East Fife fans dig deep to pay club's SPFL fine

The club was this week fined £11,000, £10,000 of it suspended, by the SPFL as punishment after players refused to take to the field against Clyde after a Bully Wee player returned a positive Covid-19 test.

East Fife admitted breaching SPFL rules by failing to fulfil a fixture and had to pay £1000 of the fine straight away.

But the Bayview club felt no financial burden, with supporters digging deep to settle the bill within hours of it being issued.

A Go Fund Me page, set up by Fife fan and co-host of the Glory Days of Gold podcast, Lee Gillies, didn’t just meet the target, it had raised over £3000 at the time of writing.

Lee said: “I had the fundraiser already decided before the outcome of the disciplinary, knowing that we’d likely get a fine.

"I thought, if we could support the club in what’s already been a difficult year for them financially, that they’d be grateful for the help and that the wider Scottish football community would also be supportive, which the donations have shown.”

East Fife were roundly praised for their stance at Broadwood, the decision taken not to compete rubber stamped by boss Darren Young and chairman Jim Stevenson.

Young revealed afterwards that several of his players have partners who are pregnant while others were concerned for their employment should they be made to self isolate.

That didn’t stop the fine being issued, though, something which football fans from across the country united to condemn.

Lee added: “The response to the fundraiser has been incredible.

"I actually can’t believe we’ve achieved over £3000.

"Fans from lots of different clubs have been in touch to offer support which has been amazing.

"The majority can’t believe we’ve had any sort of punishment for protecting our players in a pandemic.”

The fundraiser is still open by searching East Fife at the Go Fund Me website.

The cash now being raised over and above the fine will be going directly to the club.