Raith Rovers fan launches Donate a Ticket website to help Scottish football through crisis

Ruaridh Kilgour has set up the fundraising website, Donate A Ticket, where fans can ‘buy’ tickets for the matches they would have attended had it not been for the coronavirus shutdown, with all money raised donated back to their club.  

Rovers have been one of the major beneficiaries, with over £3200 raised thus far placing them top of the website’s leaderboard, which aims to add a competitive element to the fundraising. 

They are one of six SPFL clubs to have backed the scheme thus far, with a number of Lowland League clubs also taking part, as well as women’s side Glasgow City, who have raised over £1000.

Ruaridh, who hails from Kirkcaldy but now lives in Edinburgh, is hoping that other clubs will be encouraged to sign up for the website, which is free to join.

“I own a marketing business in the gambling industry and since March 13 we’ve had no work at all,” he explained.

“That’s why I set up this project – just something to keep busy with more than anything.

“I’m a Raith fan – I’ve been going to games since around 1997-98, and I’ve done a few projects for the club.

“The initial intentions for the website was just to help Raith, but then I realised it could quickly become something for all clubs.

“A lot of them have their own fundraising things on the go.

“Making my own website meant it took a bit longer so by the time it was out, a lot of clubs had already gone down the Just Giving or Go Fund Me route.

“I can understand a lot of clubs don’t want to bombard fans with different ways to fundraise, but it’s starting to pick up now.”

Since launching a fortnight ago, over £5500 has been raised for a variety of clubs across Scotland.

Ruaridh stressed that his company is not making any profit from the venture, in fact, it has cost him money to set up.

“It’s completely non-profit, free for the clubs, and no commission taken,” he said.

“The transaction fees are actually less than Go Fund Me and Just Giving as well. 

“It just seems like a no-brainer for me that they use this instead of those pages, but I can understand there’s a trust element as well, when some random person appears with a website, taking money, they are going to be a bit sceptical.

“That’s where my relationship with Raith meant it was easy enough to get them.

“I was hoping that would start the ball rolling for everyone else, but it’s been a bit more difficult.

“We’ve got the Lowland League involved and we’re hoping to add the Highland League this week.

“We’ve also got a promising email from the supporter liaison at Celtic, and if we can get them on board, hopefully it will snowball throughout the rest of Scotland and get everyone else involved.

“What I’ve said to most clubs is that the fundraising pages plateaux, so this is the perfect one to come out with once that happens as a more creative way of asking for money.

“Considering the teams that are on it, £5500 raised so far is pretty good.

“Raith are up to around £3200 and with about four weeks left of what would have been the season, I’m hoping it could end up a lot more than what it is at just now.”

Any club wishing to join the Donate A Ticket scheme can contact Ruaridh at [email protected].