Cracking Shaft Community Service

Rovers and Scotland forward David ‘Cracking Shaft’ Goodwillie has been sentenced to 80 hours community service and a probationary order after pleading guilty to an assault charge.

The incident took place back in 2010 whilst David lived up in Scotland and prior to his Rovers career and the verdict was reached less than 24 hours after Rovers 2-0 loss to Spurs.

The news is likely to be welcomed given the recent troubles at the club and puts a bookend on a difficult year as a whole for the £2.6 million former Dundee United man.

The Scotsman is reporting – ‘David Goodwillie has been ordered to carry out 80 hours of community service for an assault outside a restaurant on a man who had earlier knocked a team-mate unconscious.

Goodwillie repeatedly punched John Friel in Glasgow city centre in November 2010.

The footballer lashed out after his then Dundee United club-mate Danny Swanson was knocked out by Friel.

Now with Blackburn Rovers, Goodwillie, 23, pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assault and was handed the order by Sheriff Stuart Reid which includes a 12-month probation period.

Passing sentence yesterday, Sheriff Reid said: “You were convicted of an assault less than 12 months prior to this particular offence, and the fine and compensation order imposed did not appear to have the effect of deterring you.

“Instead, your offending was repeated and, it may be said, escalated in severity.”

Goodwillie had been on a night out with fellow Tannadice players at the city`s Karbon nightclub before they went to the Oko Express restaurant in the early hours of 3 November.’