Fan cancels season shirt sponsorship over the club’s signing of a rapist

Fan cancels season shirt sponsorship over the club’s signing of a rapist

Celebrity fan Val McDermid has taken to Twitter to declare her lifelong support of Raith Rovers has ended in protest at the club’s signing of David Goodwillie. The world-famous author has been a lifelong supporter who took to social media to voice her anger at the Stark’s Park deadline day signing from Clyde.

This comes in after the club signed striker David Goodwillie who was ruled to be a rapist in a civil court case in 2016, although no criminal proceedings were instructed. Crime writer McDermid had previously warned against her club recruiting Goodwillie who has previously been branded a rapist in a civil court.

The 66-year-old’s website has been the club’s shirt sponsor since 2014 but has now withdrawn that as of next season.

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. She said: “I have this morning ended my lifelong support of Raith Rovers over the signing of rapist David Goodwillie.

“I have cancelled next season’s shirt sponsorship over this disgusting and despicable move.

“This shatters any claim to be a community or family club. Goodwillie has never expressed a shred of remorse for the rape he committed.

“His presence at Stark’s Park is a stain on the club. I’ll be tearing up my season ticket too. This is a heartbreaker for me and many other fans I know.”

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About David Goodwillie and ruled to be a rapist

Goodwillie, who previously played for clubs including Dundee United, Blackburn Rovers and Aberdeen, was ruled to be a rapist in a civil court case in 2017 although no criminal proceedings were instructed. He was ordered to pay £100,000 in damages by a judge after it was ruled he raped a woman in a flat in West Lothian in 2011. The Crown had previously decided not to prosecute Goodwillie due to insufficient evidence.

David Goodwillie

The striker, who has three Scotland caps, is currently the top scorer in the SPFL having netted 15 times for Clyde so far this season.

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