Stark decision

Cliftonville’s SPFL Trust Trophy third round tie with Raith Rovers will be played at Stark’s Park on Saturday, September 9.

The Kirkcaldy showdown – which is set to get under way at 2pm – will be our first ever competitive meeting with the Scottish Championship side, although the Clubs did compete for an honour of sorts when they last locked horns.

That was back in 2005 when, following a goalless draw at Solitude, the visitors triumphed 4-2 on penalties to claim the Shine A Light charity trophy.

Eight years earlier, meanwhile, Jody Tolan was Cliftonville’s scorer in a 2-1 defeat to Rovers in a pre-season friendly, while the Clubs’ first ever encounter came at Stark’s Park in August 1991, when Billy Drake found the net in a 4-1 loss.

Reds’ Rovers record
August 3, 1991: Raith Rovers 4-1 Cliftonville
July 24, 1997: Cliftonville 1-2 Raith Rovers
July 16, 2005: Cliftonville 0-0 Raith Rovers (2-4 on penalties)