He’s one of the most recognisable and colourful characters to have donned the shirt of Raith Rovers and now Marvin Andrews has been added to the club’s list of legends in the Hall of Fame.
The popular defender, who had three different spells at Stark’s Park, is the first of this year’s inductees to be voted for by the fans via the Hall of Fame email address raithinductee@gmail.com.
Speaking to the Press, Marvin, who has lived in Kirkcaldy since first arriving in 1997, says he is still pinching himself at the news.
“It’s a good feeling to be nominated and to join all the great players of the past,” he said. “It’s part of the club’s history and it’s a pleasure to be named.”
Marvin’s first spell at the club came in when he was signed in 1998 by Jimmy Nicholl.
“I came over in 1997 and signed my first contract in February 1998 and ever since then Rovers have been great with me and will always have a special place in my heart,” he said. “They took a chance on me by bringing me over from Trinidad and Tobago and gave me the platform to show what I can do and helped to put me on the road to go to achieve all that I have in the game. I can’t thank them enough and I can’t thank God enough.
“For a foreigner to come over to Scotland and for the fans to take to me they way they have and nominate me is brilliant.”
John Greer, of the organising committee, says Marvin’s induction is thoroughly merited. “He has the record for being the most capped player ever to play for the Rovers having played over 100 time for Trinidad and Tobago,” he said. “When he came back for his second spell in 2006, Gordon Brown was instrumental in getting him to sign as part of the ‘Reclaim The Rovers’ campaign.
“He then came back for a third spell under John McGlynn and played a huge part in getting the club back to the First Division in 2009.”
For Marvin, who played 145 times for the club and scored 14 goals, that title win is one of his happiest memories.
“I was just coming back from a knee injury and John McGlynn asked me to come back for the last 11 games of the season and help get the club across the finish line and get back to the First Division.
“We managed it and to get a medal and the trophy was a great achievement.
“I remember the game against Arbroath. It was absolutely pouring with rain. I think if we hadn’t been getting the trophy that day they would have called it off – I went for a diving header and ended up coming up smiling with a face full of mud!
“I’ve got some great memories and I thank God every day for bringing me to Kirkcaldy and to Raith Rovers. I’m truly blessed to have played for them.”
The 40-year-old currently finds himself without a club and is busy starting up a new health and wellbeing business but “if a club does come in for me I’m ready. I don’t want to hang my boots up just yet”.
Now he is looking forward to the sold-out Hall of Fame night on November 7 and says he expects it to be “emotional”.
“I’ll be trying hard not to shed any tears,” he said. “It’s a great honour and I’m so grateful.”