Craig Levein has revealed the bizarre story of how an exorcism service with Gordon Brown helped secure Marvin Andrews for Raith Rovers. The former Scotland manager described the 2006 evening as the strangest of his life while recounting the tale on a podcast this week.
Levein said he was convinced by Brown, then the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to take charge of Raith Rovers on a non-contract basis for seven matches. The politician later phoned him to arrange a meeting with Andrews, who was a free agent after leaving Rangers. They travelled to the Zion Praise Centre in Kirkcaldy, flanked by Brown's security team in three Range Rovers with lights and sirens.
They arrived to find a service already in progress led by Pastor Joe Nwokoye, Andrews's spiritual mentor. Levein said they watched from the car park as the pastor attempted to 'cast out demons' from worshippers. "It was the most bizarre evening I have ever had," Levein said. He described seeing people falling backwards and wailing, with six individuals lying on the ground during the ceremony. After the service concluded, the group finally met with Andrews to discuss his return to the club where he had previously spent three years.
The Trinidad-born defender, who won the Scottish league title with Rangers in 2005, stated that divine guidance, not political influence, sealed the move. "My main decision was what God told me," Andrews said upon signing. "I am back here because God wants me here. It is simple." He later credited God for telling him to rejoin Raith after the exorcism event. Andrews, who became a full-time Christian preacher after retiring, even offered to exorcise a reportedly haunted house in Jeburgh in 2017, describing problematic spirits as obstructive and linked to Satan.
The unusual anecdote has emerged as Scotland's national team prepares for its next Nations League fixture. Steve Clarke's side, which recently lost 2-1 to Slovenia, will host FYR Macedonia on 13 November. The team's form over its last four matches reads one win, one draw, and two defeats, following a 2-0 away victory over the same Macedonian side earlier this month. As the squad regroups, stories from Scotland's footballing past, like Levein's unforgettable night, provide a curious backdrop. The 61-year-old former national team boss, who managed Scotland from 2009 to 2014, remains a prominent figure, and his tales continue to capture the imagination of supporters checking the latest squad news.
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