Kilmarnock F.C.

Kilmarnock

Full name	The Kilmarnock Football Club Ltd
Nickname(s)	Killie
Founded	5 Jan 1869 (5 Jan 1869)
Ground	Rugby Park Kilmarnock East Ayrshire
Capacity	18,128
Chairman	Michael Johnston
Manager	Allan Johnston
League	Scottish Premiership
2012–13	Scottish Premier League, 9th
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Kilmarnock Football Club, most commonly known amongst fans as Killie is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire. The current manager of the club is Allan Johnston. Kilmarnock FC currently competes in the Scottish Premiership which is the highest competition in Scottish football. Throughout the clubs history, many accolades and honours have been won by the club - most recently in 2012 where the team was crowned champions of the 2011–12 Scottish League Cup in a historic win over Celtic F.C. 1-0 under then manager Kenny Sheils.

The club have qualified for European competitions on nine occasions, their best performance coming in the 1966–67 Fairs Cup when they progressed to the semi-finals, eventually being eliminated by Leeds United. The club is also one of only a few Scottish clubs to have played in all three European competitions (European Cup, Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Cup).

The club, which was founded in 1869 is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premiership. Home matches are played at Rugby Park. Kilmarnock took part in the first ever official match in the Scottish Cup against the now defunct Renton in 1873.

History

Formation & early years

The club's foundation dates back to the very earliest days of organised football in Scotland, when a group of local cricketers looking for a sporting pursuit to occupy them out with the cricket season looked to form a football club. On 5 January 1869 the club was founded during a general meeting at Robertson's Temperance Hotel on Portland Street. Originally they played a game more similar to rugby and these origins are reflected to this day by the name of the club's home ground – Rugby Park. The difficulty in organising fixtures under this code and the growing influence of Queen's Park soon persuaded them to adopt the association code instead. At this time, the club played games in a number locations including Holm Quarry, the Grange on Irvine Road and a location close to the current Rugby Park.

Although not amongst the founder members of the Scottish Football Association in 1873, Kilmarnock did join in time to compete in the inaugural Scottish Cup tournament in 1873–74. Their 2–0 defeat against Renton in the First Round on 18 October 1873 is thought to have been the first match ever played in the competition.

Kilmarnock joined the Scottish League in 1895 and after winning consecutive Second Division titles were elected to the top flight for the first time in 1899. In 1920 Kilmarnock won the Scottish Cup for the first time beating Albion Rovers at Hampden. This was followed soon by their second success in 1927 where the beat massive favourites Rangers 2–0 at the national stadium in front of a crowd of 114,708 people.

Late 20th century

The club's greatest success was in 1965 under the management of Willie Waddell. On the final day of the season, they travelled to face Hearts at Tynecastle requiring a victory by two goals to nil (due to the competition being decided by goal average at that period if teams were equal on points) to win the league at their opponents' expense. A memorable 2–0 win saw Kilmarnock crowned Scottish League champions for the first, and to date only, time. This capped a period of tremendous consistency which had seen them occupy runners-up spot in four of the previous five seasons.

After a period of decline in the 1980s which saw the club relegated to the Second Division, Killie have returned to prominence, holding top division status since being promoted in 1993 and lifting the Scottish Cup for the third time in 1997 thanks to a 1–0 victory over Falkirk in the final.

The club have qualified for European competitions on nine occasions, their best performance coming in the 1966–67 Fairs Cup when they progressed to the semi-finals, eventually being eliminated by Leeds United. The club is also one of only a few Scottish clubs to have played in all three European competitions (European Cup, Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Cup).

Sheils and Johnston years

Kilmarnock FC squad celebrate after a goal against Morton

Killie finished the 2005–06 season in 5th position, after a season which at several points they seemed to be challenging for 3rd place. However, after selling Kris Boyd to Rangers in January 2006, Killie had to rely on goals from strikers (now attacking midfielders) Steven Naismith, striker Colin Nish and winger Danny Invincibile. After taking only 1 point in the first four post-split games, Killie beat Hibernian 3–1 to leapfrog Aberdeen into 5th place.

Kilmarnock started the 2006–07 season brightly despite losing 4–1 away to Celtic on the opening day. Young striker Steven Naismith scored a contender for goal of the season against Hibernian in August before going to Arsenal for a trial. Rangers dropped their first points to Killie in four years after a last-minute Naismith penalty earned a draw for Kilmarnock. In September Jefferies suffered his worst defeat as Killie manager after a 5–0 loss at Motherwell. Killie is ensured of a top 6 finish for the 2nd season in a row, whilst a tremendous run in the League Cup ensured a place in the final. Unfortunately for Killie fans, their team was comprehensively beaten 5–1 in the final by Hibernian.

Season 2007–08 is probably best forgotten. After selling Naismith to Rangers for a club-record fee, Killie struggled, finishing in 11th place and just 40 points. Fortunately for them, they avoided being drawn into a relegation battle due to Gretna collecting only 23 points, 10 of which were lost when they entered administration. The 2008–09 season got off to a good start, but a mid season slump that included a 12 game run without a win found them at the wrong end of the table come Spring. They finally finished in 8th place thanks to crucial victories over their relegation rivals during the run in. Striker Kevin Kyle's goals in these games were the deciding factor.

The club started the 2009–10 season with the ever blackening cloud of financial difficulties hanging over their head. By January 2010, Kilmarnock were second bottom of the SPL, with last placed Falkirk just two points behind. On 11 January 2010, Jim Jefferies left the club by "mutual consent" and Jimmy Calderwood was appointed manager. Kilmarnock then achieved a first win in nine years against Celtic. Continued poor form, however, meant a final day showdown at Rugby Park with Falkirk for SPL survival. Kilmarnock began the game with a two-point advantage over their rivals and a goalless draw on the day was good enough to secure top flight football for another year. They ended the season with just 33 points, their worst points finish in the SPL.

After Calderwood left the team at the end the season, Mixu Paatelainen was appointed manager for the next two years with an option for a third.^[2] Despite being the favourites for relegation that season, Mixu's Kilmarnock team exceeded all expectations and comfortably made the top six split and finished the season in fifth position. Paatelainen left Kilmarnock in order to take the vacant position of Finland national manager and his assistant Kenny Shiels was caretaker manager for the final games of the SPL season. In the 2011–12 Scottish League Cup third round, they beat Queen of the South 5–0, thanks to goals from Gary Harkins, Paul Heffernan (3) and Ben Hutchinson. They met East Fife in the next round, winning 2–0 thanks to goals from Mohamadou Sissoko and Harkins. Kilmarnock beat rivals Ayr United in the Ayrshire derby at Hampden thanks to a Dean Shiels goal in extra time. In the final, they beat Celtic F.C. 1–0. Dieter van Tornhout scored the only goal six minutes from time, with Cameron Bell named Man of the Match.

In June 2013, after three years at Kilmarnock Football Club, manager Kenny Shiels was sacked by chairman Michael Johnston after a "mutual agreement" between the two. Despite Shiels being responsible for Kilmarnock's biggest league win since 1997, Johnston and the club took the decision as a result of Shiels' continuation of match-bans issued from the Scottish Football Association.

Allan Johnston signed a two-year contract and was appointed manager on 24 June 2013, with Sandy Clark as the assistant manager.

Colours and badge

The logo of 1869, Kilmarnock FC's sportswear brand.

The earliest known Kilmarnock kit from 1879 consisted of an all blue jersey with white trousers. The shirt bore a crest which was described as "a hand, index and second fingers upright, thumb outstreached, other fingers enclosed over a palm." The hand rested on a bar over a ball marked KFC. There after, the club have predominantly played in blue and white striped or hooped shirts with either blue or white shorts. The club have also occasionally played in plain blue and plain white tops. The clubs away colours have varied greatly over time. Yellow is generally regarded as the club's main third colour; but white, red and purple away kits have also appeared in recent years.

Since 2008–09 season, the club have manufactured their kits under their own sportswear brand, 1869. The current shirt sponsors are the locally based QTS Group.

The current club badge is an modernised version of previous club badges. It features a ball bearing a hand in a blessing position, flanked by two red squirrels. The club's Latin motto, confidimus (we trust), is written above the badge. The club adopted the current badge in 1993 after The Lord Lyon decreed that the previous badge, based heavily upon the town crest, was in breach of ancient Scottish heraldic rules.

Kilmarnocks's first known kit from 1879.

Scottish Cup winning kit from 1920 & 1929

League winning kit from 1965.

Home kit from 1977 to 1989

Scottish Cup winning kit from 1997

Scottish League Cup winning away kit from 2012

Stadium

Further information: Rugby Park

Rugby Park stadium, situated on Rugby Road, home of Kilmarnock FC

Kilmarnock first played football matches at the present Rugby Park site in 1899. Despite this, the venue is actually Kilmarnock’s fourth home ground. The Grange, Holm Quarry and Ward's Park all hosted matches, before the club moved to Rugby Park in 1877. This was not the present stadium, but one situated close by near South Hamilton Street. This ground was shared by cricket and rugby teams – sports which Kilmarnock had played previously – and the connection with rugby gave the ground its name. This name was taken with the club when they moved to their present stadium.

During 1994–95 season the stadium capacity was significantly reduced as three new stands were constructed; the Moffat Stand, the Chadwick Stand and the East Stand. Their completion brought the capacity of the stadium to 18,128. The stadium opened on 6 August 1995, in a friendly match against English champions Blackburn Rovers. Alan Shearer hit a hat-trick as the home team lost 5–0.

Club records

• Oldest professional club in Scotland.

• Biggest win: 13 – 2 v Saltcoats Victoria, Scottish Qualifying Cup 2nd Round, 12 September 1896

• Worst defeat: 1 – 9 v Celtic, Scottish League Division 1, 13 August 1938

• Highest home attendance: 35,995 v Rangers, Scottish Cup Quarter-Finals 10 March 1962

Highest Home Attendance (SPL) : 18,076 v Celtic, 8 April 1998

Lowest Attendance (SPL) : 1,516 v Gretna, 15 September 2007 away at Fir Park.

• Most League goals in a season: Harry Cunningham (34 in 1927–28) and Andy Kerr (34 in 1960–61)

• Transfer fee paid: £340,000 for Paul Wright from St. Johnstone, March 1995.

• Transfer fee received: £1,900,000 for Steven Naismith to Rangers, 31 August 2007.

Squad and management team

Current squad

As of 2 August 2013

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	SCO	Craig Samson
2	DF	NED	Jeroen Tesselaar
4	MF	SCO	James Fowler
6	DF	SCO	Darren Barr
8	MF	NIR	Sammy Clingan
9	FW	SCO	Kris Boyd
10	FW	SCO	Chris Johnston
11	FW	FRA	William Gros
12	GK	ESP	Antonio Reguero
13	MF	NGA	Reuben Gabriel
14	FW	IRL	Paul Heffernan
15	DF	SCO	Ross Barbour
18	FW	SCO	Rory McKenzie
19	MF	NGA	Rabiu Ibrahim
20	MF	RSA	Kyle Jacobs
21	MF	NIR	Jude Winchester
22	FW	ESP	Borja Pérez

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
23	DF	NIR	Rory McKeown
24	MF	SCO	Gary Fisher
26	DF	SCO	Mark O'Hara
27	MF	SCO	Ross Davidson
28	MF	SCO	Craig Slater
29	MF	ITA	Manuel Pascali
30	DF	SCO	Lee Ashcroft
31	GK	NIR	Conor Brennan
33	FW	SCO	Robbie Muirhead
34	FW	SCO	Mark Thomson
35	DF	SCO	Adam Hodge
36	FW	SCO	Greg Kiltie
37	DF	NIR	Caoimhin Bonner
38	DF	SCO	Andrew Hainey
40	FW	SCO	Dylan Pooler
41	GK	SCO	Devlin Mackay
43	DF	SCO	Dean Hawkshaw

Managers

Name	Scottish League	Scottish Cup	Scottish League Cup	Promotion from First Division
Hugh Spence (1919–37)	0	2	0	0
Jimmy McGrory (1937–45)	0	0	0	0
Tom Smith (1945–47)	0	0	0	0
Tom Mather (1947–48)	0	0	0	0
Alex Hastings (1948–50)	0	0	0	0
Malky McDonald (1950–57)	0	0	0	0
William Waddell (1957–65)	1	0	0	0
Malky McDonald (1965–68)	0	0	0	0
Walter McCrae (1968–73)	0	0	0	0
Willie Fernie (1973–77)	0	0	0	1
Davie Sneddon (1977–81)	0	0	0	1
Jim Clunie (1981–84)	0	0	0	1
Eddie Morrison (1984–88)	0	0	0	0
Jim Fleeting (1988–92)	0	0	0	0
Tommy Burns (1992–94)	0	0	0	1
Alex Totten (1994–96)	0	0	0	0
Bobby Williamson (7 Dec 1996–25 Feb 02)	0	1	0	0
Jim Jefferies (28 Feb 2002–11 Jan 10)	0	0	0	0
Jimmy Calderwood (14 Jan 2010–31 May 10)	0	0	0	0
Mixu Paatelainen (23 June 2010–31 March 11)	0	0	0	0
Kenny Shiels (interim) (31 March 2011–15 June 11)	0	0	0	0
Kenny Shiels (15 June 2011–9 June 2013)	0	0	1	0
Allan Johnston (24 June 2013–Present)	0	0	0	0

Honours and accolades

Honours and competition wins

• Scottish Football League:
  • Winners (1): 1964–65
  • Runners-up (4): 1959–60, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1963–64

• Scottish First Division:
  • Winners (2): 1897–98, 1898–99
  • Runners-up (2): 1953–54, 1973–74,

• Scottish First Division:
  • Runners-up (4): 1975–76, 1978–79, 1981–82, 1992–93,

• Scottish Second Division:
  • Runners-up (1): 1989–90,

• Scottish Cup:
  • Winners (3): 1919–20, 1928–29, 1996–97
  • Runners-up (5): 1897–98, 1931–32, 1937–.38, 1956–57, 1959–60

• Scottish League Cup:
  • Winners (1): 2011–12
  • Runners-up (5): 1952–53, 1960–61, 1962–63, 2000–01, 2006–07

• Inter-Cities Fairs Cup:
  • Semi-finalists (1): 1966–67

• International Soccer League:
  • Runners-up (1): 1960

• Tennent Caledonian Cup:
  • Winners (1): 1979–80

See also

• Kilmarnock F.C. season 2006–07
• Howard Park, Kilmarnock

External links

• Official website
• Unofficial Site & Messageboard
• The #1 Unofficial site & Forums
• The Killie Trust
• The Kilmarnock Football Club Supporters Association
• Kilmarnock on the BBC