Club 16/03/2025
Charlie Drummond Obituary
It is with great sadness that the Club has learned of the passing of our former goalkeeper Charlie Drummond on Friday 14th of March 2025, at the age of 94.
Charlie signed from Lochore Welfare on the 30th March, 1952.
The Kirkcaldy Times, described his signing:
“Drummond had arranged to travel to Middlesbrough to an interview the following Wednesday, when on the Sunday evening he was at the cinema in Stirling with his girlfriend. To both their shock, a notice came on the screen asking for a Charles Drummond of Carronshore to come to the foyer”.
He was met by Rovers manager Bert Herdman and immediately signed.
Charlie made his First Team debut at Stark’s Park on 21st of November 1953, in 2-1 defeat against Rangers in front of a crowd of 15,500. He replaced regular goalkeeper George Johnstone.
The Rovers team that day was:
Drummond, Kirk, McNaught, Williamson, Colville, Leigh, MacEwan, Young, Copeland, Kelly and Scott.
Charlie went on to make 25 appearances that season and established himself as the Raith Rovers number one goalkeeper.
In season 1956/57, Rovers reached the Scottish Cup Semi-Final for the second year in a row. The previous year, Charlie missed Rovers’ cup run but this time Charlie was ever present as we took on Falkirk at Tynecastle.
The first game finished 2-2, although Rovers had what appeared to be a very good goal by Ernie Copland disallowed. Falkirk won the replay. Both games were watched by a total of 53,751 spectators. This season was perhaps seen as one of the greatest in Raith Rovers’ history as we managed to finish fourth in Scottish top flight football.
Charlie battled it out with Jim Thorburn to retain the number one jumper for over three years.
While playing with Raith Rovers, Charlie played alongside Scottish International Willie McNaught and future Scottish players Jim Baxter and Willie Wallace.
Charlie played his last game for Raith Rovers against Motherwell on the 4th of February, 1961.
He made 202 appearances before signing for Cowdenbeath on the July 1st 1961.
During the COVID period in May 2020, Charlie Drummond celebrated his ninetieth birthday and the club honoured him by celebrating his anniversary with a dedication online.
In recent times, Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has sung Charlie’s praises as “being a wonderful goalkeeper and a wonderful man.”
At this very sad time everyone connected to Raith Rovers wish to send Charlie’s family our deepest condolences.
John Greer