Live updates: Raith Rovers face backlash over David Goodwillie signing
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Crime writer Val McDermid has ended her sponsorship of Raith Rovers over the signing of David Goodwillie.
McDermid, a former Raith director whose name adorns the club’s home shirts, had warned against the signing several weeks ago and her stance has been backed by Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
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Hide AdThe captain of the club’s women’s team, Tyler Rattray, announced she was quitting playing for the team.
In a tweet, she said: “After 10 long years playing for Raith, it’s gutting I have given up now because they have signed someone like this and I want nothing to do with it!”
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Live updates: Raith Rovers face backlash over David Goodwillie signing
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- Val McDermid has ended her lifelong support of Raith Rovers and her sponsorship of the club.
- In a post on social media, the celebrated author tweeted: “I have this morning ended my lifelong support of Raith Rovers over their signing of the rapist David Goodwillie.
- “I have cancelled next season’s shirt sponsorship over this disgusting and despicable move.
- The captain of the Raith’s women’s team, Tyler Rattray, announced she was quitting playing for the team on Tuesday.
- MP for north-east Fife, Wendy Chamberlain, said the move to sign Goodwillie was an “appalling decision” by Raith Rovers and one that will have “serious consequences for them in terms of how they are viewed in the community”
- Nicola Stugeon backed the decision writing “The stances that Val Mcdermid and women’s team captain Tyler Rattray have taken are principled - though difficult for both of them. But the fact they’re in this position at all reminds us that our society still has a way to go to make zero tolerance of sexual violence a reality.”
- A number of volunteers and board members resigned from their post
- A petition has been launched calling for Goodwillie to be sacked.
Raith Rovers: Sign our petition to remove David Goodwillie and restore reputation as a family club
A petition has been launched calling for Goodwillie to be sacked.
A sponsor has walked away from Raith Rovers.
TAG Games have requested that their branding be removed from shirts for the remainder of the season.
Their founder tweeted the following...
The captain of the club’s women’s team, Tyler Rattray, announced she was quitting playing for the team.
In a tweet, she said: “After 10 long years playing for Raith, it’s gutting I have given up now because they have signed someone like this and I want nothing to do with it!”
The First Minister described McDermid and Rattray’s responses as “principled – though difficult for both of them”.
BREAK
A petition has been launched calling for David Goodwillie to be sacked from Raith Rovers.
The petition reads:
On January 31, 2022, Raith Rovers unveiled the signing of player David Goodwillie, a man who was ruled to be a rapist and ordered to pay damages in a civil case in 2017.
The Fife Free Press newspaper, which proudly serves the people of the Kirkcaldy area, feels that Raith Rovers can not continue to call themselves a family club while expecting fans to cheer for a man ruled to be a rapist wearing the club’s colours.
This brings a stain on the character of the club and shame to the supporters who have followed the club throughout its rich history.
Already fans and sponsors are withdrawing their support for the club. We want Goodwillie axed from the club, but that’s not all.
Until this signing, Raith Rovers was and had always been first and foremost a family club.
In order to return the club to those ideals we want to see it work in close harmony with rape and domestic abuse charities to improve the culture and once more make Stark’s Park a ground families can proudly take their families to.
Raith Rovers have a long proud association with the Kirkcaldy community, and that’s something we’d like to see continue.
That’s why we’re asking you to sign our petition to have David Goodwillie removed from Raith Rovers, and ensure that future signing decisions can continue to be family-friendly.
MP for north-east Fife, Wendy Chamberlain, said the move to sign Goodwillie was an “appalling decision” by Raith Rovers and one that will have “serious consequences for them in terms of how they are viewed in the community”.
“David Goodwillie has never apologised or expressed an ounce of regret for his actions,” she said.
“I urge the club to think again.”