[Football] Raith Rovers and David Goodwillie

[lawros left foot]

What are the thoughts on this.

Long story short, In 2016 he was accused of raping a woman with his team-mate David Robertson. In a civil case, he was found to have raped her and ordered to pay £100,000 in compensation.

Goodwillie was charged with rape in 2016,but the Scottish legal authorities decided not to pursue a criminal prosecution.The complainer instead took civil action against Goodwillie and Robertson, whom the judge ruled to be rapists, ordering them to pay £100,000 in compensation.The civil case was judged on the balance of probabilities and did not need corroboration of evidence, unlike in a Scottish criminal case.

He further, lost an appeal before 3 Appeal Court Judges in 2017, who upheld the complaint.

Fast forward to January this year, he has been signed by Raith Rovers from Clyde FC,this has rather upset several of the Kirkcaldy clubs celebrity fans, ex PM Gordon Brown among them and Author Val McDermid has torn up her season ticket and cancelled a forthcoming sponsorship deal. 2 of the clubs directors and several senior staff have resigned. Nicola Sturgeon has also condemned the club’s decision. The Captain of 10 years of the clubs Women’s team has also left.

The club has defended the signing, saying it was purely for football reasons, and that Goodwillie deserves a second chance.

Goodwillie has 2 criminal convictions for assault previous to the civil case.

He also played one game on loan for Crystal Palace.

 

[Swansman]

"At least they got a new striker :schelotto:"

 

[Beach Hut]

Right decision all round, if he wants to play football leave the UK and seek teams elsewhere

 

[lawros left foot]

Club statement.



As announced on our website last night, Raith Rovers FC can confirm that we have signed David Goodwillie from Clyde FC.

David is a proven goal scorer, and this will be his second stint with the club, having previously played for us on loan from Dundee United during season 2007-08.

As with all new signings, the club has carefully considered our position as a Community Club and we completely respect the differing views among fans and stakeholders, many of whom we have spoken to directly in the past 24 hours and are continuing to engage with.

As David has previously played for Raith Rovers earlier in his career, we consider him to be part of Raith Rovers Football Club. The management team is familiar with David’s career and background and – in particular – his footballing ability. That is our foremost consideration, and we believe that he will strengthen the Raith Rovers playing squad.

Please be assured that as a community football club we fully acknowledge this signing has divided opinion amongst our loyal fans and commercial stakeholders; We aim to rebuild that trust.

While acknowledging the gravity of what happened ten years ago, as a club we fully support and encourage rehabilitation, and many factors influenced our signing.

First and foremost, this was a football related decision.

 

[dejavuatbtn]

The club are wrong to sign him. STANDARDS Timothy.

 

[The Wookiee]

More like David Badwillie !

 

[portlock seagull]

Got to rehabilitate criminals into society. If he’s served his sentence, he gets a 2nd chance and someone’s provided him with. That’s how our society rules work. Equally if a sponsor decides to pull their support then that too is their prerogative. I don’t see the controversy really. Tony Adams did time for drink driving. He was allowed a 2nd chance. Our own Robert Codner…there’s a very long list of footballers who’ve done time and been rehabilitated.

Now, if you feel the sentence should have been longer for his crime so he could effectively never play again…that’s a different argument. Again though our sentences are what they are even if they are a bit of a joke IMO. Just watch 24hr in Police Custody though for a better understanding of how the CJS simply can’t cope with the volume of offenders. And boy do the villains know it!

 

[drew]

Bet they've already made a tentative enquiry for Mason Greenwood.

Ludicrous decision by, it appears, a former community club. They'll need to get rid of him and also anyone that made the decision to sign him before they can start to recover.

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

Got to rehabilitate criminals into society. If he’s served his sentence, he gets a 2nd chance and someone’s provided him with. That’s how our society rules work. Equally if a sponsor decides to pull their support then that too is their prerogative. I don’t see the controversy really. Tony Adams did time for drink driving. He was allowed a 2nd chance. Our own Robert Codner…there’s a very long list of footballers who’ve done time and been rehabilitated.

Now, if you feel the sentence should have been longer for his crime so he could effectively never play again…that’s a different argument. Again though our sentences are what they are even if they are a bit of a joke IMO. Just watch 24hr in Police Custody though for a better understanding of how the CJS simply can’t cope with the volume of offenders. And boy do the villains know it!

To be rehabilitated you need to show remorse. He has done no such thing.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[drew]

Got to rehabilitate criminals into society. If he’s served his sentence, he gets a 2nd chance and someone’s provided him with. That’s how our society rules work. Equally if a sponsor decides to pull their support then that too is their prerogative. I don’t see the controversy really. Tony Adams did time for drink driving. He was allowed a 2nd chance. Our own Robert Codner…there’s a very long list of footballers who’ve done time and been rehabilitated.

Now, if you feel the sentence should have been longer for his crime so he could effectively never play again…that’s a different argument. Again though our sentences are what they are even if they are a bit of a joke IMO. Just watch 24hr in Police Custody though for a better understanding of how the CJS simply can’t cope with the volume of offenders. And boy do the villains know it!

There is a massive difference between drink driving and rape! He can be rehabilitated but that doesn't mean he has to get a job in football.

 

[essbee1]

If the majority of Raith supporters voted with their feet, then the club would have to get rid of the scum.

 

[lawros left foot]

https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/search-judgments/judgment?id=d22e28a7-8980-69d2-b500-ff0000d74aa7


These are the Court Documents of the civil case.

Goodwillie has shown no contrition, has never accepted guilt, and has never apologised.

 

[Invicta]

This is going to hit all clubs and footballers with similar circumstances and rightly so.

 

[lawros left foot]

If the majority of Raith supporters voted with their feet, then the club would have to get rid of the scum.

It appears they are,a good few on social media saying they won’t set foot in Starks Park, and that includes ex players.

 

[cjd]

I couldn't think why I remember his name apart from his convictions. He was signed by Crystal Palace on loan just a very short time after he raped that poor girl.

Sickening that the Crystal Palace supporters on here are allowed with impunity from our moderators, to slate our club captain on their forum who did nothing wrong .

They really are absolute filth .

 

[AmexRuislip]

Why would the club alienate its core support, over the employment of this scumbag, it doesn't make sense.
Rape is rape, this man should never be allowed to play football again.

 

[loz]

I couldn't think why I remember his name apart from his convictions. He was signed by Crystal Palace on loan just a very short time after he raped that poor girl.

Sickening that the Crystal Palace supporters on here are allowed with impunity from our moderators, to slate our club captain on their forum who did nothing wrong .

They really are absolute filth .

Not to sure about that, Goodwillie played his 1 and only game for palace in 2012, the rape was in 2016.

Although he did have a conviction for fighting with a doorman in 2008… just a bad egg.

 

[lawros left foot]

Not to sure about that, Goodwillie played his 1 and only game for palace in 2012, the rape was in 2016.

Although he did have a conviction for fighting with a doorman in 2008… just a bad egg.

The rape was in 2011, the case came to the civil court in 2016.

I’ve just re-read my original post, the rape was in 2011, he was charged by Police in 2011, the criminal case was dropped, and the civil case came to court in 2016 . The failed appeal was 2017.

 

[Swansman]

Not even on the bench for Raith tonight... wonder if they or maybe him are getting cold feet.

 

[Whoislloydy]

Raith Rovers womens captain has quit