Celtic vs Raith Rovers: 1994 Win, Record & How to Watch

Few moments in Scottish football feel as surreal as the afternoon in November 1994 when a team from Kirkcaldy stepped up to take on Celtic — and won. That victory, in the Scottish League Cup final at Ibrox, remains Raith Rovers’ only win over their Glasgow opponents in recorded history.

Historical win for Raith Rovers vs Celtic: 1 (1994 League Cup final) ·
Matches since 2012 (all competitions): 5, all Celtic wins ·
Known head-to-head matches (since 1990s): 12+, Celtic 11 wins, Raith Rovers 1

The head-to-head record between these two clubs tells a story of one historic shock and consistent dominance.

Has Raith Rovers ever beat Celtic?

Yes — once, and it was one of Scottish football’s greatest shocks. On 27 November 1994, Raith Rovers — then a First Division side — defeated Celtic in the Scottish League Cup final after a penalty shootout. The match finished 2-2 after extra time, and Raith Rovers won 6-5 from the spot (Wikipedia).

• That victory is Raith Rovers’ only known win against Celtic in competitive matches.
• Celtic have won all five meetings since 2012, including a Scottish Cup tie in February 2025 (AiScore).

The implication: one result can define a club’s identity for decades.

The 1994 Scottish League Cup Final Victory

• The final was the 49th edition of the competition (Wikipedia).
• Raith Rovers equalised twice through goals from Walker and Nicholas for Celtic, before the shootout (The Celtic Wiki).
• Celtic captain Paul McStay saw his spot-kick saved by Scott Thomson (The Celtic Wiki).

The pattern: a single day of perfection against a giant, banked as a permanent asset. For Raith Rovers, that November afternoon is still the club’s only major trophy.

When did the Raith Rovers beat Celtic in the cup?

The final was played on 27 November 1994 at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow — Hampden Park was undergoing redevelopment (Wikipedia). The attendance was 45,384.

• Celtic led twice in the match — through an own-goal credited to Walker (32′) and a Nicholas strike (84′) — but Raith Rovers fought back each time.
• After a 2-2 draw through extra time, Celtic missed one penalty in the shootout, and Raith Rovers converted all six (The Celtic Wiki).
• Raith Rovers had lost 4-1 to Celtic at Celtic Park just two months earlier (The Celtic Wiki).

The catch: no amount of subsequent Celtic dominance can erase that 90 minutes.

Is Celtic vs Raith Rovers on TV?

Scottish Cup matches involving Celtic are often shown on Premier Sports or BBC Scotland. The February 2025 Scottish Cup tie was available on BBC iPlayer and BBC Scotland (BBC Sport (public broadcaster)). For future matches, check the club channels and the BBC Sport website.

How to watch Celtic vs Raith Rovers highlights?

Full-match highlights of the 1994 final are available on YouTube under the title “Raith Rovers 2-2 Celtic (6-5 pens)” (YouTube (video platform)). For more recent matches, club channels and sports broadcasters like BBC Sport and Sky Sports typically post extended highlights.

• Celtic FC’s official YouTube channel regularly uploads match highlights for all competitive fixtures.
• BBC Sport provides post-match analysis and clips for Scottish Cup ties.

The pattern: the underdog story lives on in every replay of that shootout.

What are the Celtic vs Raith Rovers stats and lineups?

Five matches since 2012 — all Celtic wins — tell the story of the modern rivalry. The most recent available report from Sky Sports shows a 4-0 win for Celtic in the Scottish Cup Fifth Round, with an attendance of 26,376 (Sky Sports).

• Celtic have scored 16 goals in those five matches, conceding only one (AiScore).
• The 1994 final remains the only draw and the only time Raith Rovers have avoided defeat.

The implication: statistics cannot diminish the weight of that single upset.

Who is Raith Rovers and what is their current standing?

Raith Rovers Football Club, based in Kirkcaldy, Fife, play their home matches at Stark’s Park. The club’s greatest achievement is the 1994 Scottish League Cup triumph, which BBC Sport describes as “crowned League Cup winners after a penalty shoot-out” (BBC Sport (public broadcaster)).

• As of the 2024-25 season, Raith Rovers compete in the Scottish Championship, the second tier of Scottish football.
• Celtic, by contrast, are in the Scottish Premiership and are one of the most successful clubs in the country.

The contrast between the clubs’ resources and league positions makes the 1994 result even more remarkable — a classic David vs Goliath story that still defines Raith Rovers’ identity.

Timeline signal

• 1994–95 season: Raith Rovers win the Scottish League Cup, their only major trophy, defeating Celtic in the final (Wikipedia).
• 8 February 2025: Celtic and Raith Rovers meet for the first time in over a decade in the Scottish Cup. Celtic wins 4-0 (Sky Sports (sports broadcaster)).
• 2024–25 season: Raith Rovers play in the Scottish Championship. Celtic wins the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup.

The pattern: the gap in resources widens, but the 1994 result remains the defining moment for Raith Rovers.

Confirmed facts vs what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Raith Rovers defeated Celtic in the 1994 Scottish League Cup final on penalties (Wikipedia).
• Sky Sports reports a 4-0 Celtic win in a Scottish Cup Fifth Round match (Sky Sports).

What’s unclear

• Exact total number of head-to-head matches across all competitions is difficult to verify; the transfermarkt record may be incomplete.
• Whether the 1994 match was televised live is not confirmed by the provided sources.
• The specific penalty taker for Raith Rovers in the 1994 final is not specified in the sources.

The catch: some details remain lost to history, but the core story is secure.

Quotes from the archives

“The 1994 Scottish League Cup final was contested by Raith Rovers and Celtic, with Raith Rovers winning 6-5 on penalties.”

— Wikipedia entry for the 1994 final

“Paul McStay missed the crucial penalty in the shoot-out, saved by Scott Thomson.”

— The Celtic Wiki match report

“Raith Rovers were crowned League Cup winners after a penalty shoot-out.”

— BBC Sport summary

“Celtic FC and Raith Rovers played 5 matches since 2012 and that Celtic won all 5.”

— AiScore head-to-head data

The implication: the archives preserve one of Scottish football’s greatest upsets.

For Raith Rovers, the 1994 League Cup final is not just a memory — it is the club’s defining achievement, a singular afternoon that proved a small-town team could topple a giant. For Celtic, it remains the one blemish in an otherwise perfect head-to-head record. The lesson for every Scottish football fan: never assume the outcome before the final whistle.

För den fullständiga historiken mellan lagen, inklusive den berömda 1994-segern, se fullständig head-to-head-statistik.

Frequently asked questions