The amazing rise of Raith Rovers has seen the club go from Scottish League One to European football, Scottish League Cup winners in 2025, through to sitting at the top of the Scottish Premiership moving into 2026.
The town of Kirkcaldy had spent a summer partying in celebration of the club qualifying for the Europa League courtesy of finishing third in the Scottish Premiership in 2023/24.
The regular sight of runners and dog walkers and the distinct smell of frying haggis were noticeably absent as the early morning sun lit up the picturesque Kirkcaldy Bay. It was safe to say that the good folk of Kirkcaldy were feeling somewhat worse for wear.
Plucky Raith Rovers had made an astounding start to their second season in the Ladbrokes Premiership. The side was showing that you can win things with kids as they sat third in the league, well behind leaders Celtic but just one point back from Rangers, and looking forward to a League Cup Final against the former.
Raith Rovers boss Robí di Lathamé came into the summer of 2023 on the back of a string of successful few seasons as a football manager. Having navigated Scottish League One at the first attempt, he'd then won the Championship after two seasons then led the side to a mid-table finish in the Premiership.
Manager Robí di Lathamé was celebrating doubling his wages to £2,500-a-week as a reward for making a solid start to life in the Scottish Premiership.
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