Raith Rovers F.C.

The Raith Rovers ( officially: Raith Rovers Football Club ) are a Scottish football club based in Kirkcaldy. The club is currently playing in the First Division, the second highest in the Scottish football league. The Rovers play their home games at Stark's Park. The stadium was opened in 1891 and can accommodate 10,104 spectators.

  • 3.1 Coaches Chronicle
  • 3.2 Notable players

Club history

The club was founded in 1883 and has nothing to do with the same name Raith Rovers, which merged in 1882 with FC Cowdenbeath. The name Raith derives from the Gaelic rath for fortress.

1902/ 03 the club first played in the Scottish league. After two successful years in the Scottish Football League Second Division succeeded in 1910, the rise in the Scottish Football League First Division. 1913 was the team's first time in the Scottish Cup, where the team was defeated 0-2 against FC Falkirk finals.

Record years

The most successful league year was 1922, when the team was in third place behind the Old Firms in the table. An everlasting record could establish the team, as the team scored in the season 1937/38, 142 goals in 34 league games. Consequence was the rise in the First Division. To date, these 142 gates are a record in British football. Also at this time, you could set a club record with viewers. For the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup 25,500 spectators came to the game against East Fife to see. For the first time the finals of the Scottish League Cup in 1949 could be achieved. There, the team met with the Glasgow Rangers and lost 0-2. After 1913, the team was able to reach the semifinals for the second time by the Scottish Football Cup in 1951, but lost against Celtic with 2:3 at Hampden Park.

Ups and downs

With a disastrous season began the 60s. End of the season 1962/63 the club was in last place of the First Division again, after the club had received a total of 118 goals in 34 games.

In 1968, the descent to the next lower division thanks to Gordon Wallace prevented. He became the first player who was voted player of the year, and did not come from one of the big Glasgow clubs. In 34 league games he scored 27 goals. From the mid- 70s to early 80s, the team was able to place on the front ranks consistently in the First Division before 1984 was the relegation to the third division. Under coach Frank Connor succeeded in 1987, the promotion back to the First Division.

Glorious years

In the season 1992/93 Rovers won under player-manager Jimmy Nicholl the champion of the Scottish Football League First Division and rose for the first time in decades in the highest league in Scotland on. It began the most successful period in the club's history. Although the club was relegated again from, but on 29 November 1994, the team reached the final of the Scottish League Cup. There, the team Glasgow Celtic beat 6-5 on penalties. This victory in the final eligible to participate in the UEFA Cup. The club competed in the qualification. Ultimately, the collection was achieved in the second round of the competition in which the Scottish club faced the FC Bayern Munich. The Rovers led at half time at the Olympic Stadium Munich 1-0, lost in the end but with 1:2 and dropped out. It was the first time that a unterklassige Scottish team failed to qualify for a European Cup competition. In the same year also managed an immediate return to the top flight of Scottish football.

The revenue from the UEFA Cup allowed the Rovers renovating their stadium Stark 's Park to a pure -seater stadium. The new stadium was opened in 1996 with a friendly match against Bayern Munich.

End of the tale

1996/97 started the end of a successful times in the last decade. At the end of the season the club got out of the first League from 2003 and even in the third league. Before the start of the 2004/05 season offered Claude Anelka, brother of Nicolas Anelka, any club which sets him as a coach £ 300,000. The Raith Rovers accepted the offer and Anelka committed mostly players from the lower leagues in France. The project failed, Anelka resigned mid-season and the Rovers finished the season as the Table with 16 points. In 2008, the team ended at the end of the 3rd place and reached the promotion round. In the first round, the club lost to Airdrie United. In the same year the club celebrated its 125 year anniversary.

In the 2008 /09 season, the Raith Rovers master of the third class were second division, an increase on to the First Division. On 13 March 2010, the team reached the first time since 1963 the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup with a 2-1 away win at FC Dundee.

Achievements

  • Scottish First Division Master (5): 1907/ 08, 1937/38, 1948/49, 1992/93, 1994/95
  • Vice ( 3): 1908/ 09 1909 /10 1926/27, 1966/67,
  • Scottish Second Division: Meister ( 1): 2002/ 03, 2008/ 09
  • Vice ( 3): 1975/76 1977 /78 1986/87
  • Scottish Cup: Finalist (1): 1912/13,
  • Scottish League Cup: Winners (1): 1994/95
  • Finalist (1): 1948/49,
  • Scottish League Challenge Cup: Winners (1): 2013/14

Players and coaches

Coach Chronicle

  • Scotland Bert Herdman 1945 - 1961
  • Scotland Hugh Shaw 1961 - 1962
  • Scotland Alfie Conn, Sr. | Alfie Conn 1962 - 1963
  • Doug Cowie Scotland 1963 - 1964
  • Scotland George Farm 1964 - 1967
  • Scotland Tommy Walker 1967 - 1969
  • Jimmy Millar Scotland 1969 - 1970
  • Scotland Bill Baxter 1970 - 1971
  • Scotland George Farm 1971 - 1974
  • Scotland Bert Paton 1974 - 1975
  • Andy Matthew Scotland 1975 - 1978
  • Scotland Willie McLean 1978 - 1979
  • Scotland Gordon Wallace 1979 - 1983
  • Scotland Bobby Wilson 1983 - 1986
  • Scotland Frank Connor 1986 - 1990
  • Northern Ireland Jimmy Nicholl 1990 - 1996
  • Scotland Jimmy Thomson 1996
  • Scotland Tommy McLean 1996
  • Scotland Iain Munro 1996-1997
  • Northern Ireland Jimmy Nicholl 1997 - 1999
  • Scotland John McVeigh 1999
  • Scotland Peter Hetherston 1999 - 2001
  • Scotland Jocky Scott 2001 - 2002
  • Spain Antonio Calderon 2002 - 2004
  • France Claude Anelka 2004
  • Scotland Gordon Dalziel 2004 - 2006
  • Craig Levein Scotland 2006
  • Scotland John McGlynn 2006 -

Notable players

Find out more

The most prominent supporters of the club is former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who grew up in Kirkcaldy.

East Fife F.C. 1995–96 UEFA Cup 1994–95 Scottish League Cup 2013–14 Scottish Challenge Cup Alloa Athletic F.C. Greenock Morton F.C. Hamilton Academical F.C. Livingston F.C.
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