Blog

On Progress And Hope

When Raith Rovers FC broke the news at 10.30pm last Monday night that they had just signed a rapist we were quite sure they hoped this fact would pass unnoticed.

Fortunately, they misjudged Raith Rovers FC fans, sponsors, staff, volunteers and the Scottish public. They underestimated the hurt and anger that they would cause, and the strong belief that people should be held accountable for their actions, and not placed in positions where they might be celebrated as heroes, role models for younger generations to look up to.

So often we speak of the challenges that survivors experience, and the attitudes that stop people from being able to get support and justice.

Raith Rovers FC’s initial response to the backlash was disgraceful. They claimed that first and foremost this was a ‘football related decision’ as though you can separate a man, his actions, and his refusal to accept any responsibility or show any remorse from his ability to kick a ball.

But despite this today is a day to speak about progress. Because although the messy events of this week have been difficult – in particular for survivors - the fury that met the management of Raith Rovers FC, and the fact that fans and the public made it an absolute no go for them to continue Goodwillie’s contract, is extraordinary. There are no doubt unanswered questions and concerns now that Raith Rovers FC have u-turned, but those who fought this and put principle before personal interest should be proud.

The momentum of this week and support for Rape Crisis, including a fundraiser that’s now over £12k, is powerful, but some people asked where we’d been a few years ago when Goodwillie signed for Clyde. The answer is that we released a similar statement of condemnation. So what’s changed?

Our voice – and those who joined with us then – was not powerful enough to reverse the decision. What has been shown last week though is the power of all of our voices coming together to speak out against injustice in one of the biggest and most powerful shows of solidarity and support for survivors that we have seen in recent history.

This debacle has shown that there is still such a very long way to go until men’s violence against women and girls is truly treated with zero tolerance. But it has also given us hope that in Scotland we can make this a reality.