Rival clubs join to educate youths on fan behaviour
Two rival football clubs in Fife teamed up to educate youngsters on anti-social behaviour at matches in response to recent incidents.
Dunfermline Athletic and Raith Rovers players greeted 110 school children from Kirkcaldy and west Fife, aged 12 to 17, for a day of football training and talks on hooliganism.
The Rivals United initiative, organised by Police Scotland, “encouraged teamwork, respect, and positive behaviour.”
The Championship clubs’ foundations cooperated in launching the initiative along with other organisations such as Active Schools Fife and Kirkcaldy-based youth support project Clued Up.
Spokesperson for education in Dunfermline South, Cllr Cara Hilton, hopes other communities can learn from this joined event with sport being the soul factor.
She said: “Sport has the power to bring our communities together and the Rivals United initiative is a great example of how to harness young people’s interest in football to promote teamwork, respect and positive behaviour.
“I’d love to see this partnership working replicated in communities right across Scotland but of course I’m delighted Fife is leading the way.”
The event came in response to an incident of an 18-year-old Rovers fan being attacked by young rival supporters outside East End Park after a derby match on January 2 2024.
Kieren Ross was the victim of the assault by two Dunfermline supporters, aged 18 and 21, who were spared jail after breaking both his hearing aids.
A further event occurred in a fixture between the sides on February 1, with Dunfermline winning 3 -1, involving pyrotechnic devices being thrown from the visiting Raith crowd.
A spokesperson from Dunfermline Athletic said: “Everyone at Dunfermline Athletic is pleased to back and fully support this work being carried out by programme, addressing youth antisocial behaviour.
“This initiative not only fosters a sense of teamwork, discipline, and respect but also helps prevent negative behaviours that can have lasting impacts.”
A spokesperson from the Raith Rovers foundation believes that the clubs made a “strong connection” as a result of Monday’s events.
Players such as Matty Todd, of Dunfermline, and Lewis Vaughan, of Raith, were a few of the players to make an appearance at the Pars’ training ground.
The final Fife derby of the 2024/25 league season will take place at Starks Park on March 14.
