Thanks to donations from players at our Sunday and Friday sessions, RRCF Walking Football were able to pass on over 40 Easter eggs to Kirkcaldy Foodbank today.
Foodbank Donation
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Children’s ward visit
Continuing the group’s excellent charity work, John Wylie and Stephen MacCrimmon represented us this week in another visit to the children’s ward at Victoria hospital. The purpose of the visit was to deliver toys and gifts purchased courtesy of donations from the Sunday night group. Previous donations from the group have been made to the Cottage Family Centre, the Kingdom Kids Toy Appeal and the children’s ward.
Stephen said: “The players play every Sunday at Starks Park and all of the guys pay an extra 50p each session.
As a community group we realise the importance of giving back to the local community. We appreciate the work the staff at the Children’s Ward at Victoria Hospital do for the patients and families that come in from all over Fife.
We hope to continue to donate to the Children’s ward, and other worthy causes, in the coming years.”
WFS O50’s East League 2022 Preview
The East League starts this Sunday (6th March) at the Regional Performance Centre in Dundee. This year there are thirteen teams taking part an increase of two from last year.
Arbroath: Third in the league last year, losing to Rovers in our penultimate game to confirm our second place. No doubt looking to do better this year.
Carnoustie Panmure: Eighth in the league last year holding Rovers to a 3-3 draw on the final day of the league to set up our nail-biter with Arbroath.
Crieff Juniors: Newcomers to the league this year.
Dundee Utd: Mid table last year would have been disappointing to one of the more well established teams.
Dunfermline Dynamos: First season in the league last year ended in a disappointing tenth place. Will be looking to do much better this year, especially against the Rovers.
Fairfield: Another new team to the league from Dundee.
Fife Wanderers: Mid table last year but with an impressive goalscoring record.
Montrose: Former Scottish Cup winners back in league action after a year out.
Saints in the Community: Will be looking to improve on their ninth place in last year’s league.
St Andrews: A really disappointing performance last season saw St Andrews finish at the bottom of the league.
St James: Last year’s league champions will be looking for a three-peat.
Tayport: Fourth in the league last year with one of the best defensive records.
Our three games this month are against Fife Wanderers, Montrose and Saints in the Community.
Awards’ Night
Friday 25th February saw over 25 players, past and present, attend RRCF Walking Football’s annual awards night at Styx, Kirkcaldy for an evening of chat, games and recognition.
First up, the awards.
Player’s player of the year. Voted for by squad players for the East League 2021 players the award went to one of the team’s most consistent players. His performances in “the sticks” and vocal leadership from the back kept us in many games. The player’s player of the year award goes to Martin Page.
Next up, the Golden Boot. Awarded to the highest goalscorer in the league during the season. This was a close call and, with all goals being double checked and scrutinised, the winner, by one goal was John Wylie.
And so to the final award. Chosen by Stephen MacCrimmon for a player who has come through so much this last year and has inspired everyone by his persistence and commitment not only in his own play but in how he has helped others improve their game as well. The final award goes to Martin Page.
With the formal part of the evening concluded it was on to some relaxed games of pool (with Jimmy Robertson and Martin Page hustling hardest), darts (where Ross Paterson and Scott Jackson tended to hit the board more often than the surrounds more than everyone else) and beer pong (where Barry ‘Deadeye’ Martin steered his team to victory) with many chats about last season, next season and the merits of Bavarian white sausage (it’s an acquired taste apparently).
A great night and thanks to Stephen MacCrimmon for organising what was, hopefully, the first of many great social events this year.
Champions League
The Champions League kicked off at 1pm today and saw Raith compete against the top two teams from each of the three Walking Football Regional Leagues in 2021. From the West league we have Giffnock SC Auld Timers and Townhead Strollers. From Central we have North Lanarkshire and Hearts 56′. And from the East we have ourselves and our good friends St James. Each team plays every other team once in a league format and the team with the most points after five games, wins.
Front row: Kevin Thomson, Martin Page, Paul Gregory, Harry Younger
First up our fellow East league team, St James. We’re expecting a tough tight game here having played St James many times and honours being almost even. Unfortunately we go one down early when big Franny gets the ball and manages to get past our defence and slot the ball home. The game continues and is tight with few chances for either side. A lot of hustle and bustle in midfield. With the game drawing to a close and Raith pressing a saved shot from St James ends at Franny’s feet unmarked at the edge of the box and he managed to seal the game with a last minute strike.
St James 2-0 Raith
Giffnock 3-2 Townhead
North Lanarkshire 0-0 Hearts
Next up West league winners Giffnock SC Auld timers. A sporting gesture from Giffnock at the start of the game as they hand over a team pennant. A tight start to the game with both sides cancelling each other out changed in the ninth minute with two quick Giffnock goals. Despite a lot of effort Raith were unable to get a toe hold back in the game and the game ended at two nil to Giffnock.
St Jame 1-0 North Lanarkshire
Raith 0-2 Giffnock
Hearts 0-0 Townhead
Our third match was against Hearts 56′, runners up in the Central league. Two games in and Raith haven’t yet scored but a first minute goal in this game puts that right. A free kick played to John Wylie sees him slot the ball into the net on the keeper’s right. As in other games a lot of hustle and bustle but no morew goals and Raith hold on for their first win of the tournament.
Hearts 0-1 Raith
North Lanarkshire 0-2 Townhead
St James1-0 Giffnock
Our penultimate game of the day, against Central winners North Lanarkshire and the trophy is out of reach and we’re playing for pride. An early goal from Kevin Thomson in the third minute sets the team up for our second win of the day with Kevin also getting the second after a nice turn and pass from Harry Younger.
St James 1-1 Townhead
Raith 2-0 North Lanarkshire
Hearts 2-2 Giffnock
Our final match against West league runners up, Townhead Strollers. With us sitting in third a point ahead of Townhead a draw confirms our third place finish. Again a tight game with some questionable refereeing decisions for and against each side. For the first time in all five games the ref calls a running foul against us. Then another. And then a third and it’s a ninth minute penalty for Townhead. The taker steps up and puts it to Pagey’s left but it hits the post and the chance is gone. Four minutes later though and a break down the left sees a shot across the goal and in off the post. With two minutes left Townhead play a good pressing game cutting down any Raith chance of an equaliser and the game finishes one nil to Townhead.
North Lanarkshire 3-0 Giffnock
Raith 0-1 Townhead
St James 5-1 Hearts
And so the day ends with Raith in fourth place overall and the Champions League trophy going to fellow East League team St James who once again were unbeaten throughout the tournament.
Congratulations to St James. See you again in the league.
| GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | |
| St James | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 13 |
| Townhead | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| Giffnock Auld Timers | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 7 |
| Raith Rovers | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 6 |
| North Lanarkshire | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 4 |
| Hearts | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 3 |
RRCF Walking Football 