Raith Rovers Hall of Fame doors open for legendary defender

Shaun said he was “honoured” to hear the news of his induction, which will take place at the sold-out event at the Adam Smith Theatre on November 6.

The former defender sits in sixth place in the list of all-time appearances for Raith Rovers with 453 games played, and 16 goals scored, signing for the club as a 12 year-old.

He made his first team debut against Rangers aged 18 in 1988.

Shaun said: “I was due to go away on holiday that weekend, and Frank Connor said to me that if I cancelled my holiday, he would play me, and he kept his word.

“It was played in front of a big crowd of 9,500 at Stark’s Park, and we did well, narrowly losing 2-1. I was up against Kevin Drinkell, but they had a team that was full of Scottish and English internationals.

“I was lucky coming into the team and playing alongside players like Cammy Fraser, George McGeachie and Bobby Glennie.

“All I did was learn from these players, Bobby threatened everybody, so I didn’t need to do that, Cammy was a great footballer and George could header a ball harder and further than anyone else, so these were the three things I took from them.”

Shaun quickly established himself as a first team regular and during his first spell picked up two First Division winners medals.

He said: “It was huge thing for the club to win the First Division; we went from being a part-time club to winning the league by so many points very quickly. We were then relegated, but won the Coca Cola Cup and followed that up by winning the league again.”

Shaun left in 1997 to sign for Hibs, but returned to his hometown side three years later.

“I came back and played a dozen games on loan. I then signed again and when Claude Anelka came into the club he told me it was about time that I retired, I thought who are you? You won’t tell me when to retire!

“I signed for Brechin City and then came back to Raith Rovers again, when Gordon Dalziel took over at Stark’s Park.”

He added: “He told me the team was in a bad way and they needed me – I told him they must be bad if you want me!”