KILLIE HIPPO AN UNOFFICIAL KILLIE FANZINE ISSUE NO 146
R.I.P AULD CHUM . TRIBUTE TO ANDY
. LETTER OF COMPLAINT . HOW OTHERS SEE US
£2.00
THE KILLIE HIPPO IS ON SALE AT HOWARD ARMS, GLENCAIRN SQUARE, KILMARNOCK FOG’S SNACK BAR, KILMARNOCK RUGBY CLUB CAR PARK KILLIE TRUST DESK (PARK HOTEL FOR HOME GAMES) MATCH DAYS AT RP + AT ALL AWAY GAMES
HUGE THANKS TO ALL ADVERTISERS, SUBSCRIBERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND KILLIE FANS FOR THEIR SUPPORT. All views expressed are those of the contributors.
E-MAIL : Killiehippo@aol.com WRITE : 20 WITCHKNOWE COURT, KILMARNOCK KA1 4LF
NO ARTICLES TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION BACK ISSUES 2–145 INCLUSIVE AVAILABLE GET IN TOUCH FOR DETAILS
SHOOTING FROM THE HIPPO
We stroll into March on the back of an unbeaten run since Gary Locke took temporary charge but I’m getting nervous. The highlight of both this season and last season has been our pre season trips. Portrush was fantastic in 2013 and the jaunts to Shrewsbury and Morecambe were superb. My worry is that with no permanent manager in place there will be no friendlies arranged and me and my fellow boozehounds won’t get a mad jolly somewhere around the UK…..so come on Killie get that manager appointed immediately. On the manager front GL has made a very decent start and if he continues then I fancy the appointment will be a bit of a no brainer. We are unbeaten in his five games so far and although there have been four draws it is clear that there has been a change in attitude and application since he grabbed the managers chair. The obvious indicator of the change in attitude was the comeback in both Dundee Utd and Inverness games where we fought back from behind a total of five times. That simply would not have happened under AJ but lets hope this is a permanent change and not just the initial reaction to a new boss. There have been quite a few injuries in the squad and the loss of Connolly is a concern however Pasca and Ashcroft have been ding well so long may it continue. The ICT saw the bech made up entirely of youngsters, I love seeing them get a chance but it also highlights that we have a paper thin squad and I suspect the budget will drop again next season. Specialmention to Chris Johnston who I predicted would have a big season and he now appears to be blossoming once GL took the shackles off. Off the field not a lot has changed although another new director has come on board, John Kiltie. Surprisingly I got a call from the new guy days after it was announced and I am meeting up with him for a chat this week. I wonder how he will react when I tell him exactly what I think of his current chairman?? The AGM is in a couple of weeks and some fans would have you believe there is going to be serious changes, Bowie has had enough of MJ etc etc. I hope that is true but wont be cracking the champagne just yet. As we always say, lets judge them on their action and not their words and that goes for the new chairman as well. It has been a sad few weeks for the Howard crew with the passing of Andy King coming as a huge shock to us all. Andy was a gem of a guy, a Killie legend to boot and he will be greatly missed by many connected to Killie. Our bus will look at doing something in Andy’s memory and you can find a tribute to the great man in this issue. Our next issue should be out around the start of April then we will have one more issue after the split. We will then decide if we are ploughing on for another season, thanks again for your fantastic support. Sandy
Letter from an unhappy Killie fan We were contacted by an unhappy Killie fan who had a list of complaints against the club. Here is a copy of the letter that was sent to the club followed by the reply he received from the marketing department: To whom it may concern, Hi there, my name is Callum Scott and I have been a Kilmarnock supporter all of the 19 years that I have lived but I have several issues to raise with the club and its running –particularly in the last few months-. Firstly I would like to give you a background of myself and my family, I have had a Kilmarnock season ticket since 2003 up until today –with the exception of one or two seasons due to finance but still being a paying customer. In each of the last three seasons I have brought an exceptionally large party to the Park Suite to celebrate my birthday in November. In 2012 I brought a party of 18 at £90p/h (£1,620), in 2013 I brought a party of 27 at £90p/h (£2,430) and this year I brought a party of 38 at £90p/h (£3,420), so this accumulates to £7,470 across three seasons, also this is not taking into consideration season tickets from my family, Hall of Fame dinner in September, nor merchandise from the club shop etc. Now my father, John Scott (whom will be mentioned a few times) has too been a Kilmarnock supporter all his days, attending games since the 1960’s up until the present day. My grandfather, the late Jimmy Scott was the Chairman of the Kilmarnock supporters association in Mauchline, whom done various fundraising for the club he loved.
It is clear to see that my family are steeped in Kilmarnock tradition and bleed blue and white –this is why I have been so offended with the treatment my family and I have received lately from the club which has meant so much to us over our lives. I will begin with the hospitality on the 1st of November 2014 –minor issue compared to the rest, but an issue none the less. As stated above, I brought a phenomenal number of people to take part in a day which is the highlight of my year, and I hoped it would be as good a day as the last few years. In each of the last few years Anne Clark –whom I consider a good friendhas dealt with my party and as a token of thanks has made me match sponsor as well as thrown in a signed bottle of champagne and a signed match programme, this year I was match sponsor, however my name was spelt wrong on the front of the match programme and I was given a bottle of white wine (which was the same wine on the table before the game). These are just minor issues as I don’t bring people to the hospitality for the publicity but it just seemed as if there were no great thanks or appreciation for what I had done for the club –whereas the years before I felt appreciated. The next issue regarding the hospitality was the fact that my party were treated like second class citizens, I was made aware of this when I was notified that the stewards were threatening to throw out members of my party for singing…yes, singing at the football –how absurd! I could totally empathise if they were chanting sectarian or offensive songs, but I don’t believe any Kilmarnock song falls under that category. This issue was made even more ridiculous when I discovered that members of the waiting staff dubbed as the best hospitality party they’d ever had, as well as Dundee supporters whom were in the Park Suite coming up and shaking our hands and saying they had a great day and enjoyed the banter, that doesn’t sound like intimidation to me. Although I still had a great day but I was infuriated with the way that some of my party were treated, considering the business we brought in and there had never been an issue in the last two years either.
Of course some can maybe have a tad too much to drink but I don’t ever recall any arguing, intimidation or trouble in general, certainly nothing that has never been seen before at the hospitality. The next issue I would like to address would be the Moffat Stand season ticket and brick I purchased for my father for his Christmas. At the start of December I purchased both which I believe came to a total of around £140 (which was taken immediately out my bank) as I paid for postage and packaging. Around a week later I received a phone call from the club shop regarding the season ticket –there had been a few issues with the address etc. but this was then handled over the phone and the shop had all the relevant details in order to carry through the order. A few days passed and I received the certificate for the brick but no season ticket, another week or so passed and I still had no season ticket. It got to Friday the 19th of December and there had still been no season ticket delivered or an email reassuring me that it was on its way. So I emailed them on the Saturday –no response-, emailed on Monday –no response-, called later on the Monday and left a message –no response- and called again on the Tuesday and left a message –no response-. At this stage I was extremely worried as I guessed that the shop had closed for Christmas and my father’s Christmas present would not arrive on time, so I took a drive up to the shop and discovered that it was open. I went in and stated everything they needed to know and it turned out they hadn’t bothered to even process my order –but still take the money out of my account!- So it was then and there that my father’s season ticket was made up (two days before Christmas, yet paying for it in the first week of December) and not even an apology. Also my father’s season ticket reads as his name (John Scott), but with my date of birth (18/11/1995). This is truly unacceptable as if it were not for me going in that day I would still be waiting for my dad’s season ticket. A club which is dying in the stands yet can’t be bothered to process a much needed season ticket!
We then went to the Hamilton game on the 27th where we could see no brick with my dad’s name and also discovered that his season ticket wasn’t valid until the 5th of January, so my dad had to pay into the game. Why sell half season tickets for potential Christmas presents when you can’t use it for another week and a half and the supporter is missing at least one home game in the process. At the next home game (Inverness) we could still see no brick and his season ticket kept being rejected so he had to go round to the ticket office for them to send him back and retry it for the same outcome. Luckily, they were able to give him a ticket to get into the game but again, his season ticket not up to standard. Then came the Partick game, the exact same scenario! No brick and no working season ticket, my dad was sent round to the ticket office and back at least three times for his season ticket to eventually work, but the most annoying aspect of this day was that I was told that I was not allowed into the Moffat Stand with my East Stand season ticket. This has never been a problem, why start now? My dad doesn’t like attending games against Rangers or Celtic, thus opts for the Moffat Stand, for as long as I can remember I have been able to use my East Stand ticket to sit with my dad in the Moffat, what is the issue? The irony is that it is meant to be the family stand and now in my case it is separating me from my family, I go to the games with my dad and I am not willing for us to sit separately when there is no need for it. I would like a reply as soon as possible as I want this all sorted for the Dundee United game on Saturday. I apologise if my tone has been disrespectful, I do not mean for it to be this way but I find it embarrassing how a Premiership club is acting in this matter and it is starting to push away fans when the club is in dire need of support! Regards Callum Scott There are a whole load of issues there all relating to poor customer service, something all of us have probably experienced at one time or another. In fairness to the club they replied promptly, as follows:
Dear Callum, Thank you for taking the time to write to us. Firstly I would like to sincerely apologise if you have felt let down by the club and the way we have treated you. I will address some of your points below but before that as a gesture I would like to invite your father and you to the Executive Club for this Saturdays match with Dundee United. With regards to the hospitality, we are very grateful for the business you bring on your birthday and we will continue recognise your support by offering a discount and where possible the match sponsorship. I am very sorry when you came in November we did not provide the level of care and service you are used to but I can assure you going forward will make every effort to get things right. If you ever experience any issues or have feedback please let us know as soon as possible as we will always do our best to rectify them there and then or ahead of the next home game. I did note us handing out bottles of wine and we have now changed this to champagne. I am sorry your name was printed incorrect this should not have happened. For your fathers brick and season ticket I can only apologise again for the lack of good customer service, the change in the ticketing system has caused us a few issues as the staff get used to it but this is not an excuse for not returning emails from customers or providing a high level of customer service. I understand when we are selling the bricks we do make it clear it can take some time for the bricks to be produced and installed, if this was not made clear to you at the time of purchase I am sorry. I am working on finding a way to reduce the time delay between purchasing a brick and it being manufactured with our suppliers. Our half-season tickets were advertised as being valid from the Celtic match as this was close to half the season and allowed us to give a good price which didn’t affect the value of a fully season ticket.
I am keen to resolve any issues with your fathers membership card to ensure going forward your father can enter games without experiencing any difficulties. Could you please confirm the correct date of birth and we will re-print a card to hand over to you on Saturday? The new ticketing system has highlighted a number of areas operationally the club needed to ‘tidy up’ so to speak to ensure we fully comply with any health and safety as well as SFA requirements. This is the reason our fans can no longer transfer between stands without letting us know. Going forward we are happy to accommodate fans moving between stands but we would simply ask you let us know prior to match-day or attend the ticket office on the match-day to get a ticket for the stand you would like to sit in. I appreciate this is not ideal but we are asking fans to bear with us for the remainder of the season. Once again thank you for taking the time to write to us, we will now endeavour to do our best to address the issues you have highlighted.
Hippo says – Thanks for sharing this with us mate and it highlights good and bad points of what many have became used to. The treatment of fans/customers has been appalling throughout Johnston’s tenure and that is spelled out in the drastically dropping crowds. There has been nothing done to reward the loyalty of the likes of Callum and it seems many have now just been brainwashed into accepting being treated like crap. The positive is that it appears to have been dealt with promptly and that is something we haven’t been able to say for years. Having spoken to several folk in the know our new marketing manager appear to be a bit like marmite. She does not appear popular within the inner sanctum but the example above would suggest at least she does seem to know a bit about customer service. I have been doing some “research” in recent weeks and I am led to believe that there are quite a few “weel kent” faces at the club who are going to review their situation in the summer. There is no doubt that changes were needed but we are in danger of losing a lot of links for the past, folk with a genuine love for the club and it is not a good sign if they leave much in the same way as Tommy Adams, Scott Gormal etc.
PROVOSTS PAGE I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting with the provost since the last issue mainly because he works 36 hours a day, eight days a week. You can be rest assured he is working his but off to help the town and the townfolk in any way he can. Much is written about the town centre and how it is full of junkies, lack of good shops etc but trust me there are folk like JT out there trying to improve all aspects of the town. The global market is an excellent initiative twice a year and the “Kilmarnock Picture house” community project that we are currently undertaking hopes to have a stall for a couple of days, probably at the September visit. Another major boost to the town and town centre will be the building of the new college which will open its doors in May 2016. It is hoped there will be anywhere between 6000 – 9000 students enrolled and that can only be good for the town. JT and others are looking at how the students can be integrated into the town and how they can improve the lot of the town centre shops and businesses. Our KPS project is also going to have a “satellite room” at the railway station and there is some great work being done there currently. The new work will see a range of community and school projects and it will be a huge improvement for all commuters who use the station. Yes, our town has its problems but lots of folk are doing fantastic work to help us move forward.
SCOTTISH FOOTBALL FROM ABROAD Many Killie fans will know of David Ross who is a football historian, excellent author and a huge Killie fan. I came across this excellent article from an exile on his website and thought it would be a crime not to share it with all you good folk: In my childhood days, Scotland always was my “second team” at international tournaments – behind Germany, of course. But, as Scotland didn’t qualify since 1998, this interest settled somewhat. The Rangers disaster, the qualifiers for the European tournament 2016 and the Scottish independence referendum renewed my interest on Scottish football. Now, more for club football and football structures in general, less for the national team. This is the reason, I am reading this excellent forum and other internet sources. But for a continental European, some things in Scottish football seem (very) strange. 1) The governing bodies SFA, SPFL, SJFA, HL, LL, EoSL, the different amateur leagues, ….Why does Scotland need so much governing bodies? For a country with only 5 million inhabitants and some hundred clubs? Is it a reminder of the ancient clan structures? You know, “we against them, and together against our next neighbour”. So much associations and leagues could not work properly together “for the good of the game”. They want to keep jealously their own privileges. What are the differences between senior, junior, highland, lowland or amateur football? I suppose, nothing or only marginally. All words describe the same game, which is in Scotland almost entirely on an amateur basis. So, forget the artificial differences and merge together all in ONE powerful football organization. What about the SFA? Lack of power or lack of interest to play the leading role?
They should force the other organisations to merge under one roof. In the most European countries, only one FA is in power – and it works. By the way: a separate SPFL to organize the special items of professional football is okay. This is common in a lot of countries. But for all other topics – national team, referees, law, youth development, running the lower tiers etc. – one governing body is enough. 2) The closed shop mentality No automatic promotion to the SPFL, a lot of separate part-time and amateur leagues, where a change between can be very difficult or almost impossible. New “members” only after election. Are there any advantages of the election system compared with a straightforward pyramid, who comprise ALL Scottish clubs from the top to the bottom tier? With automatic and guaranteed promotion for the best team(s) on every tier? (A system, well established on most European countries) The closed shop mentality prevents ambitious clubs to move higher. It just protects run-down clubs, who should by relegated – for their own interest. Better to compete well some tiers lower than punching unsuccessful over their weight. (Anyone thinking of ES this moment? Please excuse these maybe harsh words on some clubs or Scottish football in general.) Achievement-oriented football needs an open environment, with promotion/relegation as a reward for good management and playing skills on the field. 3) “Professional” football 42 “professional” clubs in Scotland. What kind of “professional” are the structures at clubs like Montrose, ES or Albion Rovers (you maybe know another candidates)? A full-time manager? Maybe. A full-time squad? I don’t think so. Please tell me. How many Scottish clubs have full-time squads at the moment, IMHO the most important criteria for “professional” football? 15, 20? So, any “professional” league should comprise mainly these clubs. Plus some clubs with part-time squads, to bridge the gap between “big” and “amateur” football. A real SPFL with maybe 20 or 24 clubs is enough. Below this “professional” level, strong clubs with part-time squads should form the top of the amateur pyramid.
4) “Signing new players” The team lost their last five games. A lot of injuries. Crisis. The typical answer in Scotland? “Signing new players”. At least, I read this very, very often. But, where are other solutions? Maybe developing promising youth players? Maybe developing a new playing system, better suited to the existing squad? Improving the technical skills of the players? Or something else? Scotland had some great managers in the past. But where are they now? No Scottish manager in the premier league. And on the continent? I don’t know even one. Other countries of Scotlands size had a lot of managers abroad. In Germany, several managers from Switzerland, Austria or Denmark work and worked with remarkable success. Where are the Scottish managers with international attitude? Where are the Scottish teams with a new, surprising style of playing? In Germany, a superb website named “www.spielverlagerung.de” cares about football tactics all over the world. But I haven’t seen an example from Scotland so far. Is there a website for Scottish football tactics, too? (Again, maybe too harsh words. Maybe justified. I don’t know.) 5) OF The OLD FIRM. In Germany’s media, Scottish football is just the OLD FIRM. No Dundee, no Aberdeen, no Edinburgh, no provincial football. Nothing else. Maybe Hampden, as a traditional and famous football venue. In Scottish media, the OF dominates totally. Even now, with both teams playing in different divisions, a boring cup game between them is the highlight of the season. The money from the past TV deals was distributed unjust. And after the Rangers insolvency, armageddon did not occur. Although, many pessimists thought, it would. The OF absorbs most of the energy in Scottish football, it prevents all other Scottish clubs to progress on national and international level. Even the lower clubs. When I read, “Auchinleck and Cumnock are the OF of the juniors”, I shook my head. All the bigotry, the fighting on and off the field, the hate – desirable for two bloody amateur clubs?
Oh F*** – Scotland deserves something better than two giants, who don’t care about the rest. 6) Ground criteria This is an argument often mentioned, why junior clubs don’t want to promote to the SPFL. So, why not lowering the criteria to a sensible minimum? Okay, the SPFL clubs (the real one, see above on 3) need separate turnstiles, crowd segregation, TV and VIP facilities and so on. But even on a top amateur level, a decent stand, tidy changing facilities and a clubhouse seem enough for the actual needs and crowds. Any minimum capacity should be better on a lower scale. For the occasional big cup tie, the ground is sold out. Or the club moves to the next bigger ground for this cup game. (A very common practice in Germany). The criteria should not prevent ambitious clubs to rise up the pyramid. Enough. These are some thoughts from a German, interested in Scottish football. Now I’m looking for your answers. All good interesting points and here is Davie’s response to them all: Yes, Scotland doesn’t need so many governing bodies. When Hampden was rebuilt, the SFA, SPL and SFL all worked out of the fifth floor - three separate governing bodies and the only same level they were on was physical. There was even an Easter weekend with no fixtures because they couldn't get it together. Separate organisations has nothing to do with the clan structure and everything to do with bodies established chiefly in the 19th century and unwilling to cede authority. The SFA? In theory it could organise everything under its umbrella (and the leagues are affiliated to the SFA) but has been either unwilling or felt it itself unable to do so. The power of the clubs – and two in particular – has always taken precedence. SFA primacy exists though, certainly as far as international matches and the Scottish Cup are concerned. Though now that UEFA mainly determine the former, that's not as important as previously but in the cup league matches must be postponed if a cup replay has been arranged.
I agree 100% with your assessment that there should only be one governing body though with as much autonomy as possible retained by the respective leagues. 2. There are advantages to election even if it’s inherently unfair. Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Ross County and Gretna have all played at the top level since election in 1994 (the first two) and 2002. Before then Stirling Albion and Livingston (elected as Meadowbank Thistle) did the same. See here http://scottishleague.net/archive/archive1.htm However, just because it can work, doesn’t mean it’s right. See my thread on English attendances for reference to teams that have worked their way up from non-league. And vice-versa. In 1992 Luton Town played in the top flight of English football. By 2009 they were non-league. Admittedly a points deduction had much to do with this but it still took them five years to recover league status. So it can work both ways. As you’ll know, play-offs are being introduced in Scotland at the end of this season. It’s not automatic promotion and relegation but it’s a big step forward. I suggest on my thread on Scottish attendances that once established there’s no going back and a move to automatic promotion and relegation is inevitable. Scottish football often copies English football long after something has proven to work. Play-offs (test matches as they were then called) were established immediately England had a second division in 1892-93 and moved to automatic promotion and relegation in 1897-98. The second level in Scotland was established in 1893-94 but promotion and relegation not until 1921-22. Similarly with modern play-offs which weren’t introduced in Scotland until nearly two decades after they were south of the border. Automatic promotion and relegation was introduced in England in 1987. One day soon it will in Scotland too. Yes, the closed shop does protect current clubs and inhibits them from making any progress as long as their place is guaranteed. 3. For much of its history, many players in the top division were semiprofessional in that they held a regular job away from football. This was the case in many other countries, Germany included.
Even in the 1950s some Old Firm players were part-time. When Kilmarnock turned full-time in 1959, many players were unhappy as it meant their earnings actually decreased if they became full-time footballers. Even in the 1970s & 1980s there were part-time top division teams. Since around 1990 most teams in the top two divisions have been fulltime. Right now I’d say all Premiership teams are full-time, plus at least Hearts, Hibs, Rangers, Falkirk in the Championship. I’m not sure about Livingston, Raith Rovers and Queen of the South though the first two of these have been full-time in the recent past. Below that possibly Dunfermline are still full-time but not any of the rest. Someone more intimately aware of the situation in the lower leagues (SkylineDrifter perhaps) will know more. For lower league clubs players are part-time though some youth players may be on government job schemes which allows them to be full-time for the duration of the scheme. Some will have a full-time manager but others won’t. 4. Very few clubs these days can afford the quick fix of signing new players other than free agents and loan signings and at many for every player who comes in another will go out. Managers on the continent? David Moyes at Real Sociedad & Alex McLeish at Genk come to mind. As to others, Stuart Baxter worked on the continent for many years and is now in South Africa. Bobby Williamson has managed at club and international level in Uganda and Kenya. Not the top level admittedly but still very much a move away from parochialism. Owen Coyle, capped by the Republic of Ireland as a player, but born and brought up in Scotland coaches Houston Dynamo in the USA. Frank Nuttall has recently started coaching in Kenya. This query could be levelled at English managers (once sought-after on the continent) too. Yes, there are now no Scottish managers in the Premiership. The sacking of Paul Lambert means this is the first time this has been the case since 1984. Yet this is not a uniquely Scottish problem. No English manager has ever won the Premier League. Howard Wilkinson was the last English manager to win the league title, with Leeds United in 1992. Of the current English Premiership managers, seven are English (as are three caretakers), one is Welsh (Mark Hughes) and one Northern Irish (Brendan Rodgers). Of those clubs with English managers, West Ham (Sam Allardyce) are highest in the league at eighth.
In the English Championship Dougie Freedman and Alex Neil have recently been appointed at Nottingham Forest and Norwich City which suggests there is still a demand for Scottish managers. Steve Clarke is at Reading, Steve Evans at Rotherham, Malky Mackay at Wigan……………..Tactics? Google “Largs Mafia” 5 The Old Firm? Don’t get me started. ‘Twas ever thus and unfortunately it will never change. You are absolutely right about the coverage of the League Cup match, the past TV cash distribution and the stifling of the game elsewhere. Unfortunately it is worse now than before. Fifty years ago OF home matches accounted for around 25% of spectators. Forty years ago it was over 30% and now it is over 40% - and that is actually a decline from a few years ago when it was almost 50%. Auchinleck & Cumnock. I’m sure ‘Snuff’ will be along to tell you that the OF are the senior equivalent of this, not the other way round! Oh, and they’re not amateurs. Their players will be better paid than most League Two teams and some League One as well. 6. I don’t think the problem with juniors not wanting to transfer to say the Lowland League or seek promotion to the league is anything to do with ground criteria. The bigger junior teams have facilities better than many non-league teams and equal to some league ones too. It’s more because (to go back to Auchinleck and Cumnock) there are better crowds and less travelling involved ( a couple of miles and less than ten minutes in this case) than in the Lowland League. It’s the “big fish in a small pool” mentality which may or may not change now there is a chance of league football. There aren't really any non-league or junior sides which appear to be capable of reaching the top of the game though some may be able to go as far as the Championship. The largest population centres which don't have league football are the "New Towns" of Glenrothes, East Kilbride and Irvine and they all have existing league clubs in their vicinity. If I had my way, I’d put all the senior and junior non-leagues on an equal footing and have a series of play-offs with the bottom two in the league to determine league status for the following season…..but I’m not going to get my way.
HOW OTHERS SEE US! The fanzine likes to hear a whole range of views on our beloved killie but sometimes we are too close to the action (and the politics) to offer a balanced opinion. I recently came across a blog that gave the thoughts of a non Killie fan just before AJ exited the revolving door. The guy was at the Inverness game when we lost after they got a guy sent off. Here is the article for you to “enjoy”: It wasn't the most enjoyable week for Kilmarnock fans. It started on with a home game, and it finished with a home game. First up, on a Monday night, they hosted a Celtic side who came into the game under considerable pressure. Ronny Deila's side were not only no longer top of the league, but they had fallen four points behind Aberdeen. They had picked up only one point from their previous two matches, their star centre forward John Guidetti was out of form, and now they had to play away from home, and on an artificial pitch to boot. They were very, very vulnerable. And yet they won far more comfortably than the final score of 2-0 suggested. The visitors sprayed the ball around with ease...because they were allowed to. Kilmarnock seemed to think the clock had gone back a decade, that they were facing the likes of Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton and John Hartson rather than Stefan Scepovic, Kris Commons and Liam Henderson. Hell, even Scepovic, the misfit Serbian striker who cost £2.3million but was making only his third league start, scored. That's how bad Kilmarnock were. If that level of tentativity was difficult to excuse, even against the reigning champions, then what happened on Saturday was even harder for the supporters to stomach. After a mediocre first half, they won a penalty against Inverness early in the second period. ICT's David Raven was sent off, and Alexei Eremenko dispatched the spot kick. One goal up, one man up, and at home. And they blew it. Spectacularly. Yes, Billy Mckay scored two stunning goals, but Caley Thistle were good value for their victory. Even with ten men, they controlled the game and created the better opportunities, without playing anywhere near their best football of the season. Killie, in contrast, seemed unsure whether to push forward or hang back after they scored; once the equalizer went in, they couldn't find any impetus to kick on again.
Part of that was Allan Johnston's fault. For a start, substituting Eremenko with twenty minutes left was inexcusable. Yes, the Finn struggles to complete a full match, but no-one else on the club's books has such an eye for a killer pass, or the enthusiasm for getting on the ball. With Caley Thistle a man short, there was sufficient space and time for him to operate, even if tired. Without him on the pitch, the defence had no choice but to resort to pumping long balls forward, for the remaining midfielders were completely unwilling to offer themselves. The home support reacted badly to the switch, with a chorus of booing; they had seen this all before. The catcalls that greeted it were nothing, however to the response that followed Mckay's late winner. The Youtube video of the goal is worth watching - it's like 2,000 people at Rugby Park suffered a sudden acute attack of Tourette's Syndrome. If 2,000 doesn't sound like a big number, that's because it isn't. The official attendance for this game was just 2,793. Yes, it was early January, in terrible weather, and with a negligible travelling support, but it's still dreadful. Kilmarnock have lost a huge proportion of their support in recent seasons. The last two games give a wee snapshot into why. On the face of it, they're not doing particularly badly. They're seventh in the table, only two points off sixth. More importantly, sixteen points separate them from St. Mirren and Ross County. Given that they only avoided a relegation playoff last season, thanks to a win at Hibs on the final day, 2014-15 is a considerable improvement. But Johnston's eighteen month reign has been pretty grim. It's not just the results - twenty wins in sixty-four games so far. It's the quality of the fare. If you want swashbuckling attacking football, this isn't the team to watch. Only in two matches last season did they score more than twice - both against a Hearts side in administration. There hasn't even been a cup run to shout about they've won just once in five cup ties, and that was at home to Ayr United. In November, they caved in at Ibrox to the worst Rangers side of the last thirty years. That day they were unambitious and meek, too. At least they had Kris Boyd to shout about last season. And it's still less than three years since Kenny Shiels led the club to a League Cup triumph. But other than that, there's not been much excuse for excitement at this end of the A77. Yes, they've now been in the top flight for 22 consecutive seasons, but, aside from the League Cup and a solitary Scottish Cup in 1997, they've never finished higher than fourth, whilst only being in danger of relegation twice. They missed out on the top six in six of the last seven seasons. The last time they managed to win more than half of their home games was 2005-06. One can understand why the fans are fed up.
They were at least placated by Shiels, a passionate man obsessed with keeping the ball on the deck and 'playing the right way'. Cliched as that sounds, one would be hard pressed to find a spectator who enjoys the current, direct, style. I'm always wary of any team who insist on having a big, immobile lump at centre-forward; so keen was Johnston to have such a target man to play up front that he signed two this summer - gangly, clumsy Michael Ngoo, who has been injured most of the season, and veteran ex-Aberdeen striker Lee Miller, who looks a shadow of his former self. It would be more forgivable if Killie's strategy was similar to that of Hamilton Accies' - both sides play on artificial turf, and the latter have had considerable success with percentage balls towards Mickael Antoine-Curier, with a quartet of buzzing attacking midfielders subsequently getting on the ball in advanced areas of the pitch. Kilmarnock are doing no such thing, however. Instead they support their centre-forward with Josh Magennis, who is like a Scud Missile - you point him in the right direction and hope for the best. Magennis has only three goals this season. The midfield lacks a player who can burst forward to join the attack quickly, with the exception of top scorer Tope Obadeyi, who is a very direct winger but who is far more intelligent than Magennis; he, however, has been injured. Instead, it seems like Johnston's Plan A is 'pass to Eremenko and hope for the best', and his Plan B is 'punt it forward and hope for the best'. Dreams are not made of this. Whilst Shiels' final season in charge at Rugby Park was pretty mediocre, he did blood a significant amount of young players. It would be hard to pick out one as having improved under his successor. In fact, Johnston chose to sign a bunch of has-beens last summer and fill the team with them initially (Mark Stewart! Kyle Jacobs!). This season has seen more action for the kids but wingers Rory McKenzie and Chris Johnston have struggled to impose themselves at this level, while in defence Lee Ashcroft and Ross Barbour look a long way from the finished article. Curiously, the best of the crop, Craig Slater and Robbie Muirhead, have often been left on the bench. 18 year old Muirhead is clearly the most gifted finisher in the squad, yet he rarely gets the chance to show it. Johnston does deserve credit for at least putting together a bunch who are superior to the likes of Motherwell, St. Mirren and Ross County. But another finish in the bottom half, with functional football, isn't keeping the fans happy. They're voting with their feet and one worries that it might take even more than a new manager to entice them back.
ANDY KING 1942 - 2015
It is always very sad to hear of the loss of a former Killie player but when it is a true legend and one who I was proud to call a friend it is heartbreaking. Andy King was one of the good guys in life, a mild mannered and modest man who loved having a quiet beer and a chat about one of the loves in his life……..his family, his pigeons and Killie. If you happen to be in the Howard Arms you will see the “Andy King corner” which houses some fantastic photos of Andy’s epic Killie career. It is especially sad when you consider that we are only a matter of weeks away from the 50th anniversary of the club’s greatest achievement, something that Andy was rightfully very proud of. When we shared a pint in the pub I would joke that he just spent his career kicking folk and he only ever kicked a ball three times….. “aye but it was three kicks that Pele would have been proud of” would come the reply.
Andy’s funeral was a fitting occasion as hundreds turned up to say goodbye including great old players like Jackie McInally, Davie Sneddon, Tommy McLean and Ross Mathie. I find it hard to comprehend that I will never have another chinwag with the great man about our beloved Killie but he has left a legacy that very few killie players will ever equal. Here is a fitting tribute from David Ross: Richard Cairns had just emailed to say he's learned of the death of Andy King, right-back in Kilmarnock's Championship-winning team of 196465. He was 72. Andy was a fixture in the Killie team for ten years from 1962-1972 and in that time played in 320 matches (inc 3 sub) in domestic and European football. His average of 32 games per season shows what a model of consistency he was, especially considering he only made ten appearances in his last two seasons - giving him an average of 39 games per season over the previous eight years. At that time the guaranteed number of matches for a top flight side was 41 (34 league, six League Cup, one Scottish Cup) He played in more European matches (21) than any other Kilmarnock player and whilst he was never a great goalscoring full-back in the Tommy Gemmell mode, one of his seven goals for the club was - IIRC - an astonishing effort from the halfway line against, I think, Dundee in a League Cup match in 1969. 'Killie Til I Die' by Richard Cairns & Gordon Allison says the change to part-time football caused Andy to retire, aged just 30. He was a one-club man. Born in Newmilns, he started out as a youth with Saxone Amateurs before signing for Killie in May 1960, shortly before his 18th birthday. He was "farmed out" to Dreghorn Juniors (a tough experience for any player as they were almost perpetually bottom of the league and are now since long-defunct). Andy was a youth international and went on to claim three Scotland U-23 caps. He came close to full international recognition, playing for Scotland against the Scottish League match in a trial match in 1963-64. Andy was a player who could often be seen walking down the street during his playing days in an era when players lived locally and were approachable. He was also instantly recognisable forty-odd years on from the 1965 title-winning team. He still attended Killie matches and was often seen at Rugby Park in the company of the late Eddie Morrison.
It was a pleasure, which will never happen again, to listen to both talk about their playing days. He was also part of that occasion in 1966-67 when Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin on a visit to Scotland took in a Kilmarnock-Rangers game at Rugby Park and of which it was often remarked later that a King (Andy) and a Queen (Gerry) stood to attention to the anthem of the USSR. It is just two months short of the fiftieth anniversary of Kilmarnock's greatest ever club achievement, one in which Andy King (who missed just one match in the entire league campaign) played a vital part. Sadly, he won't be there to celebrate it. RIP Andy, you will be much missed. ……………………………………………………………………………………………..
KILLIE GOSSIP Killie has a new director, John Kiltie, who previously owned JMK groundcare before selling it. I’m assured John is a good killie guy and I am meeting with him at his request to discuss our beloved Killie…..that may be an eye opener for us both!! I will do a wee report in the next issue and will also include a report in the upcoming club AGM. The turnover in staff continues apace and with long serving Peter Logan having moved on a new guy has now taken his place. I have no idea if the guy has Killie connections but will try and find out what I can. The Trust is still locked in negotiations about investing a six figure sum and getting a place on the board. As I’m no longer on the trust board I don’t know the exact situation however my friends on the trust board remain optimistic that it will eventually happen. It will be strange having someone on the board who actually puts the club first!
SCUM GAGS A shabby looking young man wearing a scum shirt knocks on the pearly gates and asks to be let in. Saint Peter says "I don't know. Have you ever done anything good like given money to the poor?" "No." replied the clampett "Helped a widow or orphan?" "No." he replied again "Helped a little old lady across a street?" "No." replied the incestuous twelve fingered walloper "Well then, why should I let you in?" "I did do something very brave once." He said "And what was that?" asked Peter "I went to the Theatre of Pies to see a derby game and stood in the East stand with the killie fans decked in full scum gear." "My, that is brave!. When did you do that?" "About 3 minutes ago...". >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> A killie fan walks into a Whitletts pub. "Who wants to hear a joke about Ian Mccall?" A big fud rises and says: "Listen, man, I'm 6 foot 3, weighing in at 90 kilos." Then he points at the man in the scum shirt to his left. "And my mate Dopey here is even 6 foot 6 with more than 100 kilos." And, pointing at another twat in a full scummie outfit, he adds: "That bloke over there named Stevie is a former youth boxing champion. See, you're outnumbered, 3 against 1. So, do you still want to tell you joke?" Says the killie lad: "Well, no. Because I don't want to explain the same joke three times..."
OUR FAMOUS OLD GROUND
When I was thinking about the back page pic I was getting all nostalgic and thinking about our great old ground. I have so many great memories of the old scoreboard, the johnnie walker end, segregation fences and wee blue cars parked behind the goals……aaaahhhhhh the good old days!!