A rapist being awarded a contract at a football club once could be considered careless. Twice, is folly, to say the least. But three times? There are barely any words for such an abomination.

David Goodwillie is the rapist in question. In 2017, he was found liable in a civil case of raping a woman six years previously. This was just another black mark to add to his criminal convictions of assault in 2008 and 2009, and then again in 2012. It is not a great CV, is it?

Goodwillie, as well as being a rapist and a serial assaulter, is also a very good footballer.

At Dundee United, he was named SPFA and SWFA Young Player of the Year for 2010-11 before moving to the English Premier League, having been bought by Blackburn Rovers for £2 million. He also won three caps for Scotland.

His rape verdict in 2017 came while he was at Plymouth Argyll. He left the club to consider an appeal but just two months later joined Clyde FC, which led local politician John Mason to say he would no longer attend their games for the rest of the season.

It was a relatively successful spell for Goodwillie at Clyde, on the pitch anyway; 100 goals during his time there is nothing to be scoffed at.

It was his move to Raith Rovers last year, though, that really lit the touch paper. Two club directors, several staff members, the women’s team captain and most club volunteers resigned, shirt sponsor Val McDermid withdrew her support of the club and the women’s team cut their ties as a consequence of Goodwillie’s signing.

Just a few days later, Raith said he would not be selected to play and soon after, he was loaned back to Clyde. That caused another uproar, with their women’s team resigning en masse and North Lanarkshire Council announcing their lease on Broadwood Stadium would be terminated if Goodwillie was permitted entry. Clyde promptly cancelled the loan deal.

It was becoming clear which way the wind was blowing with regard to having Goodwillie on the books.

A subsequent appearance as a triallist for Livingston United met with similar public disapproval and he was not signed.

The message sent by Raith Rovers, Clyde and Livingston United was not, it seems, however, clear enough for Radcliffe FC.

Last week, the English Northern Premier League Club signed Goodwillie but thought the best way to welcome his arrival was to sneak him on to the pitch unnoticed. His signing was not announced and his arrival at the club was only spotted when he scored a hat-trick on his debut.

The backlash was immediate and, fierce and within a day of his signing he was gone.

There are two things of note here.

First, Radcliffe FC were clearly aware there may be some discontent about Goodwillie joining or why else would they try to slip him into the team covertly? Did they think that by failing to announce his signing, no one would notice? Club officials apparently weighed up the anticipated response they would get to signing a rapist and decided it was still worth going ahead, even after the furore at Raith Rovers and Clyde.

And second, Goodwillie is not going to get a second chance in football.

At the age of 33 – he turns 34 next month – time is running out on his career. It’s hard to believe any other club would deem it worth the trouble to sign him, however much value they believe he would bring to their team on the pitch.

After all, there is surely no amount of goals that are worth such dreadful and detrimental publicity?

Is it right, though, that Goodwillie should be denied a second chance?

Well, yes, it is. Second chances, per se, are a good thing. One mistake, even if it’s a grave mistake, should not necessarily ruin a person’s life forever.

There are things like contrition and rehabilitation that mean second chances are not only acceptable, but also deserved.

Second chances within sport are, for me anyway, often harder to stomach. When someone has been convicted of an offence such as rape, it’s hard to convince me that the message sent out is you can again be given the privilege of playing professional sport.

Footballers in particular, whether you believe sportspeople should be considered role models or not, are admired by countless people, particularly young boys.

Are there many people comfortable with their sons worshipping a rapist? I’m not.

There are examples of second chances working out. Ched Evans, who was convicted of rape in 2012 and served prison time, was then cleared and has resumed his football career. He is not exactly the player I’d love my son to attach himself to, but he is innocent and should be treated accordingly.

Goodwillie, however, is guilty of multiple offences. He has shown little contrition.

Should he deserve, then, to continue his career as a footballer?

No, he really shouldn’t.

He should be allowed to work again, but there has to be consequences of having this record to your name.

And one of those consequences should be that you no longer enjoy the privilege of doing a job that demands, or at least requests, you to be a role model for so many kids.

Goodwillie’s hat-trick for Radcliffe FC will, I hope, be the last time we see him playing the beautiful game on such a stage.