Footballer who quit Rovers over signing handed award

FIFE footballer Tyler Rattray, who led her team’s exit from Raith Rovers over the signing of David Goodwillie, has won an award for confronting the club.

The former captain of the women’s side, now McDermid Ladies, quit after news of the controversial deal broke.

After securing sponsorship from lifelong Rovers fan Val McDermid, who also renounced her support for the club, the team, led by Tyler, rebranded in her honour.

She has now been recognised at the Scottish Women’s Football Awards, with judges recognising her “leadership” in confronting Raith Rovers as she picked up the Val McDermid Award.

The club sparked outrage and resignations after signing Goodwillie, who a civil court branded a rapist in 2017.

Tyler, who found herself at the centre of a media storm after announcing she would leave the club, said the McDermid Ladies team was now determined to move forward.

Tyler had been associated with the club for 10 years when she quit, a decision that won plaudits from many including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Tyler said: “All we are is a group of girls who like playing football. That was what was important to us.

“I didn’t want to leave Raith Rovers but I had no choice. When I heard the news that day, I left on the spot. Now, though, it is all about us as a team and what we represent.

“We are role models for other young girls who are coming through and that is what we want to focus on.

“That and being the best possible team that we can be. We were all unanimous about this and we want to move forward now in our own right.”

Crime writer McDermid said Tyler deserved the award after taking the “really big step”, adding: “It has been stressful, particularly for Tyler.

“I am no stranger to the media interest, but for someone like Tyler I think it would have been incredibly unsettling. She showed a lot of courage.”

Tyler Rattray won an award at the Women’s Football Awards for her stand at Raith Rovers.