Club 30/11/2016
Jim Gillespie and Tom Murray
It is with great sadness that Raith Rovers announce the deaths of two great servants to the club:
Firstly Jim Gillespie, an outside-left, who signed for Raith Rovers on the 2nd of February 1968 from East Stirlingshire.
Tommy Walker signed Jim, who was described by his teammates as always a perfect gentleman. He made 47 appearances and scored 5 goals during his time at Stark’s Park. He left Raith Rovers on 24th of December 1969 and on the 1st of January 1970 scored twice for his new team Dunfermline Athletic in a 3-0 win at East End Park.
Jim went on to become a coach after his playing days, he came back to coach at Raith Rovers, when Andy Matthew was the Stark’s Park manager. Jim and Alex Kinnimonth were responsible for first team training.
The team won promotion to the Scottish First Division in season 1975-76, losing only one league game in that season. He then assisted his former Rovers’ colleague Paddy Wilson, when he became manager at Cowdenbeath.
Jim Gillespie’s funeral will be held at Kirkcaldy Crematorium on Thursday 8th December at 12.45pm.
Secondly Tom Murray, Tom was the Raith Rovers programme editor around the greatest period in Raith Rovers’ history in mid 90s. Tom built a great relationship with Jimmy Nicholl and indeed Jimmy was saddened to hear of Tom’s passing. Tom Murray’s funeral will take place at Kirkcaldy Crematorium on Thursday 1st December at 10.15am