Graham Weir
		FW	David Goodwillie (on loan from Dundee United)

Some notable past players:

Marvin Andrews - Trinidad and Tobago international re-signed from Rangers in 2006 on a three-year deal.
Donald Urquhart – 1971 to 1985 – 497 appearances.
Jim Baxter – Signed in 1958 and become one of the legendary Scottish players of the post-war era.
Johnny Urquhart – Served as a player, director and president over five decades from 1950s.
Willie McNaught – 657 appearances between 1941 and 1961 - still a record for any Rovers player. Capped 5 times for Scotland.
Andy Leigh – 487 appearances from 1948 to 1963 before running the club’s Development Association and then becoming groundsman until 1994.
Willie Penman – Rovers top scorer with 151 league and cup goals, 50 more during World War II and 10 others in friendlies.
Andy Young – Made 621 appearances from 1945 until 1960.
Alex James – Played from 1922 to 1925 before heading to Preston North End F.C. then Arsenal F.C.. Became one of the outstanding players of his generation winning countless trophies and captaining Arsenal.
Dave Morris – Rovers most capped Scottish player – 6 caps in the mid 1920s.
Nacho Novo - Now playing for Rangers.

Some notable players from the team that lifted the Coca-Cola Cup:

Shaun Dennis - Over 400 appearances in three different spells between 1988-2004 before taking on a coaching role for a short period. Also played for Hibernian and Brechin
Colin Cameron - Colin 'Mickey' Cameron, a former Scottish internationalist who started his career with Raith Rovers. He was signed by Hearts, before moving onto Bradford, Wolves and Coventry City. Currently plying his trade with MK Dons
Jason Dair - Experienced midfielder Dair, who can also play in defence, who has also played for Millwall and Dunfermline, among many other teams. Like his one-time team-mate, Shaun Dennis, Jason had three different spells at Raith.
Stevie Crawford - Stevie Crawford, a former Scottish internationalist who started his career with Raith Rovers. He is currently playing his second spell with Dunfermline, and has also played for Millwall, Hibernian, Plymouth Argyle, Dundee United and Aberdeen.
Gordon Dalziel – Record league goalscorer for Raith Rovers with 154 goals in the 80s and 90s, who returned as a manager in 2004. Scored the equalising goal in the Cup Final.
David Narey MBE – Veteran player, formerly of Dundee United (1973-1994), famous for his goal against Brazil in the 1982 World Cup. David retired after the Coca-Cola Cup win.

Some notable managerial appointments:

1945-61: Bert Herdman – Legendary manager who oversaw some of the club's most successful seasons and a sustained period in the top flight.
1986-90: Frank Connor – Took the club from depths of the 2nd Division to a solid 1st Division spot.
1990-96: Jimmy Nicholl – Manager (and player until 1994) who won two 1st Division titles, the historic League Cup victory and oversaw Rovers' only foray into European competition.

Rovers managers since World War II:

Bert Herdman 1945 - 1961
Hugh Shaw 1961 - 1962
Alfie Conn 1962 - 1963
Doug Cowie 1963 - 1964
George Farm 1964 - 1967
Tommy Walker 1967 - 1969
Jimmy Millar 1969 - 1970
Bill Baxter 1970 - 1971
George Farm 1971 - 1974
Bert Paton 1974 - 1975
Andy Matthew 1975 - 1978
Willie McLean 1978 - 1979
Gordon Wallace 1979 - 1983
Bobby Wilson 1983 - 1986

Frank Connor 1986 - 1990
Jimmy Nicholl 1990 - 1996
Jimmy Thomson 1996
Tommy McLean 1996
Iain Munro 1996-1997
Jimmy Nicholl 1997 - 1999
John McVeigh 1999
Peter Hetherston 1999 - 2001
Jocky Scott 2001 - 2002
Antonio Calderon 2002 - 2004
Claude Anelka 2004
Gordon Dalziel 2004 - 2006
Craig Levein 2006
John McGlynn 2006 -

Fife Cup Winners: 2001/2002, 2003/2004
Scottish League Cup Winners (Coca Cola Cup): 1994/95
Scottish League Cup Runners-Up: 1948/49
Scottish Cup Runners-Up: 1912/13
First Division Champions: 1992/93, 1994/95
Second Division Champions: 1907/08, 1909/10, 1937/38, 1948/49, 2002/03
Second Division Runners-Up: 1926/27, 1966/67, 1975/76, 1977/78, 1986/87

Record attendance: 31,306 vs Hearts, 7/2/1953
Record victory: 10-1 vs Coldstream, Scottish Cup, 1954
Record defeat: 2-11 vs Greenock Morton, Division 2, 1936
League goalscoring record: Norman Heywood 1937/38, 42 goals
Most league goals (individual): Gordon Dalziel, 154 (1987-1994)
Most goals in a league season (team): 142, 1937-38 (British Record)
Most capped player: David Morris, 6 caps for Scotland
Highest transfer fee paid: £225k for Paul Harvey (from Airdrie, July 1996)
Highest transfer fee received: £900k for Steve McAnespie (to Bolton Wanderers, September 1995)