Raith Rovers women’s captain to step down over signing of David Goodwillie

Daniel Brown

David Goodwillie was labelled a rapist by a civil court in 2017

Warning: This article contains reference to sexual violence

Raith Rovers women’s captain Tyler Rattray has announced she will step down as captain and leave the club after Rovers’s men’s side revealed that they had signed David Goodwillie.

Goodwillie – a former Scotland international – joined the club on a permanent deal until the end of season 2023/24 on transfer deadline day.

The 32-year-old and fellow footballer David Robertson were accused of rape by Denise Clair in 2011.

After the Crown declined to prosecute, Clair – who waived her right to anonymity – launched a civil case against the footballers.

In what was the first civil case of its kind in Scotland, a judge sided with Clair and ordered the pair to pay £100,000 damages.

Clair reiterated that she was unable to provide consent because of her alcohol consumption, but Goodwillie and Robertson claimed that intercourse had been consensual. An appeal by the pair was later dismissed in 2017.

Now, Rattray – the captain of the women’s side – has declared that she will ‘give up’ playing for Raith after they ‘signed someone like this’ – adding that she ‘wants nothing to do with it’.

Speaking on Twitter, 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! It was good being captain of Raith while it lasted.”

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! It was good being captain of raith while it lasted. https://t.co/5N4hDymGes

— 🌻TylerRattray🌻 (@Tyler_RattrayX) February 1, 2022

Rape Crisis Scotland, a leading charity that campaigns against violence to women, also accused the Fife club of sending a “message of disregard to survivors” and stated that his transfer should be “withdrawn”.

In a statement, a spokesperson said: “We are surprised and deeply disappointed that Raith Rovers are happy to send such a clear message of disregard to survivors of rape and sexual violence in signing David Goodwillie

“Fundamentally – though it seems Raith FC do not agree – women’s lives are more important than men’s talent or careers. Footballers are role models – particularly for young people – and it’s not okay to have someone in this position who has been found by a senior judge to be a rapist.

“We wonder whether those who took this decision thought for a second about how it may look or feel to survivors to have to watch someone judged to have committed rape be celebrated and applauded.

“This was a bad decision that sends entirely the wrong message, and it should be withdrawn.”

Additionally, best-selling crime author Val McDermid has ended her long-running sponsorship of the club as a result of the signing.

If you are a victim of domestic abuse, contact Refuge any time on 0808 2000 247.