David Robertson (footballer, born 1986)

David Robertson (born 23 September 1986 in Livingston) is a Scottish former association footballer, who played as an attacking midfielder for Dundee United, St Johnstone, Greenock Morton, Livingston, Ayr United, Selkirk and Cowdenbeath. He won the Scottish Cup with Dundee United in 2010 and represented the Scotland under-21 team. Robertson retired from football in January 2017 after being found in a civil trial to have committed rape with fellow footballer David Goodwillie.

For the Aberdeen and Rangers player of the 1990s, see David Robertson (footballer, born 1968).

David Robertson
Personal information
Date of birth (1986-09-23) 23 September 1986
Place of birth Livingston, Scotland
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
2002–05 Dundee United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2011 Dundee United 120 (17)
2011–2013 St Johnstone 23 (2)
2014 Greenock Morton 16 (0)
2014–2015 Livingston 13 (0)
2015 Ayr United 12 (1)
2015–2016 Selkirk ? (?)
2016–2017 Cowdenbeath 7 (0)
Total 191 (20)
International career
2005 Scotland U19 1 (0)
2007–2008 Scotland U21 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Dundee United

Livingston-born Robertson joined Dundee United as a youth player and was the top scorer in the 2004–05 SPL Youth League, despite playing from midfield.[1] Robertson made his debut for United in January 2006, in the 1–1 draw against Aberdeen, when he came off the bench in the last few minutes to replace player/manager Craig Brewster who was injured while making his second debut. Robertson scored his first goal three months later in 3–1 league defeat to Livingston, and his late extra-time winner sent United through to the Scottish League Cup third round at the start of the following season. Further league goals came against Inverness Caledonian Thistle (twice) and Celtic, with a cup strike against St Mirren ensuring that Robertson's goals in 2006–07 saw him never finish on the losing side. Indeed, Robertson's form saw him sign a new two-year contract during February of that season.[2]

In September 2007, Robertson won his first Scotland under-21 cap[3] and later that season came on as an extra-time substitute in the 2008 Scottish League Cup final against Rangers, missing one of United's penalties in the defeat.[4] In January 2009, Robertson signed a further extension to his contract, committing himself to the club until May 2011.[5] On 24 March 2010, Robertson scored a vital last minute winner against Rangers in the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup, which Dundee United went on to win for only the second time in their 100-year history. In the 2010 Scottish Cup final Robertson played as a substitute.[6]

St Johnstone

Despite being offered a new contract by United in 2011, Robertson opted instead to sign for St Johnstone.[7] Robertson made his debut for St Johnstone in a league game against Aberdeen on 23 July 2011.

On 28 November 2012, Robertson was injured during St Johnstone's match against Hibernian and the following day, it was confirmed by the club's manager Steve Lomas that Robertson had broken his leg.[8]

On 13 December 2013, St Johnstone announced that Robertson would not be given a new contract when his current deal expired.[9] In December 2013, Robertson went on trial at Greenock Morton.[10]

Greenock Morton

On 3 January 2014, Robertson signed for Greenock Morton.[11][12]

Robertson's father Dougie played almost 200 games for Morton between 1983 and 1990.[11]

Livingston and Ayr United

In the summer of 2014 Robertson left Morton to sign for Livingston. He scored on his competitive debut for the club, coming on in the 112th minute against Queen of the South and scoring just minutes later to secure the extra-time victory.

After seven months with Livingston, Robertson transferred to Scottish League One side Ayr United on a short-term deal.[13] At the end of the 2014–15 season, Robertson was released by The Honest Men.[14]

Selkirk and Cowdenbeath

On 18 December 2015, Robertson signed for Lowland League club Selkirk.[15] After six months with Selkirk, Robertson returned to the SPFL, signing for Scottish League Two side Cowdenbeath in June 2016.[16] Robertson retired from football in January 2017, after a judge ruled that he had raped a woman.[17]

Rape judgement

Robertson and David Goodwillie, who was then a teammate of Robertson at Dundee United, were accused of raping a woman in January 2011.[18] Goodwillie was charged with rape, but the Scottish legal authorities decided not pursue a criminal prosecution.[18] The woman then took a civil action against Robertson and Goodwillie.[18] On 17 January 2017, Robertson and Goodwillie were ruled to be rapists and ordered to pay £100,000 in compensation.[18][19] The civil case was judged on the balance of probabilities and did not need corroboration of evidence, unlike in a Scottish criminal case.[18] Robertson's club, Cowdenbeath, issued a statement indicating that he would not be considered for selection until further information had been received and considered.[20] Robertson subsequently announced his retirement from football.[17] In November 2017, three appeal judges at the Court of Session upheld the ruling.[21] They avoided paying any of the compensation due by declaring bankruptcy.[22]

Career statistics
As of 7 January 2017
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dundee United 2005–06 111000000111
2006–07 263212100305
2007–08 206104000256
2008–09 193202000233
2009–10 140510000191
2010–11 304402010374
Total 120171421011014520
St Johnstone 2011–12 160202000200
2012–13 7200200092
2013–14 0000000000
Total 232204000292
Greenock Morton 2013–14 160000000160
Livingston 2014–15 130102032192
Ayr United 2015–16 121000000121
Cowdenbeath 2016–17 70104000120
Career total 181201822014223325

Honours

Dundee United

References
  1. "David Robertson". Dundee United FC website. Archived from the original on 21 March 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2006.
  2. "Young stars extend United deals". BBC Sport. 14 February 2007.
  3. "Scotland U21 0–0 Denmark U21". BBC Sport. 12 September 2007.
  4. McGuigan, Thomas (16 March 2008). "Dundee Utd 2–2 Rangers". BBC Sport.
  5. "Quartet re-sign for Dundee United". BBC Sport. 17 January 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
  6. McGuigan, Thomas (15 May 2010). "Dundee United 3–0 Ross County". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  7. "David Robertson completes switch to St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  8. "Steve Lomas confirms St Johnstone midfielder David Robertson suffered broken leg". Sky Sports. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  9. "Transfer news: St Johnstone release midfielder David Robertson". Sky Sports. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  10. Mitchell, Jonathan (31 December 2013). "Player search steps up for Morton boss". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  11. Mitchell, Jonathan (3 January 2014). "Morton complete Robertson signing". Greenock Telegraph. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  12. "Double deal for Morton". Scottish Professional Football League. 3 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  13. "David Robertson signs!!". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. 4 February 2015. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  14. "Players released". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. 7 May 2015. Archived from the original on 15 May 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  15. "Selkirk are torn apart by Civil – again". Border Telegraph.
  16. "Three New Signings". Cowdenbeath FC. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  17. "Rape ruling footballer David Robertson retires from the sport". BBC News. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  18. "Footballers Goodwillie and Robertson ruled as rapists". BBC News. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  19. "Judge rules footballers David Robertson and David Goodwillie raped woman". The Guardian. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  20. "David Robertson". Cowdenbeath FC. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  21. "Footballers Goodwillie and Robertson lose appeal against rape finding". BBC News. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  22. Scott, Marion (6 February 2022). "David Goodwillie in line for £150,000 pay-off but has never paid his victim a penny". Sunday Post. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
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