Hippo December 2021

KILLIE HIPPO AN UNOFFICIAL KILLIE FANZINE DECEMBER 2021

CHEATIN’ BEATON 2 V 3 KILLIE

• 2021 – A YEAR TO FORGET • MANAGER MERRY GO ROUND • SNOW IN JUNE

HUGE THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS RAINBOW INK CO. MODWAY SCOTLAND URQUHART OPTICIANS COLIN MCDONALD HOME MAINTENANCE BILLY BOWIE SPECIAL PROJECTS LTD I LOVE GIFTS GMC CRIMINAL LAWYERS KILMARNOCK EATS AUTOMAX MOBILE VALETING ANNANDALE HOME IMPROVEMENTS

CONTACT E-MAIL : Killiehippo@aol.com NO ARTICLES TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION BACK ISSUES 2–204 INCLUSIVE AVAILABLE All views expressed are those of the contributors

SHOOTING FROM THE HIPPO I’m sure you would all like to join me in telling 2021 to GTF. It’s been a horrible year for everyone due to the many variants of Covid and it’s been a year that Killie fans will want to erase from their memory. The highlight of the year has been the generosity of Killie fans in helping us buy a defibrillator….more info inside this issue.

On a personal level I’ve been on more drugs than the population of Dundee but things are looking up and before you know it I’ll be fit enough again to nail three king kebabs daily washed down with a few gallons of gut rot lager. This issue should have been out three weeks ago but I’m sure it has been worth the wait!!

Once again, at the time of writing, we are managerless and our board have to halt the recent record of poor appointments and get it right this time. I know we have invested heavily on the playing budget this year to try and get back up in one season, if we don’t succeed I fear we will see a huge drop in budgets causing a big drop in quality and a huge task to get back up in the seasons ahead.

Lets be honest, this is not a good league this year and I can’t see what I would call a good team in the league. The standard of football under TW was honking and it appears the board have learned a little by taking swift action rather than delaying for a few vital months. We have bought ourselves a wee bit of time with the scum game getting moved but there is no time to mess about as the new boss has to do some wheeling and dealing to fix the obvious weaknesses in the team……mainly midfield.

You will see an article about the manager situation in this issue but Wright getting punted was the correct decision in my book. I was on the radio and stated that TW and Killie were never a happy marriage, some bosses like Burns, Shiels and SSC were just right for a club like Killie. That could never be said with Wright and a mixture of football that would make your eyes bleed added to a disconnect with the fans meant his removal was a must.

Fowler took charge against Beaton and the Accies and there was a bit of improvement, it wasn’t too hard to put out a more balanced team than the mess that TW selected for the Dunfermline game. I’m sure Burkey was delighted to be asked to play as a right wing back, the abandonment probably did us a huge favour. TW’s behaviour at Kirkcaldy was pathetic and there was no way the relationship with the fans could be mended after that.

I’d like to round off this editorial by just giving a huge thanks to every one of you Killie fans out there. I hope you and yours are all healthy and that 2022 brings you health, prosperity and a stunning new manager…..cheers Sandy

BITS + PIECES Well it’s been a while since we fired out a ridiculous pub rumour so here is one I was told by a non Killie fan in the boozer last week. The story goes that Greg Kiltie isn’t particularly enjoying his time at Paisley and there is a chance he could come back to Killie on loan.

The guy that told me knows the family however he was keen to stress the story didn’t come from the family but from a St Mirren fan. Personally I reckon it is a load of old pants but if it comes to fruition remember where you heard it first!! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> As you maybe read in the last issue we hit the target for our defibrillator due to the generosity of you magnificent fans. We still haven’t had a chance to talk to the club but I hope to do that in the next week or so and we’ll decide the best place for it.

We’ll be trying to get a bit of publicity on the back of it so will get a few pics that I’m sure you’ll see splashed on social media and the likes. We are looking to raise enough for a second defibrillator via a Killie Recipe Book featuring recipes from Killie stars past and present. If you know of any Killie stars willing to contribute please drop me the info at killiehippo@aol.com.....cheers >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> It’s going to be a big transfer window for our new boss as there are a few obvious areas of concern. I would hope that the new manager will bring more out of the current squad, remember how SSC managed to turn squad players into key personnel. I know that won’t happen again but there is no way that TW was getting the best out that squad.

Midfield is a clear issue and I reckon the new man will be looking for one but probably two decent quality midfielders. That would make a massive difference as defensively we have been ok and given chances I think we can score goals. There may be a wee issue if Hendry is recalled to Perth as we’d definitely need to bring in another striker and just to finish off I’d like a wide left side attacking option….go to it Killie.

SNOW IN JUNE Stuart Henshaw Hearing the whisper of the raindrops on the study’s skylight, Stuart Henshaw swivelled round in his writer’s black leather chair, tilted back, and looked up at the window. A white blanket was forming on the outside; it wasn’t raining; it was snowing. Snow on Christmas Day. A smile spread across his wrinkled face.

There’s something magical about a white Christmas, always has been. His mind played White Christmas as he sipped hot coffee from his favourite mug. Now chipped and stained, it had been a Christmas present from Moira. On the side of it, The Worlds’ Greatest Football Supporter, written in blue and white, the colours of Kilmarnock, his team, although he hadn’t been to a game in forty years.

He had enjoyed going to the footie as a teenager, meeting up with pals. How he misses that camaraderie. Thinking back, the football itself was almost incidental.

Killie were in the lower ranks of the league, playing teams like Clydebank and Montrose. Sure, he’d been happy when they won promotion, but the genuine joy was seeing his pals. Laughing and joking about whose turn it was to buy the halftime pie and Bovril. ‘I’ll get them next week,’ Speedy always said.

Of course, they all knew Speedy wouldn’t buy the pies next week, nor the next, he couldn’t. He was unemployed, he was skint. Eating a half-time pie was the highlight of his week.

Stuart could see Speedy now, stuffing the mutton pie into his chubby, ruddy face, the warm grizzle dribbling down from his mouth and dripping off his chin, He’d wipe away the remains of it with the worn sleeve of his jacket, before slurping the hot Bovril too fast, scalding his tongue. He’d curse, but then his face would melt into a smile as the beefy flavour of the drink mixed with the lamb to create a culinary delight. All the lads would watch, waiting as Speedy silently savoured the aftertaste, let it linger in his mouth, then lick his lips and nod in approval.

Stuart pitied his vegetarian daughter, who would never taste real food. He hoped that she would have came home for Christmas, but she hadn’t. Stuart’s mind returned to the football, recalling how the atmosphere would intensify as the clock ticked down. The fans would shout and sing, jump up and down and swear a lot.

Showing emotions wasn’t a trait found in the west of Scotland male psyche.

Football provided a relief valve to the social ills of everyday life: shitty jobs, shitty houses, shitty lives. Christ, even the weather was shitty back then in the late 70s.

And as for the music, Bright Eyes was top of the charts, Art Garfunkel singing a song written by a Womble about a bloody dead rabbit. Talk about fiddling while Rome burned. What had the world come to? Had everyone gone mad? It wasn’t long until Speedy, Fonzo, and Joe got into trouble probation, fined or even jailed for something, nothing serious, Breach of the Peace or whatever, for being daft lads from a housing scheme. Stuart knew that he’d face the same unless he did something, so he did. He took the easy option, got out, ran away, did a bunk.

Stuart could still remember the exact day that he left home, Friday 4th May 1979.

It was summer, but it was freezing, cold enough to snow. He kept his Crombie on as he sat down in front of the box with his weekly Fish Supper. One and a halffish battered to death and a pile of chips over salted and drowning in vinegar.

The acetic aroma caught him in the back of the throat just as The News came on.Thatcher had become Prime Minister. He choked on his chips as he watched her standing there, outside Number 10, looking all smug and bossy, and then she spoke, God knows where she got that accent, but it sounded false, almost as false as the words she uttered:

Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope. What did the young Stuart know of hope? Nothing. He knew despair though; it was dripping down the damp walls of the council houses and found in the bottom of empty beer glasses. Yes, he knew despair alright, and despair knew him. It was coming to get him. Just as Kilmarnock had escaped from the doldrums of Scottish football, Stuart knew then that he had to escape from the doldrums of Scottish life. He’d never been back, never returned, he never would.

Stuart fumbled through the bottom drawer of his desk until he found a small wooden box containing old letters and photographs, he’d never shown, memories he’d never shared. He found it, now faded, an old photo of Speedy, Fonzo, Joe and him in the snow.

Hippo says – Huge thanks to my old chum Ian Goudie for sending this great wee story, these are the articles that allow the fanzine to survive.

MANAGER MERRY GO ROUND Here we go again, it gives me no pleasure in having to scribble regular articles about who our next manager is going to be. When you go through as many managers as we do it tells you we are getting things wrong when it comes to appointing them in the first place. I would like to think we have learned from our past errors but I’m not convinced. There’s a lack of leadership and footballing people at the club and that is something the board should be looking to remedy.

Anyway we are where we are and the good news is that with about a mere 10% improvement I reckon we would be good enough to win the league. It’s a great opportunity for a manager to come in and be an almost instant hero so I hope some decent candidates can see the potential in the job. Here is a lengthy list of Killie managers over the years: Tommy Wright

08 Feb, 2021

18 Dec. 2021

Andrew Millen

31 Jan, 2021

08 Feb, 2021

Alex Dyer

20 Dec, 2019

31 Jan, 2021

Angelo Alessio

16 Jun, 2019

20 Dec, 2019

Steve Clarke

16 Oct, 2017

15 Jun, 2019

Paul McDonald

10 Oct, 2017

16 Oct, 2017

Lee McCulloch

16 Feb, 2017

10 Oct, 2017

Lee Clark

15 Feb, 2016

16 Feb, 2017

Lee McCulloch

01 Feb, 2016

15 Feb, 2016

Gary Locke

07 Feb, 2015

30 Jan, 2016

Allan Johnston

24 Jun, 2013

07 Feb, 2015

Kenny Shiels

02 Apr, 2011

09 Jun, 2013

Mixu Paatelainen

01 Jun, 2010

31 Mar, 2011

Jimmy Calderwood

12 Jan, 2010

31 May, 2010

Jim Jefferies

28 Feb, 2002

11 Jan, 2010

Bobby Williamson

07 Dec, 1996

25 Feb, 2002

Alex Totten

13 Aug, 1994

30 Nov, 1996

Tommy Burns

01 Aug, 1990

12 Jul, 1994

Jim Fleeting

01 Aug, 1989

31 May, 1990

Eddie Morrison

01 Aug, 1985

31 May, 1989

Jim Clunie

01 Jan, 1981

31 May, 1985

Dave Sneddon

15 Oct, 1977

31 Dec, 1981

Willie Fernie

15 Oct, 1973

15 Oct, 1977

Walter McCrae

01 Aug, 1969

15 Oct, 1973

It’s a lengthy list and 10 permanent managers in 10 years is not a good look.

We need to get someone in who has a vision for the club, wants to stay around and be a part of it and “gets it” in terms of uniting the club, fans and community in general. If you are on Killiefc.com you will know Travis who posts as well as anyone, here are his thoughts on who we should be looking at: We should run a poll, see who the overwhelming fan favourite is, then delete his phone number and ignore all contact forever.

Just as an initial thought, I’d avoid: - Instantly clamouring for the guy most recently sacked from another Scottish club; - Guys who’ve been unemployed for seasons after flopping as Scottish managers, and have spent their recent years as Sportsound pundits.

- Falling for the illusion that we must get in an experienced ‘steady hand’ with knowledge of the Scottish game.

Time to take a deep breath, think about the type of club we want to be, and therefore the type of manager we need to help get us there, be open to applications and expressions of interest, shortlist and interview on the basis of pre-determined competencies.

If that means Fowler and Burke, for example, are in charge for a period of time, that would be absolutely fine with me.

And we should stand by them to give the club the time it needs to get it

right - no panicking just because we need an appointment or because of a single transfer window.

Some things I think we should be looking for now: - A genuine student of the game who has used time to learn the game, and expand their coaching repertoire beyond the old school, both at home and abroad; - A young, ambitious manager with ideas and ambition to shape a team and club, even if it means using us as a stepping stone in a few years; - A coach who genuinely believes he can improve players and that everyone can learn; - A coach who understands modern methods and techniques, who has a defined style and can bring it to bear on a team, who understands the modern pressing, possession game and how to use it at our level; - Who will make genuine use of our academy system, and who will insist on replicating formations, methods and training at all levels; - Who predominantly targets under-24s, and can generate income by improving then moving on players; - Who understands that club and community need to work in harmony at a relatively small town club, and behaves as if privileged to be part of that relationship.

Some well made and sensible points there and as well as the manager the club should be looking longer term with a view to utilising the academy better and bringing in a boss who is happy to go down that route. Travis makes good points regarding young players and we simply have a poor record recently of bringing through our own.

The old arguments are going about whether we should get someone with experience or give a rookie a chance with more chance of modern thinking, progressive tactics and generally a more eye pleasing spectacle. We’ve said it before and it will always be the case that there are no guarantees either way, it’s a gamble regardless.

We tried experience with TW and that failed miserably so maybe it is time to give a younger guy a chance.

Let’s have a wee look at the latest bookies odds:

If you can believe the papers Jack Ross isn’t interested and I have a sneaky feeling that Neil, Lennon and McInnes will be looking for something bigger.

I’m surprised and disappointed to be honest that Kettlewell is the current fave. He didn’t do great in Dingwall and I’m hoping it’s just his agent grabbing some publicity. Hartley was quoted the other day as a possibility and although his managerial record is decent he doesn’t strike me as a Killie manager.

Naismith came into my thoughts as soon as TW was bumped but rumour is that he isn’t interested at this stage….so not sure what we are left with.

Probably someone whose name hasn’t been mentioned yet. I just pray that the board get some good football folk on board for advice as the wrong decision this time could see us stuck in the lower leagues for a while.

WHO REMEMBERS ALEX SAMIZADEH Does anyone remember the wee Iranian striker who joined us for the 2017 – 2018 season? He joined us from Bolton where he had been well touted and I remember Killie fans thinking we might just have unearthed a good one….sadly not.

Ultimately he only played one game for us in a League Cup tie and although he seemed to have a decent attitude he simply didn’t seem to be up to the challenges of Scottish football.

We came across this article online and it would be fair to say that he didn’t particularly enjoy his time up here. We are not bitter at Hippo Towers and hope his career gets back on track:

THERE was a time not so long ago when Alex Samizadeh’s prolific goalscoring in the youth ranks at Wanderers made him the name on every fan’s lips.

The Iran-born striker had ripped it up for Nicky Spooner’s Under-18s and David Lee’s development squad, creating an internet buzz the likes of which we have not seen since.

Offered a professional deal by Neil Lennon before his league debut at 17, Samizadeh looked to be following quickly in the footsteps of Rob Holding, Zach Clough, Josh Vela and Co. But the contract was never signed. Samizadeh played just eight minutes more for Wanderers and five years later is seeking to rebuild his career, clear his name and reputation after a battle against depression, an arrest over falsified passports, and an ill-advised move to the Scottish Premiership.

Now 23 and technically still eligible to play the level at which he had impressed for Bolton, Samizadeh is making his mark on social media again – only this time with a series of spectacular goals and celebrations for Leatherhead in the Isthmian Premier Division.

Born in Tehran, Samizadeh moved to the North West in 2013 and started playing for Curzon Ashton, where his goals earned a trial with Manchester City, and later, with Bolton.

Within 12 months he had impressed to the point that Neil Lennon had offered him the chance to turn professional – but the striker now looks back with some regret that he never put pen to paper.

“He (Lennon) actually took me in the office to ask why I am not signing,” he told The Bolton News. “I said I would, but then a day later I think he left office.

“I wish I would have signed that contract and remained a Bolton player. I could have gone on loan to gain experience. I would probably not have stopped playing and probably would have been in the starting 11 in League One. “God only knows the reason why this has happened and unfortunately I can’t predict the future so I’m happy and blessed and always grateful no matter what.”

Lennon’s departure put Jimmy Phillips and Peter Reid in temporary charge for the end of the 2015/16 season, which led to a fleeting appearance off the bench at Brentford.

The next man in the hotseat, Phil Parkinson, had his own ideas for how his attack should look and though he played briefly against Blackpool in the Checkatrade Trophy the following season, the gears were already in motion for his exit.

Did he get the chances he deserved? Time has changed his mind somewhat.

“The chance to be able to make my debut and be around the first team squad just at 17 was a huge opportunity and I’m so grateful for that,” he said. “At that time, I probably would have said no, but now, yes, I’m realising that the manager’s job and the position the club was in was crucial and probably not the right time to be able to progress young players, specially when Parkinson the manager was trying to keep the club in the Championship. But we both know It is all about opinions.”

Back on the scoresheet today to pull us level at 3-3 ⁦@alexandersamii⁦ pic.twitter.com/8eWJufDeoZ

— Leatherhead FC (@LeatherheadFC) December 11, 2021 Samizadeh was thankful for the support he got in the academy – especially as it quickly became clear that Parkinson and the Wanderers hierarchy was not going to offer another chance to play professionally.

“I had a good relationship with the coaches in the academy,” he said. “A trial at Derby County was organised by David Lee, and if I’m not wrong it was one of his contacts who took me there.

“I think they knew they were going into administration and maybe he wanted to help me and continue my development. But afterwards I got the blame for it because I was looking to move.

“Kilmarnock and the decision of wanting to move was because I been offered a professional contact the year before, made my debut in the Championship, then during a meeting at the end of the season I had been told that ‘I’m not good enough and that I don’t know how to play football.

“But they were still happy to offer me a third year (scholarship) contract? That was not making sense to me at all.

“I didn’t know anything about Scotland or Kilmarnock and trusted my agent and that was the worst mistake of my life.

Samizadeh’s spell at Killie yielded just three minutes of league football – as a late sub against Hearts – alongside a few appearances in the cup competitions.

“I probably know not to go up to the north again,” he laughed. “I’m just joking.

“Football is so strange. I learned a lot, got depression, lost my confidence I didn’t know who I was anymore.

“And it’s still affecting me sometimes. But, again, all those mistakes have built me up and made who I am today.”

Off the field, Samizadeh’s life had already started to become complicated.

He and three others were accused of providing Iranian nationals with false identification and travel documents, with a view to helping them enter the UK illegally.

Though he strenuously denied the accusations and was never charged, early reports of the trial still circulate online.

“It has been a very hard time, I was coping with a lot things,” he said.

“Imagine all those dramas going on and me on the pitch trying to play and be normal?

“I was on bail signing two times a week at the police station, my passport was restrained, an investigation going on for four years from 2016.

“I had to stop playing football. I’m so disappointed in them (media outlets who carried reports of the trial). They just jumped into conclusion and never recorrected the news or removed it completely.

“I would love them to get in touch and get the story right. The case got completely closed and cannot be ever again reopened.

“I lost a lot of opportunities, not only in the UK but also abroad.”

Samizadeh has not given up on football, although he has worked for the last couple of years as a director of a Manchester-based estate agency, Royale Residential.

He turns out regularly for Surrey club Leatherhead, and at time of writing has scored eight goals for the Tanners, who are currently bottom of the Premier League table.

His CV lists a number of non-league sides where fresh starts have been made and abandoned but the striker hopes that 2022 can be the year he can enjoy his football properly once again.

“With all due respect to those clubs I was just trying to get back but it never worked because of circumstances I was in - and I played maybe one or two games for each,” he said of the five different non-league sides he has represented since playing in Scotland.

“Now it’s all finished, I’m back enjoying the game and scoring. I am working hard and trying to go back to where I was.

“I think my next step is to score as many goals as I can. I’m sure if someone thinks I’m good enough they will come for me.

“Again, football is just about opinions. For one manager you’re the best for the next not even good enough to be in the squad.

“My love for Bolton as a club and the fans will always be unique. It is home, and I have always said that.

“I’m glad they are doing good and that the manager has a long-term plan for the club.

“Of course I’d love to come back one day - I have some good friends still there Dennis Politic, Harry Brockbank amazing memories and January it’s getting close so anything can happen from now til then!” >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

R.I.P. BULLER REID (writes McCool) Sad to hear of the passing of Ayrshire football and after dinner circuit legend, Jimmy 'Buller' Reid. He was Kilmarnock's after dinner speaker for many years, but he did a lot of work at Ayr United too, not to mention most of the county's junior outfits.

It was at a smoker's evening for Ardrossan Winton Rovers that I came across him many years ago. A 'large gentleman,' Buller joked that he went to see his friend in the menswear shop he owned and asked if he had a suit in his size. His mate replied, 'Buller, I haven't got a f***in cubicle in your size.' It set the tone for a hilarious evening, and I must be honest, I've stolen that joke many times since.

R.I.P. BULLER, YOU'LL BE MISSED BY MANY

IT’S MORE THAN JUST A GAME….

As this horrible year draws to a close yet again we are all faced with restrictions and once again football fans seem to be getting more restrictions than most. We always spout on about how the beautiful game is more like a religion for some folk (me included) and there is a big part taken out your life when you can’t get to go and see your beloved team.

I was off my work for six weeks recently barely getting out the house so I totally get the full mental health issues that folk are having. Folk need a release from their stressful lives and for thousands all over the country football is that release. I came across this on Twitter from Dave Black who works at Livi FC and it sums up perfectly what football means to so many of us:

It’s the group chats & conversations with friends in the week leading up to a game, - picking the team, predicting the score, checking the table It’s arranging where and when you’re meeting your family or friends before the game, who’s on the first round, who’s rough from the night before, getting the gossip from the week just past, what the plans are after the game, waiting to see the team lines.

It’s the high fives, handshakes and first bumps as you all meet up or with those familiar faces you see at all the games but can’t quite remember their names. It’s trying not to spill the tray of drinks on the walk back to the table while you’re mates secretly hope you do.

It’s squeezing in the last pint before heading into the ground. It’s making your way to the same old seat in the same old place, hoping that today is the day your team runs riot and it’s goals galore. It’s getting that pie and bovril and watching the warm ups.

It’s the “entrance music” hitting, the team coming out, the manager applauding the fans, the captains doing their bit, the teams swapping halves, the keepers high fiving as they pass each other at halfway and then the game getting started with the whistle.

It’s feeling a part of something for that next 90 mins. It’s feeling part of a team - part of a collective group all wanting the same thing. Whether it’s Annan or Aberdeen, whether it’s 50 or 50,000, those with the same scarf as you are your own teammates for that 90mins It’s hugging your mates, your family or just that bloke that’s always sat near you when the ball hits the net. It’s the jubilation of winning against a team you didn’t expect to. It’s seeing what it means to the players and to those fans all around you when you win.

It’s even about that post match chat/post match burger/post match pint regardless of the score - everyone becoming an expert and a football manager, telling anyone who’ll listen who should have played or how bad that miss was.

It’s going home and watching the highlights then talking about the game all over again in the group chat or with your old man or on social media then by Sunday morning, already planning ahead for next weeks game because “there’s always next week”.

Take care chums, we’ll all be back at RP soon and if anyone is struggling then talk to a family member or friend…..I’m always up for a chat and a coffee - killiehippo@aol.com

2021 – A YEAR TO FORGET JANUARY 2021 Killie started the year with a 1 – 1 draw at home to St Mirren but the game pretty much summed up the whole season. Whitehall put us in front only for a bizarre and totally embarrassing own goal from keeper Rodgers to gift them a point in the last minute. We sat 8th in the league but the pressure was on Dyer as the same weaknesses were repeating on a regular basis.

The following week a Kiltie double saw us beat Hamilton at RP but the following two weeks saw us on the road and losing 2 – 0 to both Hibs and Livingston, The final game of the month was to be Dyer’s farewell as we “Killie’d” it once again. We led 2 – 0 at half time through Burke and Tshibola only to self destruct in the second half and gift the visitors three goals.

The board had dragged their heels for a couple of months too long and sacking a manager at the end of a transfer window is beyond stupid but the hunt for a new manager was on once again. We were sitting on 24 points in 9th place 5 points above basement boys Hamilton.

FEBRUARY 2021 The rot had set in long ago with players who thought they were bigger than the club when in reality they were self centred, bang average journeymen.

This month went a very long way to our demise with a total of six games returning one goal and one point…..truly horrific. Fowler took charge as we got humped 4 – 0 by Celtic then we were still managerless as we folded to a 2 – 0 loss in Paisley.

The TW reign began with a 1 – 0 loss at home to Motherwell followed by a 1 – 0 loss at Greyskull before a Callum Hendry effort was the only goal at Pittodrie as Lafferty made his debut. Incredibly in the sixth game of the month we scored a goal as Medley grabbed us a point at home to Dundee Utd. We ended the month on 25 points and in 11th spot, only a point above Hamilton.

March 2021 TW was trying to put his stamp on the team and I got the impression he recognized our defence was “pub league” so our best chance was to start being more expansive with Lafferty being the vocal point. Just the two games this month with Lafferty getting his first couple of goals in a 3 – 2 defeat in Dingwall.

The only other game saw us batter Motherwell 4 – 1 at RP with Lafferty adding another to his tally. At last there seemed to be a glimmer of hope however we all still knew about the defensive deficiencies and that is ultimately what killed us. The recruitment, especially the goalkeepers was horrendous….if we had Zach last season we would still be a Premiership team.

April 2021 Another busy month with the much delayed Scottish Cup eventually being fast tracked, we had two league games and three cup ties during April. In the league we drew 2 – 2 with Ross County at home after leading twice then we gubbed Dundee UTD 3 – 0 at home thanks to a fine Lafferty hat trick. We found ourselves up in 10th, two above Ross County and five above Hamilton.

It was very much a three way battle now as Motherwell in 9th were 9 points above us.In the cup we disposed of Stenhousemuir 4 – 0 and Montrose 3 – 1 before another goalkeeping disaster saw St Mirren knocked us out on spot kicks….what a rarity that is!! Doyle managed to score an onwn goal, concede a penalty in the 119th minute then do a fantastic lamppost impression as the deciding spot kicks flew past him……yet another game that summed up our season.

May 2021 Nerves were jangling and it was grim as early as the 1st May when we meekly got beaten 2 – 0 at Motherwell. There was a general feeling among the fans as our luck had ran out or more like too many players had given up long ago.

Once again we squandered leads against St Mirren as we drew 3 – 3 at RP and my hear was sinking on an hourly basis. The last game of the season was away to Hamilton although we also needed Motherwell to beat Ross County. We won 2 – 0 but the Steelmen had nothing to play for so we finished in 11th and into another play off.

The whole non attendance due to Covid made it all a little surreal as we headed to Dundee to play in front of 500 fans. We were rank rotten but Haunstrup grabbed a goal to see us lose 2 – 1 but still be in with a chance if we could perform at the Theatre of Pies.

That was never going to happen and a totally gutless performance saw the Dee repeat the scoreline and our 28 year stay in the top league had come to an inglorious end. Several poor boardroom decisions had cost us along with poor recruitment and for a generation it was a whole different world to look forward to.

JULY 2021 A whole new squad was needed whether we had survived or not and that is exactly what we got. Opinion was split regarding if TW should have done more in trying to keep us up. For what it’s worth I think he could have done better however the rot had set in long ago and it would have taken a miracle worker to turn the defensive crew into a cohesive unit.

It appeared TW was looking for a few leaders mixed with guys who know the Scottish game and hopefully have the qualities to battle out the Championship. We all knew it would be a battle to get out this league so it was no place for faint hearted guys. Guys like Robinson, both Murrays, Polworth and Shaw looked like sensible and decent additions.

AUGUST 2021 We had coasted through the League Cup games fairly well apart from behaving like an amateur club when it came to player suspensions at East Kilbride. Our opening game was against the bin rakers and we put in a decent performance, in front of no fans as we gubbed them 2 – 0. Next up we had a fantastic train day at Dumfries helped by Naismith firing in a last minute winner.

Things were heading in the right direction as we won 2 – 0 at Hamilton and even though we them lost at Easter Road in the cup it was a decent performance not helped by poor refereeing that cost us in the first half. Our first league defeat was 1 – 0 at home to ICT and that was to set up an unwelcome trend of losing to our rivals at home.

SEPTEMBER 2021 Our three league games in September saw us score late to beat Morton at home, put in an impressive showing to win 2 – 0 at Firhill and then ride our luck to scrape a goalless draw at Arbroath……what a sad statement that is.

There was a worry among the fans that the standard of football was poor but we were top of the league on goal difference at the end of the month. There is no doubt we were getting away with it rather than being impressive but as long as results were going our way there was a hope the players would gel better as the season progressed.

OCTOBER 2021 The alarm bells were ringing a wee bit louder as we got gubbed at home to Raith then could only draw at bottom club Dunfermline. We had managed to progress in the Trust Cup by beating Queens Park then the manager had a huge week with 3 games in 7 days.

The first game of the three was a fortunate home win v Hamilton to continue the “getting away with it” theme. That was followed by our first away win at Scumerset for yonks.

Once again it was a last minute winner through a Shaw penalty but it was deserved and we continued to believe there were better times ahead. It looked like we may have turned the corner as we hammered QOTS 4 – 0 at RP and as the month drew to a close we were back at the top of the tree two points clear of Inverness.

NOVEMBER 2021 The league had split into two many leagues of five with ICT, Raith, Arbroath and Partick emerging as the main rivals. In Oli Shaw we had a striker in good scoring form and with Hendry looking good as well things were definitely looking a bit brighter.

The feeling didn’t last too long as the three league matches in the month saw us lose at home to both Partick and Arbroath with a win at Morton sandwiched between the pair. The month ended with two cup wins beating Queens Park 1 – 0 in the Scottish then Sanders scoring two late goals to see us win at Hamilton to take us to the semis of the Trust Cup. DECEMBER 2021 A rank rotten display at Inverness saw us lose 1 – 0 on the Friday night then the following Saturday saw the manager behave like a dick to the fans as we lost by the same scoreline in Kirkcaldy. That day made my mind up about the manager and I didn’t see any way back after that. The irony was we were the better team but he lost all respect that day and the split between manager and fans was never going to be mended.

His last swansong was a strange one as our game v the Pars was abandoned due to fog with the score 1 – 1 but I strongly suspect there was a clause in his contract that allowed us to bump him. Fowler took temporary charge again as we won 3 – 2 at Hamilton on Boxing Day despite the best efforts of John Beaton to stop us.The final game of 2021 was much like the year as a whole….hugely disappointing. We played pretty well in the first half a led 1 -0 as well as missing several gilt edge chances. They made a few changes that Fowler failed to recognize and they equalized which triggered our players going back into their shells….can 2022 be any worse??

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